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| Sunday, 17 October 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Is underworld responsible for Namal's killing? by Jayampathy Jayasinghe What was the motive behind for shooting Namal Gunawardena (35) a United People's Front Alliance (UPFA)s' Provincial Councillor from the Western Province last week at Kollupitya. Was it the handiwork of an underworld criminal gang who have been hired by somebody with an axe to grind with the politician? The man who was with the Provincial Councillor when the shooting took place ought to shed light in the killing although he denies having seen anything at all. Unfortunately there weren't any other eye witness who saw the gunman pulling the trigger at the politician. So far no one seems to have any clue as to why the young politician was brutally gunned down. Mystery The Police are working around the clock to find answers to these intriguing questions. No body knows how long it will take to unravel the mystery of the murder. Last week the IGP, Chandra Fernando ordered the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), headed by its Director (SSP), Sarath Lugoda to investigate the murder. According to village gossip the killing was due to political animosity while others speculate on business rivalry. No body knows who the real culprits are but obviously someone who dislikes the Provincial Councillor may have a hand in it. It has been revealed the Provincial Councillor had befriended a businessman who was involved in exporting melted copper to India. Competition There had been strong opposition from natives of Mirigama for setting up a melting plant due to environmental pollution. There was also stiff competition from other businessmen in the area who were engaged in exporting copper, sources said. Namal Gunewardena entered politics in the early 1990 at a relatively young age. Having lost his seat some time back he was back on the saddle and was tipped to be appointed as the political organiser for Leluwagoda in the Mirigama electorate. The killing raised several eyebrows in the city. This was the second most daring killing to be staged in Colombo after Jeeboy the notorious drug dealer was gunned down at a petrol filling station in Colombo last month. Despite a much publicised anti-crime operation launched to nab dangerous criminals, Chicago style killings are continuing unabated especially in the Colombo city. The Provincial Councillor was shot dead on October 11 around 8.00 p.m. while trying to board his Double cab which was parked near an office of his friend at Dharmaraja Mawatha, Kollupitiya. According to Police two assassin probably would have fired nine shots with a .38 calibre pistol and with a 9.mm pistol. So far No body seems to know from where the assassins came and in which direction they fled after firing at the politician. Several spent 9.mm. cartridges and several lead pieces were found at the scene of crime. Meanwhile it was learnt that several .38 calibre pistols had been issued to VIPs and politicians for their protection during trouble times by earlier governments. Just prior to the shooting incident Namal Gunawardena (35) had paid a visit around 6.p.m. to the office of him business friend at Dharmaraja Mawatha, off Alfred Avenue. At that time the businessmen had been with his cook in his office. After meeting his business friend the politician had telephoned and summoned a friend of his named Priyantha to the office. Double cab Thereafter all of them had come out of the office around 7.50 p.m to return to their respective homes. Both the businessman and the politician had then walked towards their vehicles parked at different places. Gunewardena's double cab was parked right opposite the office and the businessman's vehicle was parked about 30 metres away down the road. It was pitch dark outside when the politician and his friend Priyantha tried to board the double cab. Just then a volley of fire cut the eerie silence. Two gunmen had fired at the politician under the cover of darkness which wounded badly. Several bullets had lodged in the chest and the neck. With fatal injuries Gunewardena managed to walk towards the businessman who was by this time in the car. He told him that he had been shot and to rush him to the nearest hospital. Having got in to the car the politician had slumped into the back seat. The businessman had then rushed the wounded politician to the Colombo South Hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to ballistic experts the shots had been fired at close range. His friend Priyatha who was present during the shooting was not wounded in the attack. Later when the Police questioned him he had told them that due to darkness he was not able to identify the assassins. |
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