Attempt on EPDP leader's life captured on CCTV

by Ananth Palakidnar

The assassination attempt on Minister and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda was somewhat a 'drama in real life' according to EPDP's media spokesman.

The spokesman said that for the first time a suicide attack had been recorded live on closed circuit TV cameras. "From the time the assassin entered the Ministry premises of Minister Devananda her every movement had been recorded clearly by the close circuit cameras at the key spots in the vicinity of the Ministry of Social Services," the spokesman said.

He added that the woman suicide assassin entered the Ministry premises through the main gate at 7.40 a.m. on Wednesday. The close circuit video cameras at the key spots in the compound and inside the Ministry building had recorded every movement of the assassin until the time she exploded herself.

"The assassin was in conversation with the Minister's PRO Steven Peiris when she was questioned about the purpose of her visit to the Ministry. It was when they were chatting that the assassin pulled a piece of tape from her brassiere and the blast occurred.

The explosion occurred at 8.06 a.m. The entire incident from the time the assassin entered the Ministry compound had been recorded clearly and precisely," the spokesman said.

Twelve attempts had been made on the Minister's life so far and Wednesday's attack was the second suicide attempt on his life. The first suicide attempt was on July 7, 2004 by a woman suicide cadre. But it was foiled when the police took her to the Kollupitiya police station.

However, she exploded herself inside the police station killing a constable and damaging the front portion of the station, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the funeral of Steven Peiris, the Minister's Public Relations Officer who was killed on Wednesday. Peiris, was of Malayalam origin and hailed from Nuwara Eliya.

He was earlier attached to the now defunct North and East Provincial Council. He worked with Devananda from 1990 and contested last General elections.

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