Two die in highway shooting in Mawarella

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Two persons succumbed to their injuries following a daring shooting incident that took place in the Mawarella police area yesterday morning.

The police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekara told the Sunday Observer that the shooting took place around 7 a.m. at the Mulatiyana junction where two men travelling in a motorcycle wearing masks, black jackets and black trousers had opened fire at a private passenger vehicle bearing number NC NA 1685 travelling from Panathuduwa towards Matara.The bus driver and a passenger travelling on the footboard of the bus died following the shooting. Police found twelve spent T-56 bullets strewn at the scene of the incident. Mawarella police said the shooting was a result of previous enmity between two factions of the Panathuduwa village.

On earlier occasions the passenger bus was provided security by the police. On the day of the incident, the bus had left Uruwerena village around 5.30 am and was proceeding towards Matara. The two assassins fled the scene on their motorcycle and the suspects have not yet been arrested, police said. Meanwhile the deceased driver has been identified as Kodipilige Ajith (38) from Alawatte area and the passenger Priyantha Srilal Witharana (39), a security officer attached to the Ruhuna Development Bank. Police said he was also an ex-Police Constable. The two bodies are now lying at the Deiyandera hospital morgue.

OIC Mawarella Police station Inspector A. Pushpakumara and OIC Crimes, Sub Inspector S.C. Prassana are investigating.