Bharatha, two others killed in shoot out

Duminda injured:

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Presidential Trade Union Advisor and former Parliamentarian of the Colombo District Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and two others including a bodyguard of Premachandra were killed and five others injured in a shooting incident involving Colombo District UPFA MP Duminda Silva yesterday evening. The incident took place close to Angoda IDH hospital.

Western Provincial Council Member Renuka Perera confirmed the death of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and his bodyguard in the shooting incident. Premachandra’s body was later brought to Colombo National Hospital morgue.

Colombo District UPFA MP Duminda Silva who has also reportedly sustained head injuries in the shooting incident was admitted to the Sri Jayawardanapura General Hospital where he underwent immediate surgery.

The incident had occurred when Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and MP Duminda Silva were coming from opposite directions close to a by lane at IDH junction in Mulleriyawa. Premachandra had cast his vote for the Kolonnawa Urban Council poll at the Kolonnawa Balika Vidyalaya around 10.30 a.m. yesterday and the incident had occurred as the voting for the third phase of the Local Government election was about to close at 4 p.m. yesterday.

Four other persons injured in the incident have also been admitted to Colombo National Hospital, where hundreds of Premachandra supporters gathered on hearing the news.

Meanwhile, the situation in Mulleriyawa was reportedly tense and a Police curfew was enforced in the Mulleriyawa Police area from 3.30 p.m. to 6 a.m. today to maintain law and order. Several vehicles were set on fire following the incident.

Premachandra was 55 years old. Educated at Carey College and Ananda College, he was engaged in active politics since his school days.

In 1979 and 1983 he was elected to the Kolonnawa Urban Council on the SLFP ticket. Later he became Sri Lanka Mahajana Party organiser for Kolonnawa in 1982 and was imprisoned for three months along with the late Vijaya Kumaratunga for allegedly being Naxalites.

In 1988, he entered the Western Provincial Council after contesting the election from the United Socialist Alliance and was elected to the WPC in 1993 for the second time. He entered Parliament at the 1994 General Election obtaining 63,421 preferential votes from the People’s Alliance.

He was re-elected to Parliament at the General Election in 2000 with 62,237 preferential votes.

At the 2001 December General Election too he was elected to Parliament under PA list in Colombo district obtaining 61,530 preferential votes but he was unable to return to Parliament at the 2004 General Election.

He was later appointed as the Trade Union Advisor to the President.