At least two persons including a female were killed when a group of unidentified men on motorcycles opened fire at a JVP meeting at Katuwana in Hambantota this evening, police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.
The JVP blamed the incident on a government sponsored armed group led by a person notorious for unleashing violence against political opponents.
Party General Secretary Tilvin Silva told the Daily Mirror that the two victims were attending the pocket meeting organized by the party in the area. He said western provincial council member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa was addressing the meeting at the time of the incident. “Around 7 in the evening, a group of about eight to ten arrived in several motor bikes and opened fire at the crowd in a frenzied mood. Two participants died and scores were injured,” he said.
Hambantota has been a hotbed of political violence in recent times. In the run up to the 2010 presidential election, an elderly woman was killed when armed men shot at a crowded bus carrying political supporters to a rally of common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka. On Christmas eve last year, a British national was killed in a
melee at a tourist hotel in Tangalle, Hambantota. The main accused in the case was the chairman of the UPFA controlled Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha.
Police said the gunmen had arrived in three motor bikes to commit this crime. Around 100 supporters had attended this meeting organized by the JVP. According to initial investigations, T-56 guns had been used in this case. A special police team had been deployed to apprehend the perpetrators. JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath said the meeting was conducted at the residence of a party supporter called Ranjith.
“The woman who died in the incident was his wife. A politically sponsored person is responsible for this killing spree. This person enjoys state security,” he said.
