IN THE FIRST PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION VIOLENCE, ONE RULING PARTY SUPPORTER DIES AND ANOTHER INJURED
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
June 23, 08.00 AM: The first fatal election violence incident of the on going Provincial Council election occurred in the Ratnapura District when suspected opposition UNP supporters lobbed a hand bomb at participants of a meeting of the ruling party candidate killing one and seriously injuring another.
District police sources said, United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) supporter A. G. Ananda Perera instantly died when a bomb was lobbed at some supporters of the ruling party’s Chief Minister candidate Mohan Ellawela.
The sources said the incident occurred at Wewelkumbura in Kalawana electorate where a small propaganda meeting was held in support of UPFA’s Chief Minister candidate.
Another UPFA supporter D. Premaratne, injured in the incident was admitted in a serious condition to the Ratnapura General Hospital.
A.G. Damayanthi Perera, in a statement to the police said that she saw her husband and others becoming victims of the explosion, suspected to be done by UNP supporters. He was just returning to the place where the meeting was held after visiting home.
