31rst July 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
At 11.30 am today, shooting was reported at Bloemendal Road in front of the St. Benedict College grounds in Kotahena. Rajiv Seneviratne the Campaign Manager for the United National Party speaking to CMEV from Srikotha party headquarters confirmed that the incident had taken place while Mr. Ravi Karunanayake was canvasing with his supporters. The minister was not injured in the attack. It has also been reported that 500 individuals were present when the incident took place. CMEV can also confirm that one individual has been confirmed dead, 12 supporters have been injured, 5 critically and currently in the ICU.
The name of the victim has been reported as Ms. S. Maheema of Madampitiya, Colombo 15, an UNP supporter. The attack last for 10 minute, the perpetrators were reported to be clad in black and had arrived in 2 black hybrid cars without number plates. Furthermore 16 bullet casings have been found at the location according police sources.
CMEV was formed in 1997 by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Coalition Against Political Violence as an independent and non-partisan organisation to monitor the incidence of election related violence. Currently, CMEV is made up of CPA and INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre.
All CMEV reports and communiqués can be accessed online at www.cmev.org
###
Access this communique as a PDF here.
Download it in Sinhala here.
Download it in Tamil here.