• Cop fires at motorcyclist who didn’t stop in Negombo 
• Kahawatta OIC transferred over youth death probe 

One of the two persons who were injured in the Kandana shooting incident yesterday morning (3) has reportedly succumbed to injuries at hospital.

Two individuals who arrived on a motorcycle had carried out the shooting at around 10 a.m. yesterday using a Type-56 assault rifle, targeting the two victims travelling in a car near the Kandana Public Market. The suspects had reportedly fled the scene afterwards. 

The Police Media Spokesperson’s office stated that the two injured individuals were admitted to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama. It was also reported that Sameera Manahara, who was a private secretary of the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera, and who is also known as ‘Weli Sameera’, is one of those injured in the Kandana shooting, the Police said, adding that Manahara was the intended target. The other injured persons had died at the hospital, and Manahara is currently receiving further treatment. However, hospital sources confirmed that Manahara’s condition is not serious. The deceased, Upali Amunuwila, has been identified as a 50-year-old resident of the Kandana area, and he is the brother-in-law of Manahara, according to Police information. Accordingly, the two were returning home from a fitness centre when they were shot, about 500 metres away from their residence. Several Police teams, including officers from the Kandana Police, are currently investigating the incident.

Further to the probe on the recent Kahawatta shooting, the OIC of the Kahawatta Police Station has been transferred to the Jaffna Police Division to facilitate investigations into the shooting death of a youth that occurred in Kahawatta on Monday (30 June). According to initial investigations, a group of individuals had arrived at the residence where the youth was staying, abducted him, and subsequently shot him. Accordingly, the OIC of the Kahawatta Police has been transferred to Jaffna in connection with the investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, another shooting incident has been reported at Dungalpitiya in Negombo, yesterday. It is reported that a Police officer has opened fire at a motorcycle after the rider had failed to heed orders to stop for an inspection. An individual has sustained injuries in the incident.