• Court orders arrest of all suspects 

The Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate has ordered the Anuradhapura Police to immediately arrest all the suspects in connection with the recent shooting incident that targeted Parliamentarian Uddika Premarathna and to produce them before Court.

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and District Judge Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya, has ordered the investigators to seek the assistance of the Police intelligence units and informants in order to identify the shooters.

Furthermore, the Court has called for a report on the progress of the investigations.

These orders were issued by the Court in consideration of the facts presented to the Court by the Police through a ‘B’ report.

At around 10:35 p.m. on 17 September, a group of unidentified gunmen had opened fire at Premarathna’s car soon after he returned to his residence in Anuradhapura. He had managed to escape unharmed. The perpetrators, who had arrived in a car, had targeted Premarathna who was walking towards the house after parking his vehicle. The left rear door glass of Premarathna’s car was damaged in the shooting for which the gunmen are believed to have used a pistol.

Anuradhapura Police initiated investigations soon after the incident was reported and Special Task Force personnel were deployed to beef up the security near the MP’s house.

Later, the investigations into the matter were handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department.

Police stated that statements have been obtained from several parties.