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Sri Lanka Opposition Council Chief Lasantha Wickramasekara Killed in Weligama Office Shooting

Police opened a murder investigation with no known motive.

Overview

  • Police say an unidentified gunman entered the council office during meetings and fired multiple shots with a handgun before fleeing.
  • Wickramasekara, 38, chaired the Weligama council and was a member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya opposition party.
  • No other injuries were reported, and authorities are working to identify and arrest the suspect.
  • The killing is reported as the first targeting a politician since the current government took office last year.
  • Officials cite more than 100 shootings this year with about 50 deaths, often linked to drug gangs, and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa questioned national security in parliament.