One person was admitted to Nagoda Hospital following a shootout in Maggona during a function that was organized to support the common candidate of the opposition.

The person who is injured is a former local government member of the United National Party, Chamila Ranasinghe. He was rushed to Nagoda Hospital soon after the incident and was later transferred to National Hospital Colombo due to seriousness of his head injuries, hospital sources confirmed.

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has released a statement saying that this incident is linked to Ranasinghe lighting fire crackers at Beruwala after former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena declared that he is the common candidate.

CaFFE has also stated that the group that shot Ranasinghe had earlier destroyed cutouts of former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne. CaFFE stated that these men are known associates of a local politician and were actively involved in the election campaign of his brother’s election campaign recently. Furthermore, CaFFE expressed its dismay at the lack of action taken by the Beruwala Police about these incidents.

Meanwhile CaFFE has also stated that a vehicle convoy of North Western Provincial Member H.C. Alavathuwela was attacked in Mawathagama, and four vehicles have been damaged. CaFFE states that the attack has been perpetrated by a local politician known for his acts of election violence in the last provincial elections in the Province. One UNP Pradeshiya Sabha Member has been injured in the attack and admitted to hospital.

CaFFE has expressed fears of freedom of expression of the common citizens given these sort of attacks are happening just after the candidacy of Sirisena was announced. CaFFE urges the law enforcement authorities to take action to prevent election related violence.