Ranil’s vehicle attacked

11 June 2013 04:53 pm Views - 10527

A UNP delegation led by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was confronted by a group of men in Balapitiya this evening as they went round visiting the houses of the fishermen who were victims of the recent adverse weather conditions.

Reports said the attackers were aiming to stone the vehicle which carried the opposition leader and one stone had struck his vehicle.

In addition, two UNP Pradeshiya Sabha Members Asela de Soysa and W. D. Senarath had allegedly sustained injuries in the attack. Both of them had lodged complaints with the Balapitiya Police

Asoka Dhanawansa, the UNP organiser for Balapitiya who claimed to be an eye witness to the incident told Daily Mirror that both PS members had been admitted to Balapitiya Hospital.

He alleged that the Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Dayaratne de Silva had led the attack.

There were contradictory reports regarding the incident, with some sources saying that Mr. Wickremesinghe could not visit any of the fishermen’s houses.

 However Mr. Danawansa said Mr. Wickremesinghe did visit the houses and have discussions with the families of the dead fishermen. He said he too heard about the stoning of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s vehicle but did not see it. (Kamal Liyanege and Yohan Perera)