Cross over celebration ends in shooting

A former United National Party (UNP) Pradeshiya Sabha member was injured in a shooting incident at Maggona in Payagala this evening while a group of UNP supporters were celebrating the crossover of some UPFA parliamentarians and Ministers, police said.

They said the injured Chamila Ranasinghe who was a former UNP member of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha was admitted to the Kalutara Hospital and later transferred to the Colombo National Hospital in a critical condition.

An unidentified group arrived in a car had shot him with a pistol and fled the scene while UNP supporters were lighting crackers to celebrate the cross over.    

Meanwhile, a vehicle convoy of the UNP was attacked in Mawathagama this evening near the SLFP office and several people were injured in the incident, police said

They said the UNP supporters had come in a vehicle parade to celebrate the appointment of J.C. Alawathuwala as the North Western province opposition leader. (Ajith Siriwardana)