GUNFIRE AT RAVI KARUNANAYAKA'S BLOEMENDHAL MEETING!

WOMAN DEAD .... TWO PERSONS SERIOUS!

12.15 p.m.

A case of gunfire has been reported this morning (31) at Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 where
Minister Ravi Karunanayaka was to participate at a propaganda rally of the UNP.

Unidentified persons who had come in two vehicles had used T 56 weapons and had opened fire. As a result of this shooting some supporters who were present there had faced the shooting and 12 persons had been injured and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital as a consequence. There had been both females and males among those who had faced this gunfire. A middle-aged woman who was struck by bullets had been dead when admitted to the hospital and the condition of two others was critical, Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Anil Jasingha said.

Bullets are still found to be scattered around the place of the incident. Look forward to further information about the incident.

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RAVI SPEAKS AFTER THE INCIDENT

1.15 p.m.

Minister Ravi Karunanayaka spoke with regard to the attack aimed at a crowd of his supporters at a political rally held this morning.

"We will not allow a type of terrorism similar to this incident, in future. Damage was done to innocent, helpless people. I spoke to the Prime Minister, Inspector-General of Police and the President. A complete investigation will be carried out regarding this. There is eye-witness evidence too about this. Inquiries will be conducted about this in the future. Though we were targetted, we won't let this happen with the country being targetted".