Daily NEWS Srilanka

It was day-before-yesterday a married person, an Army Lieutenant Colonel who was involved in a law suit of divorce from his wife having 3 children was shot at in Isurupura area in Pittugala, Malabe was interrogated by the police. However on that occasion he had denied that he had committed something like that. But his driver

The police managed to locate and retrieve the pistol used by the suspect for this shooting, from Diyawanna Oya. The lady 43 year old Mrs. Nayana Fernando the victim who was in a serious condition is under treatment at the National Hospital, Colombo. There had been domestic conflicts between Mrs. Nayana Fernando and her husband for a period of time and as a consequence a divorce case which was filed was scheduled to commence next week. Having had to separate from the husband she had planned to demand a large sum of money for maintenance of the family. According to the salary and assets of the lieutenant colonel he has had to pay quite a large sum of money in the future and he had expressed disfavour in that connection. Before the case was legally filed, arguments had flared up between the two of them regarding that aspect. He may, it may be assumed had speculated that he would have no future if at all he had to pay that money and it is observed that under such circumstances the lieutenant colonel may have thought of carrying out this shooting and putting an end to her life.

Whatever it is, the children who were in the house at the time of the shooting had been sharp enough to identify the lieutenant colonel who had been surveying movements around the window where the victim was sleeping on 27th night and had finally shot at her stomach region. The assailant had fled in the dark from the immediate scene after the shooting and had got into his vehicle thinking that his wife had died. The lady who sustained severe injuries from the shooting however escaped death after being admitted to hospital. In fact she is still under treatment in hospital.

The lieutenant colonel who set off with his driver and coadjutor in the vehicle after the shooting had approached the parliament area and after breaking journey there had tossed the pistol in his hand to Diyawanna Oya. He had also advised the two persons in his company not to divulge information about this incident to anybody. After 3 days of inquiry the lieutenant colonel who came under suspicion was ultimately taken into custody by Aturugiriya Police Crimes Unit and the 9 mm. type pistol connected with the shooting was recovered last afternoon by the Colombo Navy personnel from Diyawanna Oya close to Japan Friendship Bridge.

The suspect lieutenant colonel of the Army had been serving the Gajaba Regiment affiliated to Nelum Pokuna security activities. After he was interrogated he was produced before courts and subsequently remanded till next 9th.