Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament today that the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara, who was shot dead today, was involved with the underworld.
Wijepala assured that there is no threat to national security, despite shooting incidents in the recent past, including the murder of Wickramasekara.
There is an evident clash between organized crime groups in the country who are also in possession of weapons, the Public Security Minister said, adding that today’s shooting was also one such incident.
He further said that despite Lasantha Wickramasekara being elected as a public representative, he was an underworld figure with six court cases against him.
“02 cases have been filed at the Matara High Court, 02 cases at the Kurunegala High Court, and 02 at the Galle High Court. He is someone under a suspended prison sentence. He is linked to underworld activities,” the minister said.
Minister Wijepala further revealed that investigations into the underworld figures recently arrested in Indonesia have found that Lasantha Wickramasekara was in possession of several weapons.
Minister Ananda Wijepala emphasized that even though he is a politician and public representative elected via the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), he is an underworld figure.
The Minister, however, said that the government does not approve of the death of a criminal, as the government is one that recgonizes the value of human life.
The Minister of Public Security said that a comprehensive investigation is underway into the shooting incident.
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