Security tight as supporters pay last respects to Bharatha

A large number of armed police and Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been assigned to the Kolonnawa area in the outskirts of Sri Lankan capital to ensure that the area remains calm following a shooting incident on Saturday evening.

The body of former governing United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarian and Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra who was killed in Saturday’s shootout was brought to his residence in Kolonnawa yesterday afternoon.

President Mahinda Rahjapaksa and a large number of his supporters thronged to the house to pay their respects to Premachandra.

The police have closed the road leading to Premachandra’s residence in Kolonnawa for traffic amidst the heavy security presence.

Premachandra and two others were killed in Saturday’s shooting incident between two factions of the UPFA.

UPFA parliamentarian Duminda Silva was admitted to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital with serious injuries following the incident.

Meanwhile, the police curfew imposed last night in the Mulleriyawa area was lifted yesterday morning.

However, police and STF personnel still remain to ensure that sporadic incidents did not happen in the area.