Weligama PS Chairman killing cause for serious concern

THE killing of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Lasantha Wickramasekera is a shocking reminder that violent crimes in this country continue unabated despite the Police Department’s much publicised crackdown on crime.

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The killing is all the more shocking because it took place inside the Weligama PS building where the victim was meeting with members of the public as it was Public Day. The assassins fled the scene after the shooting and the fatally wounded man was taken to the Matara Hospital where he died.

This killing is a serious cause for concern for all and as Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa pointed out in Parliament, such crimes pose a threat to national security.

The words of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala are not particularly reassuring. His thinking is that the slain man was connected with those in the drug trade and hence a violent death was awaiting him sooner or later. His premise is, “those who live by the sword, will perish by the sword” and that political parties should think twice about who they choose to give nominations to during elections to exclude such characters.