Even as the campaign ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election came to a close on Monday, unidentified gunmen opened fire ahead of a rally, injuring at least three supporters of the joint opposition here.
New agency AFP said the men were hit in a drive-by shooting as they erected a podium for opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena to address a rally in the Southern town of Kahawatte, about 130 km from Colombo.
“A vehicle convoy approached the site and at least one person travelling in one of the vehicles opened fire wounding three people,” police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said. One of the offices of the ruling party office, in the vicinity, was smashed shortly after the shooting in what appeared to be a retaliatory strike, the report said.
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With a couple of days left for Sri Lanka’s January 8 contest, in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa is targeting a record third term in office, sporadic incidents of violence have been reported across the country.
Monday’s developments came days after the opposition candidate escaped a stoning incident. In one of his election rallies soon after, gunshots were fired towards the stage after the candidate left the venue. “I have conducted a peaceful campaign and appeal to my opponent [Mr. Rajapaksa] to please also ensure that there is peace in the three days before the voting on January 8,” Mr. Sirisena, his principal challenger, said at a press conference in Colombo on Monday. Mr. Sirisena promised to protect Mr. Rajapaksa and his family members in the “new post-election political culture I will usher in from Friday”, if he come to power.