Father of three children shot dead

Two people had gone to a farm in Thunmodera in the Matara district , on the pretext of wanting to buy some pork, and shot a man there on Saturday night

The victim is Lunuwilage Manju Lakshan (35), the father of three children

He had died after admission to the Matara General Hospital with severe injuries

One of the assailants had been apprehended by the victim's brother in law who had narrowly avoided being shot: He had hit the attacker on the head with a club and later handed him over to the police.

Police had identified the other assailant who had escaped by questioning the one in custody. Police believe it was a contract killing. . Police were been able to take into custody a Chinese made revolver, 10 cartridges and a motorcycle. The suspects had first come to the farm in the morning and paid an advance of Rs. 2,000 for the purchase of 30 kilograms of pork.

The magisterial inquiry into the death was held by Matara Acting Magistrate Upali Ranasinghe.

Further investigations are being conducted, on the directions of the Matara SSP Deshabandu Tennekoon, by HQI Hemal Prasantha, OIC crime investigation unit A. Ishan, SI D.M. Gunaratne and sergeants Ajith, Geeganage and Subasinghe.

One of the assailants had been apprehended by the victim's brother - inlaw who had narrowly avoided being shot. He had hit the attacker on the head with a club and later handed him over to the police