As the CCTV footage of shooting incident involving Arjuna Ranatunga at CPC has been released, it has emerged that the former world cup winning captain was not committed anything wrong. Furthermore, the CCTV footage also proves that some ‘external elements’ were trying to show their power after the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as country’s newly Prime Minister.
Ranatunga was the petroleum minister in the ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government. The incident took place when, after returning from the UK, the cricketer-turned-politician visited the CPC office to take his house keys. Before that he had also informed about his visit to ministrial secretary. When Ranatunga entered the building, on the ground floor the supporters of the new Prime Minister Rajapaksa took exception to him visiting the office and shouted slogans.
When they were not allowed to move out, Ranatunga’s security personnel opened fire which caused one death, police said. Ranatunga is a supporter of Wickremesinghe who was sacked by Sirisena. Wickremesinghe holds his sacking was illegal and unconstitutional.
The CCTV footage shows that Ranatunga was not even present at the place, when the incident took place. Instead, he was inside the room.
The CCTV footage also raises serious questions. The said premise is a high security zone, so it is mysterious how Rajapaksa’s supporters entered with iron rods in their hands? Also, if the security guard of an VIP (especially of a world cup winning captain) is not expected to protect him, then what is the logic of having a guard?
It is noteworthy that as soon as Mahinda Rajapaksa returned in Sri Lanka political fold as Prime Minister, his supporters started to show their power. Few days ago, former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala went to lake house and ordered employees to vacate the place. Interestingly, the CPC premise is located at
dematagoda, which is next to Sumathipala’s constituency Borella.
