In a chilling twist of Sri Lankan politics, Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara was shot dead while seated in his official chair during Public Day, turning the council into a crime scene.
The shocking incident unfolded today when two unidentified gunmen arrived on a motorcycle, stormed the Pradeshiya Sabha premises, and opened fire at close range. Wickramasinghe, a representative of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), had been presiding over Public Day when the attackers struck. Despite being rushed to hospital with critical injuries, he later succumbed, marking yet another violent blow to the country’s fragile local governance system.
Witnesses described the attack as swift and calculated, carried out in broad daylight without hesitation. Authorities say the shooters escaped immediately after the assault, leaving the community in shock and fear.
The killing has sent ripples across Matara and beyond, raising questions about political violence, public safety, and the vulnerability of elected officials even in what should be the safest spaces of democracy. Police have launched an investigation, but details about possible motives or suspects remain under wraps.
Wickramasinghe’s assassination while fulfilling his public duty underscores a grim reality: politics in Sri Lanka continues to flirt with bloodshed. For a community that looked to him for leadership, the sight of their chairman gunned down in his chair will remain an unforgettable symbol of lawlessness.
