UNP chief ministerial candidate injured in attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 August 2008, 05:51 GMT]
Film actor cum politician Ranjan Ramanayake, United National Party (UNP) chief ministerial candidate in Sabragamuwa Provincial Council election, was injured Wednesday night when persons alleged to be supporters of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) attacked the convoy of UNP vehicles in Gal-Ela area in Ratnapura district, in Sabaragamuwa province. Two police officers of the police security team accompanying the convoy were also injured, sources in Colombo said.

Five vehicles in the convoy that was heading to an election campaign meeting were also badly damaged in the attack.

Police said they were unable identify the attackers, sources added.

Ranjan Ramanayake is the chief ministerial candidate of the UNP contesting in Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council election that is scheduled to be held on August 23.

He became popular in the cine field with his Sinhalese film "One Shot", sources said.

Meanwhile, another gang of unidentified persons attacked UNP supporters when they were returning after an election meeting held at Thambuthugama in Anuradhapura police division Wednesday night.

The meeting was addressed by the leader of the UNP, Ranil Wickremasinghe.

The attackers were not identified, Anuradhapura police said.