A large crowd joined the emotionally-charged funeral procession of slain JVP Urban Councillor Chandradasa Nainamaduwa in the Southern town of Ambalangoda on Friday -- with the police yet to arrest those responsible for the killing.
Mr. Nainamaduwa, who was also a graduate school teacher, was beaten up by suspected political opponents on the eve of the January 26 presidential election near his home at Polwatte in Ambalangoda. He died a few days after the election at the Balapitiya hospital.
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| Chandradasa Nainamaduwa |
Mr. Nainamaduwa was also a cricket and swimming coach in the Ambalangoda area. He once taught at D. S. Senanayake College in Colombo.
His party accused a senior government politician from the area of being involved in the killing and charged the police were trying a cover up.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said the victim was attacked with wooden poles and iron rods causing fatal injuries to his head and chest. "This is a dangerous trend. The government is heading for total dictatorship. We call on the masses to stand up against this trend," Mr. Silva said.
Accusing the police of failing in their duty, the JVP General Secretary said the law enforcement officers were reluctant to carry out serious investigation into the attack despite being provided with the registration numbers of the two vehicles allegedly involved in the incident.
Mr. Nainamaduwa's was the third election-related death after the presidential poll. A Buddhist monk and a CEB employee were killed in a grenade attack on a temple in Gampola, hours after voting ended. In the run-up to the election, at least five people died in polls violence.
Police said both incidents were being investigated and a breakthrough was imminent. |
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