ELECTION CANDIDATE CUM TRADE UNION LEADER CLUBBED TO DEATH NEAR COLOMBO
Independent candidate of Colombo district and trishaw drivers’ and self-employed peoples’ trade union leader Sunil Jayawardane, 53, was clubbed to death in Mirihana, the high-security police area where Sri Lanka President’s residence is located.
Jayawardane was murdered by a group of thugs who worked in a finance company called Chanmill Investment. The company is an illegal financial company that is not registered under the Central Bank, social media reported.
The company has ignored the government regulations to postpone levying the leasing instalments of the trishaw taxi owners and ceased a vehicle owned by a member of the union led by the deceased.
The slain trade union leader had gone to negotiate for a settlement regarding Rs. 35,000 (US$ 200) but the company rejected it. Later, they clubbed the man in broad daylight by the side of the road and the victim died after admission to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, Mahinda Kahandagamage, a close ally of leftist leader of the government, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa posted on Facebook that he admired the killers and vowed to stand with them.
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence is in the same police area.
A passer-by videoed the murder with a mobile phone and it is widely circulated via social media and television.
Police arrested eight persons for the murder.
