The bullet riddled vehicle (Courtesy Daily News)
Saman Perera, the leader of the right-wing Sinhala nationalist party 'Ape Janabala Pakshaya' (meaning “Our Power of People Party” in Sinhala), was confirmed to be among the five individuals shot dead in Tangalle, on Monday (22).
The incident unfolded near the Beliatta interchange, close to the Southern Expressway. According to the Police Media Spokesman, SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the shooting occurred when a group of assailants opened fire at a Defender parked near a local shop.
No motive has been established but there are reports of a dispute between the politician and a local criminal figure.
Saman Perera was en route to the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court to provide testimony in an ongoing court case at the time of his murder. He was arrested by the police in connection to allegations of harboring a suspect involved in a murder that transpired in Tangalle on June 5, 2022.
Ape Janabala Pakshaya, under Saman Perera's leadership, had fielded candidates across numerous districts in the last Parliamentary elections. Despite securing one seat through the National list with a nationwide vote count of 67,758, internal conflicts marred the party as rival extremist Buddhist monks Galagodaaththe Gnansara Thero and Athuraliye Rathana Thero, tussled for the sole contested seat.
One of the monks lodged a complaint at the Swiss Embassy in Colombo, claiming that “groups supporting Galagoda Athethe Gnanasara, Arthuraliye Rathana and the Chairman of the OPPP Saman Perera were looking me”. He claimed to have been kidnapped and assaulted.
