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Message: <blockquote data-quote="humanoid" data-source="post: 9218146" data-attributes="member: 301119"> S PC minister M.K. Ranjith (Chandi Malli) shot dead in the heart of Colombo<img src="http://www.island.lk/2003/05/26//chandi.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />by Shamindra Ferdinando and Norman PalihawadanaM. K. Ranjith alias Chandi Malli, a minister of the PA-run Southern Provincial Council was shot dead opposite the Bank of Ceylon’s York Street branch yesterday morning. He was a close associate of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse, political sources said.He was shot thrice as he was walking towards his car, a senior CID spokesman said. A few minutes before the shooting, he reported to CID headquarters as directed by a magistrate. "He was on bail," he said, adding that the minister was asked to report to the CID once a month. Responding to questions, he said, the minister was arrested several months ago when a CID team recovered some guns and ammunition from his Beliatta residence. Chandi Malli was among four persons directed to report on the last Sunday of every month. All of them reported on Sunday. Chandi Malli was the first to leave the headquarters. "He was shot with a 9mm pistol. The shots were fired from a speeding vehicle.A bystander suffered gunshot injuries, he said, adding that he was admitted to the National Hospital.<img src="http://www.island.lk/2003/05/26//ranjith2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />But SP Sarath Lugoda, Director Colombo Crime Division (CCD) in charge of the investigation, said that two persons fired at the minister. They were armed with a 9 mm pistol and an assault rifle. A soldier was among the eyewitnesses, he said. According to the soldier, two men got down from a car, fired at the target and then fled the scene in a three-wheeler. IGP T.E. Anandarajah has directed SSP Gamini Dissanayake, deputy director of the Legal Branch to assist the investigation.After visiting the scene of the killing, Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse said that he met with Ranjith less than two hours before the shooting. He said: "Ranjith came with another person to invite me for a wedding. He had a cup of tea and left for Nawaloka hospital. from there he was to report to the CID."The MP said that he warned the CID of the possibility of the provincial minister’s opponents targeting him when he visited the headquarters. "They ignored the warning," he said, expressing the belief the hit was ordered by a group gangsters operating in the deep south. The group dubbed as the Sooriyawewa gang was responsible for over thirty killings in the south, he said. They have been able to operate freely, he said, pointing out Sunday’s killing outside police headquarters, within walking distance to Janadhipathi Mandiraya underscored the need to get rid of armed gangs.He was assassinated as he posed a threat to the gang, the MP said. "He was not scared to confront them," he said, criticising the police for failing to cripple the gang, undoubtedly the most powerful outside Colombo.The killing was the second high profile gang-related slaying this month. Madurapperuma Appuhamilage Nimalsiri Kalingawansa alias Moratu Saman was killed. The CID has been directed to investigate the killing.Commenting on the MP’s claims, a senior police officer said that they will investigate all aspects of the killing. "We will definitely investigate the possible involvement of the Sooriyawewa gang," he said.</blockquote>

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