Co-op Insurance Chairman names two as suspects over shooting

The new Chairman of the Co-operative Insurance Corporation Dharshana Samarawickrama who was injured in a shooting at Meegoda on Monday has told police investigators that he suspects a former Co-operative Insurance Corporation official and a close associate of him is behind the shooting. Samarawickrama also has mentioned their names to the police.

A senior police officer said that a special investigation is already being conducted regarding those two people.

The two people suspected by Samarawickrema are residents of the South.The officer said it appears during preliminary investigations that the shooting was done on a contract.

The official said that there is a suspicion that the contract was handed over to an underworld criminal in the south. Two unidentified persons on a motorcycle shot at the new Chairman of the Co-operative Insurance Corporation who was travelling in a car at Padukka in the Batawala area.

Chairman Dharshana Samarawickrama has been admitted to the Homagama hospital with injuries to one of his hands.

The shooting took place while Samarawickrama was on his way to take over the duties as Chairman of Co-operative Insurance Corporation at around 7.35am. He has also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Co-operative Insurance Company.