COLOMBO, Jan 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Five persons were killed in a shooting incident this morning, in Beliatta, in Southern Province of Sri Lanka, police said.
Police spokesman, Nihal Thalduwa, said, the incident occurred near the Beliatta interchange, on the Southern Expressway. Four people were killed on the spot, while another died upon admission to hospital, he said.
The shooting took place around 7:45 a.m. local time (0215 GMT), when an unidentified group, travelling in a vehicle, opened fire at another group in a jeep, he said.
The police suspect that, the shooting was carried out by members of organised criminal gangs. Sri Lanka has launched an operation since Dec 17, to curb drug trafficking and organised criminal activities, with over 40,000 suspects being arrested as of last week.– NNN-XINHUA
