Police investigations have revealed that three former commandos who were about to board a bus after participating in a court case against them were shot dead this afternoon near the Colombo DIG’s office complex on Bastian Mawatha, Pettah.
One person was killed and another was injured in the shooting. A third man escaped unhurt, police said.
The three had been working at a restaurant in Colombo 07 for some time, police said. A senior police official said that a court case was being heard against them for assaulting and damaging the chairs and tables of the restaurant following a dispute over non-payment of wages and that they had been shot while returning after attending the case.
The owner of the restaurant had not participated in today’s hearing, the official said.
Investigations have revealed that the three persons had complained to the Labor Department that they had not been paid their salaries and had received their arrears.
Police suspect that the shooting, which took place coming on a motorcycle, appeared to have been carried out on a contract basis. Police are investigating to identify the shooters and arrest them.
