Sri Lanka crisis: Minister Arjuna Ranatunga arrested over fatal shooting

Sri Lanka’s Petroleum Minister and former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested on Monday, October 29, for the violent incident amid the ongoing political crisis in the country that killed one person, police said.

Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after President Sirisena sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe on Friday, and replaced him with former strongman Rajapaksa.

Ranatunga was the captain of Sri Lanka’s 1996 cricket World Cup winning side.

The political crises in Sri Lanka took an ugly turn on Sunday, October 28, when bodyguards of the 54-year-old Ranatunga, a loyalist of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, fired live rounds at the supporters of the new Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, leaving one person dead.

Two persons were hospitalised and a security personnel was arrested at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) premises in Dematagoda following a tense situation.

The incident took place when the cricketer-turned-politician visited the CPC office, with several petroleum corporation workers objecting to his presence there.

Unions went on strike on Monday, October 28, in protest over the shooting, sparking long queues for fuel at gas stations.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the ministry office on Sunday when the minister appeared and tried to take him hostage.

When they were not allowed to move out, Mr. Ranatunga’s security personnel opened fire which injured three persons, police said. Unconfirmed reports said two of Mr. Ranatunga’s security personnel have been arrested. The bodyguard was arrested on Sunday and is still being held.