Sri Lankan Opposition Politician Assassinated: Lasantha Wickramasekara Shot Dead in Office Amid Rising Violence

Lasantha Wickramasekara, a 38-year-old opposition politician from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, was fatally shot in his office on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's coastal city of Weligama witnessed a shocking incident when its council chairman was assassinated during a constituent meeting. A gunman entered the premises and discharged multiple rounds from a revolver before escaping the scene.

Police have confirmed that no other individuals were injured in the attack. Authorities have launched an investigation to apprehend the perpetrator, though the motivation behind the assassination remains undetermined.

The slain politician belonged to the opposition SJB party, which has been engaged in an intense political struggle with the ruling administration over the governance of Weligama council.

This assassination occurs amid a troubling rise in violent crime throughout Sri Lanka this year, with many incidents connected to drug cartels and organized criminal networks. Official statistics reveal that more than 100 shootings have resulted in at least 50 fatalities.

This marks the first political assassination since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's administration took office last year with promises to strengthen security and restore public order.

The most daring incident in this wave of violence occurred in February, when an assailant disguised as a legal professional fatally shot a defendant inside a Colombo courthouse.