A shooting opposite the Balapitiya Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning claimed the life of one and injured another. Police said that shots were fired at them when they were brought to court for a hearing.

The victims had previously visited a shop opposite the court following the hearing of the case. A gunmen in a motorcycle had opened fire at them when they stepped out of the shop. The two injured individuals were rushed to the Balapitiya Base Hospital and one of them, who had suffered serious injuries, succumbed on admission.

The other individual was admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

The victim was 54 year old K.A.Piyarathana from Kantale. The other individual aged 30 a resident of Kaikawala , Iduruwa was identified as Chaminda Kumara.

They were accompanied by Venerable Migettuwatte Sumiththa Thero and had arrived in courts today to appear over an incident where an employee of a restaurant in Bentota was shot dead on  October  19, 2011.

Deceased K.A.Piyarathana is the first suspect in the incident. The monk is charged with providing arms to commit murder and providing accommodation to the primary accused.

Our correspondent said that following the incident, the monk was escorted out of the court premises under police protection.

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