Father of cricketer Dhananjaya Silva was assassinated by an underworld gang

The Police Special Task Force says the assassination of K. Ranjan Silva, was carried out by an underworld gang. Ranjan Silva was a member of the Dehiwela Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and was shot and killed in Ratmalana last night (May 24). A senior Police STF officer claimed the shooting was carried out by associates of 'Anju', an underworld figure. He added that investigations have revealed the shooting was carried out by two men traveling in a white car. Two others who were injured in the shooting are being treated at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The 62-year-old father of three is also the father of popular national cricketer Dhananjaya Silva. Silva's son Sachithra Silva recalled the incident, saying he saw two men, one at the back and the other in the front. "They pointed a T 56 at my father and opened fire. I saw my father running forward but they drew closer and opened fire again." The son also claimed that a drug peddler named 'Kudu Manju' carried out the assassination. "He is the one who shot my father. He had even posted on facebook about how he would hit us. I have a screenshot of this." One of the injured men is a laborer working for the DMMC while the other is a fisherman. A hospital spokesperson said both men are out of danger. The Mount Lavinia Police and the Police STF are investigating the assassination.