Contract killers gun down four fishermen in Tangalle

COLOMBO (News 1st): Four individuals were killed and another eight were injured following a shooting that took place in the Kudawella Fisheries harbor, Tangalle. According to Police, the assailants had arrived on a motorcycle. Our correspondent said the shooting had taken place while the group of fishermen were unloading fish from a fishing vessel named Kelani Kudawella. Several individuals who had come to purchase fish were also present when the shooting took place. According to SP Ruwan Gunasekara, the Police Media Spokesperson, the two suspects wore face masks and had used a T56 fire gun and a rifle to kill the fishermen. It is suspected that the shooting had taken place due to a dispute between two groups of fishermen. Witness: "I didn't even move. About 4 people fell to the ground. And then they started shooting those around the area. They had machine guns similar to those owned by the police. They had a black bag as well." Among the four individuals killed were three fishermen named J.M.Sameera, Shasik Thiwanka and Lathish Udaya Kumara. The fourth victim was a 40-year-old individual named Sandun Chanaka who had come to buy fish. SP Gunasekara said that further investigations are being carried out under the direct supervision of the Senior DIG in charge of the Southern Province and the DIG in charge of Tangalle. He added that CCTV footage from the area are being investigated while reports of phone conversations are being obtained. "11 teams have already been dispatched and based on information received, we suspect that the shooting had taken place due to a dispute between two groups. The shooters were given the contract for this," he added.