#Rambukkana Shooting: Eye-witness accounts reveal startling details

COLOMBO (News 1st); Kegalle Magistrate Vasana Navaratne on Thursday (21) ordered the police to submit a report within three days on the investigation into the shooting of a protester in Rambukkana on Tuesday, 19th April.

Several questions are emerging out of the incident that transpired in Rambukkana.

Amateur footage showed how a three-wheeler was set on fire during the protests.

A witness had told Kegalle Magistrate Wasana Nawaratna that he had witnessed the police setting fire to the three-wheeler.

"A police officer set it on fire. There are ample videos showing a police officer setting fire. Even I can be seen in the video. The actions of the police will be revealed in the coming days," he said.

"A police officer and an STF officer arrived at the location. Three more people came behind them. The thin and tall person set-fire to the three-wheeler," said another witness.

During a magisterial inspection yesterday, a witness had said that a police officer had given chase to Chaminda Lakshan at a by-road when giving chase to him.

According to the witness, the victim had been shot when returning after attempting to protect a motorcycle that was parked on the road.

The witness said he wouldn't reveal the identity of the police officer as he is a father of three.

"I attended the protest. But Chaminda Lakshan didn't participate in the protest. He was sick. He had undergone a plastic surgery on his head. I saw with my own eyes how the police officer shot him. They started attacking people by chasing them. They then opened fire," said the witness.

Questions were raised in court whether the witnesses were coerced.