Sri Lanka Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga arrested over killing of worker amid political crisis

One person was killed and two others were injured as the security staffs of Arjuna Ranatunga, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member.

Arjuna Ranatunga/ Image: AFP

New Delhi: Sri Lanka’s Petroleum Minister and former Sri Lankan cricket star Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested on Monday after a worker died due to shooting by his security staff on Sunday, as former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed charge as country's new Prime Minister after the sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena, which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis. The political crisis in the island nation had on Sunday triggered violence as one person was killed and two others were injured as the bodyguards of Arjuna Ranatunga, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member. Arjuna who is a Wickremesinghe loyalist was targeted by the Rajapaksa’s supporters who tried to take him hostage, as per AFP. When Ranatunga who served as Petroleum minister under the Wickremesinghe government, entered the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) building, the supporters of the new Prime Minister Rajapaksa shouted slogans against him. They also objected to the cricketer-turned-politician presence at the office. When they were not allowed to move out, Ranatinga’s bodyguards fired shots at them which injured three persons. One person later succumbed to his injuries. Unconfirmed reports said that two of Ranatunga's security personnel had been arrested the same day. Ranatunga supports Wickremesinghe who was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday. Wickremesinghe, however, termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional. The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis, unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) announced that it has decided to quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. Next day, Sirisena suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Parliament's speaker recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's prime minister, three days after his sacking by  Sirisena threw the country into chaos. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said Wickremesinghe has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance" even as he questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament.” He raised questions on the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, the speaker said it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country.