Three opposition workers were injured on Monday in a shooting incident on the final day of campaigning for Sri lanka’s crucial presidential election. Shots were fired at a venue in Nivithigala which was to be used for an election rally by the opposition, injuring three people.
A group of people had been decorating the stage for the rally when someone opened fire injuring three activists who have now been admitted to hospital, the Colombo Gazette reported. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking a record third straight term in office, is pitted against Maithripala Sirisena, his former Health Minister and General Secretary of the ruling Sri lanka Freedom Party (SlFP), who is now his main challenger in the January 8 polls after defecting to the Opposition.