Bharatha killing: soldier gives evidence FRIDAY, 02 AUGUST 2013  An STF soldier giving evidence in the non-summary trial into the killing of former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others during Local Government elections at Mulleriyawa said parliamentarian Duminda Silva who came to the Rahula Vidyalaya polling booth at Angoda in a motorcade assaulted candidate Prasanna Solangaarachchi’s the sister-in-law. STF soldier S.M.S. Kumara made this assertion before Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage. Witness Kumara said on the day of the incident he was assigned duties at the Rahula College polling centre at Angoda with four others. He said they were posted there for duties by an ASP and DIG. He said in the evening Duminda Silva who came there in a motorcade went up to three women who were standing near the polling booth and asked one of the women to whom she voted. The witness said he then saw Mr. Silva assaulting one of the women and she ran towards a house nearby. He said he came to know later that woman who was assaulted was Mr. Solangaaratchchi’s sister-in-law.  The witness said he made entries in his pocket book and made a statement to the CID seven days later which was read over to the witness yesterday before the court and which statement the witness accepted as correct. He said he saw a person named Chaminda who came with Duminda Silva on the day of the incident at the CID office. However when the Magistrate questioned the witness whether the person was in courtroom yesterday, the he answered in negative. Another witness W. Dayananda of Himbutana Lane told the Magistrate that the statement read over to him before giving evidence in court was erroneous and said on the day of the incident on his way home he saw two injured people on the road and with the help of others he sent them in a vehicle to hospital. Duminda Silva and 12 other suspects are accused of having killed Mr. Premamachandra and three others.(T.Farook Thajudeen) Three Police personnel interdicted SATURDAY, 03 AUGUST 2013  Three police personnel including a woman constable attached to the Boralesgamuwa police station were interdicted over the incident where a woman escaped from their custody recently, police said. The woman who was arrested for possession of heroin had escaped from their custody while being taken to be produced in Courts. Timber Corp. manager shot dead SATURDAY, 03 AUGUST 2013  A showroom manager of the Sri Lanka Timber Corporation Ratnapura Branch was shot dead in Ratnapura last night, police said. The 45 year-old victim was a father of two from Athoya, Ratnapura. Initial investigations revealed that unidentified gunmen arrived on a motorbike shot the victim while he was travelling in his car.(Ajithalal Shanthaudaya) MAN SHOT AND STABBED IN RATNAPURA August 3, 2013  A businessman has been shot and killed near a furniture store in New Town, Ratnapura last night.  Police said the suspect had used a locally manufactured ‘Gal Katas’ firearm to carry out the shooting which took place at around 10pm yesterday. The victim, Chandana Pushpakumara, 45-year-old father of two, is said to be the manager of the furniture showroom and is a resident of Eth Oya in Ratnapura. The assailant had followed the store manager’s vehicle in a motorcycle to carry out the shooting and had also stabbed the victim using a sharp object.