Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekera, widely known as ‘Midigama Lasa,’ was fatally shot while seated in his official capacity at the local council office.
According to initial reports, unidentified assailants on a motorcycle carried out the shooting and fled the scene. The motive remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
This incident marks killings related to organized crime reaching a new level.
Wickramasekera was a prominent supporter of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. He had previously faced multiple criminal allegations, with judicial proceedings currently underway in connection with several cases.
Recent media coverage has also linked him to alleged underworld activities, raising concerns about political-criminal intersections in local governance.
( Sri Lanka Brief/22 October 2025)