A member of the Western Provincial Council representing the United National Party (UNP) is among the seven suspects arrested following today’s shootout in Divulapitiya, sources told Ada Derana.

According to the source, the provincial councilor is also related to a prominent Cabinet Minister in the incumbent government.

One person was killed while seven individuals were arrested following a shootout between Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel and a gang of suspected criminals in the Henpitagedara area in Divulapitiya this morning (23).

Acting on information received that a gang of criminals were loitering near the school in Henpitagedara on the Ballapana-Dunagaha Road, the STF carried out a special raid which had resulted in the shootout.

When a team of STF personnel arrived at the location in question, two suspects had been on the road while another 6 were in a van, the police spokesman’s office said.

One of the suspects on the road had pulled out a pistol and opened fire at the STF personnel who returned fire, injuring the shooter. He was admitted to the Divulapitiya Hospital in critical condition, however succumbed to injuries afterwards.

The deceased has been identified as Aluthapola Cooray, a former soldier attached to the Sri Lanka Navy.

The remaining 7 suspects have been taken into custody along with the van in question, a hand grenade and 3 pistols of which one is said to be a toy pistol.