He has told BBC Sandeshaya that such persons should be brought to the police and questioned over the presence of gangsters at the incident four days ago.

Such persons should also be examined by psychiatrists, and the people should decide as to whether they should remain in the UNP any longer.

Karunanayake is commenting on a remark by deputy justice minister Sujeewa Senasinghe that ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa had no connection to the shooting and that it was a fight between two underworld gangs.

The Rajapaksa faction is responsible for the incident, Karunanayake stressed.

‘Army Sampath’?

Another supporter of his, identified as Niroshan Sampath, referred by certain media as Army Sampath, last morning succumbed to injuries suffferd in the shooting.

CaFFE executive director Rajith Tennakoon said in a statement that it was clear the incident was nothing political, but an underworld affair.

Sampath’s sister has told the media that her brother had no connection with the underworld, and that he had supported minister Karunanayake with the intention of securing a government job.

Police media spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the deceased was not the person, as referred by certain media, called Army Sampath.

He said the circumstances that had led to the shooting were yet to be determined.

Five others injured in the incident, two in critical condition, are still receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital.