President's brother who was assaulted dies

President's brother who was assaulted .... dies!

President Maithripala Sirisena's younger brother Priyantha Sirisena who

was seriously injured from a blow of an axe aimed on his head and was admitted last Thursday night to hospital had passed away last night around 3.50 at the intensive care unit, Colombo Central Hospital in Colombo.

He had received serious injuries to his skull and the rear part of the brain as a result of this blow which had resulted in an internal haemmorage in the brain. Though Specialist Neurological Consultant Dr. Sunil Perera who treated him had tried his utmost to prevent a risk to his life, because of the complexity of the injuries he had received the death had occured, hospital sources report.

Mr. Priyantha Sirisena who was 42 years at the time of his death was a millionaire who was engaged in a sand-mining business by the name of Rajarata Builders. He was the youngest in President Maithripala Sirisena's family and was a married person with three children.

He was subjected to this assault last Thursday evening at Hatharaveni Ela in Polonnaruwa. It was one of his best friends by the name of Lakmal who happened to be the assailant. In the statement he gave the police, what he had said was he attacked Priyantha because of his anger due to the fact that Priyantha had approached his parents to discuss an issue regarding him and that Priyantha went as far as  to attempt to assault his parents. The incident had taken place when Priyantha was walking near a place where a garage belonging to Lakmal was situated. Lakmal's house stood in close proximity to that garage. Lakmal was a father of three children, aged 34 years. Lakmal had 2 daughters and he had been living in that house with the 3 daughters and both his parents. It was also understood that his wife at onetime was employed in Middle East.

It was learned that Lakmal and Priyantha were long-time friends and this misunderstanding between the two of them had arisen just two or three weeks before. The police suspect that the reason for the incident is relevant to a money problem.

Lakmal who was taken into custody was ordered yesterday by Polonnaruwa Magistrate Courts to be remanded till 8th of next month. President Maithripala Sirisena already is on a tour of China and the brother's final rights is expected to be finalised in Polonnaruwa next Monday evening. The dead body is lying at the Athugalpitiya house.