One person was killed after police officers opened fire at a lorry which had disregarded warnings to stop at a police checkpoint in Aranthalawa, Maha Oya.
The shooting had occurred at around 2.30am this morning.
Police officers at the Mangalagama checkpoint in Aranthalawa had initially received information that a group was transporting several stolen cattle in a lorry.
Based on this information, the police officers had ordered the lorry in question to stop, however the driver had ignored the instructions and sped past the checkpoint.
The officers at the Mangalagama police post had then notified the Aranthalawa police post regarding the lorry.
The lorry had also failed to stop at the Aranthalawa checkpoint despite repeated warnings, prompting one of the officers to open fire at the vehicle.
A passenger traveling in the back of lorry was later admitted to the Maha Oya Hospital with a bullet wound. However, he had succumbed to injuries.
The lorry was subsequently found abandoned at a byroad in the Borupana area while the remaining suspects had fled.
No cattle were found inside the lorry, however police discovered evidence that the vehicle had been used to transport cattle.
