2ND LEAD (Correction)

Tamil businessman succumbs to gunshot wounds

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 18:39 GMT]
Mr Balenthiran, a Tamil businessman and father of two children, who was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night 10.30 p.m. at Wellawatta in Colombo, succumbed to his injuries at 2.50 a.m. Wednesday in Colombo National Hospital, medical source said. He was shot near the Rolex Bakery. He was initially rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to Colombo General Hospital, medical sources said.

Motives behind the shooting is not known.

Sources say that the gunmen came in a white van and drove away after the shooting.

Mr Balendran is the owner of Atlas travels which serves Colombo-Jaffna travel service, according to sources.

His son, Mr Kandipan, is an announcer at the Shakthy Radio.