"Miraculous escape" for UNP MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 November 1999, 17:34 GMT]
Mr.A.H.M.Aswer, Member of Parliament in the National list of the Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today that he escaped miraculously when a grenade was thrown at the propaganda meeting held at Eppawela, about 175 km. north of Colombo.

When the UNP meeting was over, he got down from the stage, he said.

Suddenly he saw some persons belonging to the ruling People's Alliance party, pulling down the flags of the UNP.

He challenged them and asked what they were doing, the MP said.

At that moment a grenade exploded injuring several UNP supporters, he said.

He escaped miraculously, Mr.Aswer said.

At that time of the grenade attack, UNP leader and Presidential contender Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe was not at the scene. He left the meeting soon after his speech, sources said.