Matara, March 22 -- Two individuals were killed in a shooting incident last night on Sinhasana Road, near the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya in Matara.

Police said that two unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire on the two youths riding a motorcycle.

The assailants were armed with a T-56 rifle and two 9mm firearms before fleeing the scene.

The victims had attended a birthday party for a friend in Devinuwara and were returning home when the van, which came from behind, struck their motorcycle.

Initial investigations revealed that the shooting occurred shortly thereafter.

At the scene, police recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, 2 live rounds, 2 9mm bullet casings, and 2 live 9mm bullets.

A van be...