Sri Lanka, July 18 -- Preliminary police investigations into this morning's shooting near the Dehiwala Railway Station suggest the attack was carried out by the faction led by Shantha Kumara, also known as 'Kos Malli', an organised criminal and drug trafficker.

The individual wounded in the shooting, identified as Sudath Kumara, alias 'Bus Asitha', is reportedly a close relative of another prominent organised criminal and drug trafficker in the area, 'Badovita Asanka'.

Today's shooting is believed to be another consequence of the long-standing rivalry between these two factions.

Sudath Kumara, 46, is currently receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

He is presently a resident of Wellawatta, though his original residen...