ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE CEYLON PREMIER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29010, 26 September 1959, Page 13

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE CEYLON PREMIER

Bandaranaike’s Life Still In Danger

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) COLOMBO, September 25. An assassin dressed in the robes of a Buddhist monk shot the Prime Minister of Ceylon, Mr Solomon Bandaranaike, four times today at his home in Colombo. A state of emergency was declared throughout the island after the 59-year-Old leader, bleeding profusely, had been rushed to hospital for an emergency operation. While the operation was in progress a highly-placed source said the Prime Minister’s condition was “causing anxiety.” One bullet had penetrated his liver.

The British United Press quoted the Governor-General (Sir Oliver Goonetilleke) as saying that Mr Bandaranaike’s condition wa? “very low.” One hospital source said he was sinking. He sent an appeal from the operating table pleading with his countrymen to be calm and not to “wreak vengeance” on his attacker. There were incomplete reports about others being wounded in the affray. The Minister of Labour (Mr M. P. Zoysa) was at one time reported to have been also shot and in a critical condition. Later it was said that this report was incorrect and he had not been wounded. An unidentified man was reported shot and another stabbed in the melee that followed the shooting of the Prime Minister. The assailant was said to have been beaten up by an angry crowd and was also reported to have been shot in the thigh by a sentry. He was described as a man about 30. A man has been arrested. Police said the man fired at Mr Bandaranaike with an automatic pistol. A strong police cordon was thrown round the Prime Minister’s house.

Eye-witnesses said the assailant fired six shots from a .45 revolver, two of them at pointblank range, Reuter reported They said the Prime Minister was hit in the abdomen and hand. He was still conscious when people ran to his aid. According to the British United Press police said that two men dressed in the robes of monks called to see the Prime Minister at 9.30 a.m. Mr Bandaranaike came out of his house on to the veranda to greet the “monks.” He went down on his knees to pay respect, and as he was rising one of them pulled out a revolver and fired.

Mr Bandaranaike clutched his stomach and ran back into the house. The assailants followed him and fired four more shots at him.

Officials at the General Hospital said that Mr Bandaranaike was in a serious condition but had not lost consciousness when he was admitted. In an appeal from the hospital

operating-table an hour after he was shot Mr Bandaranaike asked his countrymen to be calm and courageous. He said a foolish man dressed in the robes of a monk had fired some shots at him at his bungalow this morning. “I appeal to all concerned to show all compassion to this man and not try to wreak vengeance on him,” he said. “I appeal to the people of my country to be restrained and patient at this time. With the assistance of my doctors I shall make every endeavour to be able to continue such services as I am able to render to my people. “I appeal to all to be calm and patient and to do nothing that may cause trouble to people. “To those closely connected with me, Mrs Bandaranaike and my children, to members of the Government and to all my friends and well-wishers, I make a special appeal to be calm and to face the present situation with courage and fortitude.” Three eminent Ceylonese surgeons operated on the Prime Minister and half an hour later the operation was still in progress. A highly-placed source said the Prime Minister’s condition was “causing anxiety.” Four bullets had hit him and one had penetrated his liver. Eye-witnesses said later that the sentry posted outside the Prime Minister’s residence had rushed to the portico at the sound of firing and took a shot at the assailant, hitting him in the thigh. The House of Representatives, which met at 10 a.m. according to schedule, adjourned at noon for lunch without any reference to the incident.

Police said they recovered two spent bullets from the drawing room.

A few minutes after the incident a Reuter correspondent who visited the scene saw patches of blood on the portico and blood smeared on the walls o f the drawing room.

One bullet had made a clean hole in the glass screen which separated the drawing room from the veranda.

Among the first to arrive on the scene after the police took over was Dr. N. M. Perera, Leader of the Opposition, who made anxious inquiries about the Premier.