Sri Lankan President’s Brother Dies From Ax Wounds
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Version 0 of 1. A brother of Sri Lanka’s president, Maithripala Sirisena, died on Saturday from severe head wounds he suffered in an ax attack two days earlier, according to a statement by the Sri Lankan government. Priyantha Sirisena, 43, the president’s youngest brother, was assaulted on Thursday by a friend with whom he had a personal dispute, the statement said. After the attack in his hometown, Polonnaruwa, he was transported to a hospital in the capital, Colombo, to receive specialist care. The assailant surrendered to the local police a few hours after the assault, and a court ordered him to remain in police custody until April 9. Priyantha Sirisena operated a successful sand mining and building company, which earned him the nickname Sand King. He had recently established a rice milling and distribution business in his home district, a rural agricultural community, according to the government. The attack occurred while the president was on his first state visit to China since taking office in January. The four-day visit ended on Saturday. |