The SLMCs Colombo Municipal Councillor Suresh Kaleel (42) who was fatally shot at by unidentified assailants while at his Meeraniya Street Hulftsdorp office at noon yesterday succumbed to his injuries on the way to Colombo National Hospital.

The 42-year-old businessman was in his office adjoining his residence when three unidentified persons who arrived in a three-wheeler appealing for a cash donation are alleged to have brandished a pistol and shot him before escaping as shocked bystanders in this busy intersection of Hulftsdorp. Councillor Kaleel was a popular figure who obtained the highest number of SLMC preference votes at the recent elections to local bodies and was said to be a philanthropist who operated a manufacturing industry.

He was a father of two sons and a daughter and quite an blue affluant person.

SSP Colombo D. P. L. Dissanayake ASP (3) Hemantha Adikari and OIC Keselwatte, IP Chandratilake visited the scene of crime and were not available for comment.

SLMC leader Minister Rauff Hakeem who was in parliament at the time of shooting rushed to Colombo National Hospital on hearing of the tragic death of his staunch SLMC supporter.(FS)