The family members of slain former Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra held a press conference today (October 18) at the Nippon Hotel demanding the arrest of individuals responsible for his murder. Bharatha Lakshman was killed during a shooting incident on Election Day which also involved MP Duminda Silva. 

 

 

 

 
Bharatha Lakshman showed a keen interest in politics from his schooling days and became an active

politician at village level soon after leaving school.

He was elected to the Kolonnawa Pradeshiya Sabha in 1979 and became a popular political figure in the area.

He was also appointed as the Kolonnawa Organizer of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya.

In 1988 Bharatha Lakshman contested for the Western Provincial Council in the first provincial council election from the United Socialist Front and was elected to the council.

He represented the Western Provincial Council from 1988 to 1993.

In 1993 Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra contested from the People''s Alliance for the Western

Provincial Council and was elected to the council once again.

Bharatha Lakshman first contested at a Parliamentary Election in the year 1994 from the People''s Alliance.

He was selected to Parliament at this election securing 63,421 preferential votes and served as a parliamentarian until the year 2000.

At the time of his death he served as the Director General of Trade Unions at the Presidential Secretariat.

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was an active trade unionist and also served as the President of the Sri Lanka Gymnastics Association.