Gerald Marvin Perera, whose case was due to give evidence before the Negombo High Court within a matter of days, was shot at close range while travelling on a bus at Mabola, Welisara on Sunday morning.

Talking to BBC Sandeshaya, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeewa Weerawickrama said that the victim is now in the intensive care unit of the Colombo National Hospital.

urgent appeal

In an urgent appeal from Hong Kong the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said the assailant dismounted the bus and boarded a car.

The AHRC said that in recent weeks, Gerald Perera had been under pressure to withdraw the case.

The case has been lodged by the Attorney General under the Convention against Torture Act of Sri Lanka, Act No. 22 of 1994, which carries a minimum sentence of seven-years.

The alleged pressure, by the accused police and their associates, was intended to have Perera retract his original complaint said AHRC. However, Perera had refused.

Suspicion

"The family suspects that the accused police officers in the torture case are behind this attempt to kill Gerald Perera," said the AHRC.

"If he passes away, the key witness in the case against them will be gone," it added.

The appeal called upon readers to urge the authorities to provide around-the-clock protection to Perera, and ensure that all his medical needs are met.

In April 2003 the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka awarded a record payout to Perera for the suffering caused by torture inflicted by officers of the Wattala Police in June 2002, which left him in a coma for over two weeks, and caused serious injuries to his kidneys and other internal organs.

Court concluded that the police tortured Perera after they mistook him for someone else.