The Sri Lankan navy soldier who infamously attacked former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with his rifle in 1987, is to stand in the upcoming Sri Lankan parliamentary election.
Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni announced that he will be standing with the BJP, a party formed by Buddhist nationalist organisations Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).
Mr Wijemuni attacked then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on July 30th 1987 with his rifle, during an inspection of a guard of honour in Colombo. Though a court martial found him guilty of attempted culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Mr Wijemuni was granted a presidential pardon by Sri Lanka’s President Premadasa two and a half years into a six year sentence.
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