Grenade attack on National Parliament, Battaramulla

On August 18th 1987, a JVP operative hurled two grenades into Committee Room A where the bi-weekly Parliamentary Group comprised of 120 MPs was meeting. One grenade bounced off the table at which President J.R. Jayawardene and Prime Minister Premadasa were sitting and then exploded.

Matara District MP Keerthi Abeywickrema and Norbert Senadeera, a staff member of the Parliament were killed while sixteen others were injured including National Security Advisor Lalith Athulathmudali, Prime Minister R. Premadasa, Ministers Gamini Jayasuriya, E.L.B. Hurulle and Montague Jayawickrema.