Priyantha Sirisena suffered severe head injuries and has died in hospital after being attacked with an axe on Thursday, in his hometown of Polonnaruwa, north-east of the capital Colombo, AFP news agency reports. Official sources have said Priyantha Sirisena, 42, was the youngest in a family of 12 children.

He was youngest brother of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, a businessman and father of three, was attacked on Thursday evening "during an altercation with a friend" said a government statement. The president is out of the country on a state visit to China.

President Sirisena came to power following bitterly fought January presidential elections.