The political crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday, with one person killed when sacked cabinet minister Arjuna Ranatunga tried to re-enter his office days after the President had removed the Prime Minister and installed a powerful China ally in his place.

The violence took place at the headquarters of state-run oil company Ceylon Petroleum Corp, where Ranatunga, petroleum minister in the ousted cabinet, tried to re-enter his office.

Police said one of Ranatunga’s security guards opened fire. One person was killed and two wounded.

The guard has been arrested and an investigation launched, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. He said that Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to a cricket World Cup victory in 1996, was safe and that the security guard’s motive was not immediately clear.

Local media said Ranatunga had briefly been held hostage in the office but this could not be confirmed.

The standoff — with President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swearing in ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place — has geopolitical implications.

Sri Lanka has long been influenced by neighbour India but became massively indebted to China to finance huge infrastructure projects during Rajapaksa’s decade as President.

Ranjan Ramanayake, a legislator from Wickremesinghe’s party, has accused China of “spending money to buy over members”, alleging lawmakers were being offered bribes to switch sides and support Rajapaksa. China has denied the allegation.