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| Tuesday, 17 August 2004 |
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The Government Information Department in a press release yesterday said: The Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemns the killing of Mr. Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah, Media Secretary of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), and co-founder of the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), the latest in a spate of brutal killings that continue to be perpetrated in Colombo and the Eastern Province. Those killed include journalists, academics and activists, who are targeted as a consequence of their political affiliation. In addition, an abortive assassination attempt on Minister Douglas Devananda was also carried out by a suicide bomber on 7 July 2004 in Colombo. The EPDP of which Mr. Balanadarajah was a member has been particularly targeted during the last month. Among members of the EPDP killed recently are 10 August - Athmalingam Ramani, Deputy Organizer, EPDP Trincomalee. 10 August - Seenithambi Yogarajah, EPDP Supporter in Kalavanchikkudi. 21 July - Vallautham Raveendran, Chairman Alaiyadyvenbu Pradeshiya Sabha and Deputy Organizer, EPDP Ampara District. The Nature of the killings and the persons targeted, suggests involvement of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in these incidents. The GOSL is concerned that these incidents are being perpetrated with disregard to the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement, and contrary to the spirit of building an environment for peace. The Government will assert its authority firmly and fairly in order to uphold law and order, maintain the Ceasefire Agreement and observe the civilized standards our people deserve and expect. Meanwhile the Foreign Ministry in a press release refering to the gunning down of the EPDP Media Secretary in broad daylight yesterday states, "Two motorbike-riding unidentified pistol men shot and brutally killed the Media Secretary of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), this morning around 8.10, Monday, (16 August 2004) while he was by the wayside close to his home in the general city area of Wellawatte, Colombo 6. The slain, Balanadarajah Aiyyar (44) alias Kandaswamy Aiyyar shot at close range, is the Media Secretary to the EPDP and has unsuccessfully contested the Jaffna district for EPDP at the last General Election. The victim, a father of three daughters of five, eleven and thirteen years of age respectively fell victim to those motorbike-riding two pistol men minutes after he returned home after accompanying his children to their schools in the morning. The victim had afterwards waited by the wayside to board a three-wheeler in order to go somewhere when pistol men, suspected to be from LTTE struck him. Fatal injuries to his head and chest had caused the death, according to initial reports reaching the Police station. The victim, who was popular among Tamils as a novelist and author lived at No. 164/4A, W. A. De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6 and was originally from Jaffna area, reports said. This was the 24th politician to be slain by suspected LTTE men after the Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was to be informed. The Wellawatte Police rushed to the scene and commenced investigations. Meanwhile a media release from the Army Headquarters on the killing of EPDP member Balanadarajah states two motorbike-riding unidentified pistol men shot and brutally killed the Media Secretary of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), last morning around 8.10, Monday, August 16 while he was by the wayside close to his home in the general city area of Wellawatte, Colombo 6. The slain, Balanadarajah Aiyyar (44) alias Kandaswamy Aiyyar shot at close range, is the Media Secretary to the EPDP and has unsuccessfully contested the Jaffna district for EPDP at the last General Election. The victim, a father of three daughters of five, eleven and thirteen years of age respectively fell victim to those motorbike-riding two pistol men minutes after he returned home after accompanying his children to their schools in the morning. The victim had afterwards waited by the wayside to board a three-wheeler in order to go somewhere when pistol men, suspected to be from LTTE struck him. Fatal injuries to his head and chest had caused the death, according to initial reports reaching the Police station. The victim, who was popular among Tamils as a novelist and author lived at No. 164/4A, W. A. De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6 and was originally from Jaffna area, reports said. This was the 24th politician to be slain by suspected LTTE men after the Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was to be informed. The Wellawatte Police have commenced investigations. |
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