MP K. Sivanesan killed in claymore blast in Wanni

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

COLOMBO: Illankai Tamil Arasi Kadchi (ITAK) MP for Jaffna district Kiddinadan Sivanesan was killed in a claymore mine explosion in an uncleared area in the Wanni, two kilometres away from Mankulam on the A-9 road yesterday around 1.20 p.m. on his way from Colombo to Kilinochchi.

Former ITAK National list MP M. K. Eelaventhan speaking to the Daily News confirmed Sivanesan’s death.

The MP succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital after the van in which he was travelling got caught in the claymore mine explosion, the former MP said quoting Wanni sources.

His driver, Maheshvararaja, 27, was killed instantaneously after the van was caught in the explosion.

Sivanesan born on January 21, 1957 was 52 years at the time of his death and a father of four - two daughters and two sons all teenagers. Sivanesan hailing from Karaveddi Jaffna, shifted to Mallavi, Kilinochchi and was elected to Parliament for the first time in 2004.

According to Eeelaventhan the MP had left the MP’s quarters in Madiwela around 4 am yesterday to reach Mallawi.

He had served as Manager of the Palmyrah Development Board prior to being elected as a MP representing Jaffna district. He was good Tamil orator and a singer who worked for uplift of the Tamil community. “The demise of the MP was a irreparable loss to us he was totally committed to the cause of the Tamil community,” the former MP said.

This is the forth MP killed within this year under tragic circumstances, with the first incident reported at the dawn of the year 2008 with the assassination of Colombo district UNP MP T. Maheshwaran on January 1.

Minister D.M. Dissanayake was killed in a claymore explosion on January 3 in Ja Ela and former minister MP Sripathi Sooriyarachchi was killed in an accident last month.