Nadesan's funeral to be held in Nelliyady Wednesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 May 2004, 14:42 GMT]
The funeral of Tamil journalist, Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan, shot dead by unidentified assailants Monday morning, is to be held Wednesday evening in his hometown Nelliady in Vadamarachchi division, 25km northeast of Jaffna town, media sources in Batticaloa said.

The body of Mr.Nadesan was brought to his residence in Lake Road, Batticaloa Monday evening by his media friends and residents.

Batticaloa Magistrate Mr.A.J.M.Ajmeer visited the scene of crime and held the inquest into the murder. He returned a verdict of homicide, legal sources said.

Media persons and others have made arrangements to take the body of Mr.Nadesan to his hometown Nelliyady in Jaffna district Tuesday morning from Batticaloa town, sources said

Large number of media persons from all over the country is expected to attend the funeral of Mr.Nadesan, sources said.

"“Batticaloa district in sixty days witnessed 20 crimes and 35 killings," Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan wrote in his last article, which was carried by the Sunday Virakesari of, May 30th. The journalist who reported on the sufferings and triumphs of people of Batticaloa has now become the 36th victim," said a distraught journalist friend.

Mr Nadesan was 49 at the time of death and father of four children. He was a graduate in Business Administration. He started his career as teacher. He earlier worked in the North East Provincial Council. Later he joined the Income Tax Department. More than two decades he has been working as a journalist

Mr. Victor Ivan, a leading journalist and Editor of Ravaya has condemned the killing of Mr.Nadesan. His article published in Sunday Virakesari may have been the reason for his killing, Mr. Ivan added.

President of Sri Lanka Editors Guild, Mr.Sri Ranasinghe, has described the killing as a threat to democracy.

The Sri Lanka Editors Guild two years ago honoured Mr. Nadesan as the best Tamil journalist of the year. North East Provincial Council awarded prize for his book written on Ethnic Conflict, sources said.

The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, East Lanka Journalist Association and Free Media Movement Monday issued condolence messages stating that Mr.Nadesan's death was an irreparable loss to journalism, sources said.