2nd lead:

Kousalyan killed in ambush

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 February 2005, 16:08 GMT]
Mr. E. Kousalyan, head of the Liberation Tigers' political division for Batticaloa-Amparai district was killed in an ambush on the highway to Batticaloa Monday night around 7.45, Sri Lanka military sources said. Three persons who were travelling with him were killed and four were injured including two policemen in the attack which took place between Sri Lanka army garrisons at Welikanda and Punanai, northwest of Battialoa, according to the SLA. Mr. Kousalyan was traveling with Mr. Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru, former TNA MP for Amparai district, who was seriously injured in the ambush.


Mr. E. Kousalyan

Mr. Kousalyan is the most senior LTTE official to be killed after Colombo and Tigers signed a cease fire in February 2002.

He was returning from Vanni after discussing the expansion plans for Tsunami rehabiltation in the east, LTTE sources said.

The military identified two of the dead as Mathimaran and Kumanan, both members of the LTTE.

The injured policemen were providing escort to Mr. Chandra Nehru's vehicle.

Liberation Tigers blamed paramilitary operatives working with the Sri Lankan armed forces for the attack.

Meanwhile, LTTE officials in Kilinochchi scotched rumours that Mr. S. Thamilenthi, Head of LTTE's FInancial Division, was among the killed in the ambush. "Mr. Thamilenthi is in Kilinochchi", one of them said.

LTTE officials added that Mr. Kousalyan was accompanied by Vinothan, Puhalan, Senthamil and Nithimaran in his journey Monday from Kilinochchi to Batticaloa.