Batticaloa MP shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 November 2000, 13:53 GMT]
Mr.Aslie Nimalan Soundaranayagam (50), a Member of Parliament of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was shot dead Tuesday at 6pm at Kiran in the eastern province while he was travelling on a motor cycle with one of his party supporters, said sources. Uniformed men were seen in the vicinity of the incident according to residents.

The shooting took place opposite the Co-operative Stores in Kiran, located 28 km north of Batticaloa town. He was returning to his house at Valaichenai at the time of incident. The supporter who was traveling with him was not hurt, sources said.

Residents took him to Eravur hospital 12 km away from Kiran. Hospital sources said Mr. SoundaranayagamÃs body is lying in the hospital.

Mr.Soundaranayagam, a retired principal, was elected MP for Batticaloa electorate during the Parliamentary polls on October 10 securing over 17,000 preferential votes. According to local residents, he was respected as a social worker.

In a separate incident, a former member of the EROS was shot dead by an unidentified gunman at Thiruperunthurai in Batticaloa around 8.15 p.m. Tuesday.

Namasivayam Sivanandan,29, alias Kiddu was shot dead at the entrance of his house. His body has been taken to Batticaloa hospital, said sources.