Senior EPDP activist shot, injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 03:03 GMT]
A senior member of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) who served as Jaffna Municipal Council member of several years was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen at 7:05 p.m. Monday in Jaffna, EPDP sources in Jaffna said. Manickam Kanagaratnam, 70, was shot outside his house near Aariyakulam junction along the Jaffna-Point Pedro road, sources added.

He has been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital with serious wounds to his chest, hospital sources said.

The shooting took place within 400 meters of Sridhar theater, the fortified party offices of the EPDP led by Sri Lanka's Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda. The area is within high security zone and is under full surveillance by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

Mr. Kanagaratnam served as a council member during the controversial leadership of Sellan Kandaiyan, and later entered as a contestant under EPDP ticket when nominations were called for Jaffna Municipal Council elections.