Defence Minister orders inquiry into Dehiwela killing

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 April 2003, 11:40 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Defense Minister, Tilak Marapone, has ordered Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Lionel Balagalle to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of Lance Corporal Lingarajah Thavarajah Saturday night in Dehiwela, security sources said. Thavarajah was attached to the intelligence division of the SLA.

Intelligence officers working for the SLA must be given all necessary security support. The Government of SriLanka and the Ministry of Defence would want to ensure that incidents of this nature do not happen in the future, said the Defence Minister in the directive issued to Sri Lanka military commander Balagalle.

Investigation into the killing of the intelligence officer has been intensified following this directive, security sources said.