Norwegian Refugee Council worker among victims of Batticaloa killings

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 November 2008, 21:08 GMT]
A staff worker of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) was forcibly abducted by unidentified gunmen who entered his house on the evening of November 27 and was shot at a nearby decommissioned IDP-site, said Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Colombo on Friday. Vigneswaran, a popular and dedicated colleague, was later taken to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. Offering its deepest condolences to Vigneswaran’s family, the NRC said it was deeply concerned by this tragic and untimely death of Mr. Vigneswaran. This is the third killing or disappearance of an NRC staff member in Sri Lanka in the past two and a half years.

Full text of the press statement issued by the NRC follows:

Friday 28th November, 2008

NRC Shelter Staff Member Killed in Sri Lanka

It is with profound sadness and shock that the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Sri Lanka announces the killing of their staff member A. Vigneswaran. Unidentified men entered Vigneswaran’s home on the evening of November 27th and forcibly took him to a nearby decommissioned IDP-site, where they shot him. Vigneswaran was later taken to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. Motivation for the killing is unknown.

Vigneswaran (28) had been working as a construction-supervisor with the NRC for nearly two years, based in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa. He was a popular and dedicated colleague who will be missed by his friends and colleagues.

The NRC is deeply concerned by this tragic and untimely death of their young staff member, and offer their full cooperation and support to the authorities to ensure a robust investigation into the killing, and ultimate prosecution of the perpetrators.

This is the third killing or disappearance of an NRC staff member in Sri Lanka in the past two and a half years.

The NRC offers its deepest condolences to Vigneswaran’s family. He is survived by his wife and one daughter. The NRC community sends its thoughts and support to all staff and others affected by this tragedy.

Chronology: