Cooray's party to contest elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2000, 11:31 GMT]
'Citizens Front', a new political party led by a former United National Party (UNP) strong man, Mr.Sirisena Cooray has decided to contest in 22 electoral districts out of 25 during the forthcoming general election.

Dr.Wimal Wickremasinghe, General Secretary of the Citizens Front said that his party was now in the process of preparing nomination lists.

Mr.Sirisena Cooray, former General Secretary of the UNP, played prominent role during the regime under President R.Premadasa. He was sidelined by Ranil Wickremasinghe who took over the party leadership following the assassination of President Premadasa.

Meanwhile, an opposition party activist was shot and killed by unidentified armed men in the Central Province Wednesday, police said. The UNP activist was shot dead while he was putting up election posters, the police added.

Also on Saturday, a JVP activist was shot dead in a suburb of Colombo by unidentified armed men. The JVP has blamed the ruling Peoples Alliance for the killing.