Kuruppu Karunaratne

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Kuruppu Arachchige Karunaratne or K.A. Karunaratne (29 April 1960 – 6 April 2008) was a Sri Lankan long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon event.

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[edit] Career

As a runner he competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1993 World Championships.

[edit] Death

Main article: 2008 Weliveriya bombing

He was killed on 6 April 2008 along with 14[1] others by a suicide bomber, who exploded himself at the start of a marathon race which was part of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration in Weliveriya town. Sri Lanka's national athletics coach Lakshman de Alwis and politician Jeyaraj Fernandopulle were also killed in the bombing which wounded 90 other.[2] [3]

The Amnesty International (AI) and the Government of Sri Lanka accused the LTTE for carrying out atrocities that targeted civilians including Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Blast kills Sri Lankan minister", 6 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-10. 
  2. ^ "IAAF condemns bombing of marathon in Sri Lanka", IAAF.org, 6 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-06. 
  3. ^ "Tributes paid to Karu and Alwis", BBC News, 06 April, 2008. 
  4. ^ "'Stop' attacks against civilians", BBC News, 09 April, 2008. 

[edit] External links