Notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War

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Sri Lankan Conflict

Background
Sri LankaHistory of Sri Lanka
Origins of the Civil War
Origins of the Civil War
Black JulyRiots and pogroms
Human rightsAllegations of state terror
Tamil militant groups
LTTE
LTTEAttacksExpulsion of Muslims from Jaffna
Current major figures
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Karuna Amman
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Sarath Fonseka
Indian Involvement
Operation Poomalai
Indo-Sri Lanka Accord
Indian Peace Keeping Force
Rajiv GandhiRAW
See also
Military of Sri Lanka
TMVPEPDP
Notable assassinationsChild soldiers
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Since the onset of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1983, militant and paramilitary groups have assassinated many public figures on suspicion of being sympathizers or informants, in retaliation for killings and attacks, to eliminate competition from rival groups, or to stifle dissent.[1]

The following is a list of notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War, attributed by various self-admissions, NGOs, United Nations agencies, foreign governments, and the state-owned media of Sri Lanka.

Contents

[edit] Background

The Sri Lankan Civil War is an ongoing conflict on the island-nation of Sri Lanka. Since the year 1983, there has been an intermittent civil war, predominantly between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization who fight for the creation of an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island. It is estimated that =68,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1983[2] and it has caused significant harm to the population and economy of the country, as well as leading to the ban of the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 32 countries including the United States, Australia, the countries of the European Union and Canada. The possibility of a lasting peace were raised when a cease-fire was declared in December 2001, and a ceasefire agreement was signed with international mediation in 2002.[3] However hostilities renewed in late 2005 and the conflict has continued to escalate, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people since November 2005.[4] Numerous human rights violations have been committed by both the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, including the assassination of individuals by both sides.

[edit] Assassinations

[edit] Heads of state & government

Victim Description Notes
Ranasinghe Premadasa President of Sri Lanka; killed on May 1, 1993 by a suicide bomber The LTTE is blamed,[5][6][7] but denies responsibility[8]
Rajiv Gandhi former Prime Minister of India; killed on May 21, 1991 by suicide bomber Thenmuli Rajaratnam The Indian government attributes the assassination to the LTTE,[9] which in 2006 "expressed regret" over the bombing, but did not claim responsibility.[10][11]

[edit] Cabinet ministers

Victim Description Notes
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Minister of Highways and Road Development and SLFP MP; killed by a suicide bomber, who exploded himself at the start of a marathon race on April 6, 2008[12] Government accused the LTTE for carrying out the bombing[13]
D. M. Dassanayake Nation Building Minister and SLFP MP; killed in a roadside bombing on January 8, 2008 Government blames LTTE; LTTE refuses comment[1]
Lakshman Kadirgamar Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and SLFP MP; killed on August 12, 2005 by a sniper The LTTE is blamed by the European Union and the Sri Lankan government[14][15][16] but denies involvement[8]
C.V.Gunaratne Sri Lankan Minister of Industrial Development and SLFP MP; killed along with his wife on June 8, 2000 by a suicide bomber LTTE.[17]
Gamini Dissanayake former cabinet minister and opposition UNP presidential candidate; killed on October 24, 1994 by a suicide bomber The LTTE is blamed,[7][18][19] But later they denies responsibility.[8]
Lalith Athulathmudali former cabinet minister and DUNF (former UNP) MP assassinated by a gunman on April 23, 1993 Government blamed the LTTE [20]
Ranjan Wijeratne Sri Lankan Minister of State for Defense and UNP MP; killed on March 2, 1991 by a car bomb LTTE. [21] But later denies responsibility[8]

[edit] Members of Sri Lankan Parliament

Victim Description Notes
K. Sivanesan TNA MP (Jaffna); killed in a roadside bombing in LTTE -held territory, on March 6, 2008 TNA and LTTE alleged that Sri Lankan Army LRRP planted the bomb, the Army has denied the allegation[22][23]
T. Maheshwaran UNP MP; killed in a Hindu temple on January 1, 2008 The gunman is suspected to be an LTTE member according to a publication by Council on Foreign Relations[24]But UNP parliamentarians Johnston Fernando and Dayasiri Jayasekara accused the current government as responsible by saying that T. Maheswaran's plan to reveal Jaffna situation has led to his murder. The government has denied any responsibility.[25] To the accusation that Douglas Devananda a cabinet minister and leader of the EPDP political party was involved in his murder and had previously threatened T. Maheswaran, Douglas had denied any responsibility.[26]
Nadarajah Raviraj TNA MP (Jaffna); killed on November 10, 2006 by unidentified gunmen The identity of the assailants is not definitively known.[27][28][29] R. Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance, blamed the paramilitary TMVP and Sri Lankan security forces.[30] However, the Colombo-based International Center for Strategic Defense (ICSD) accused the LTTE of carrying out the assassination, concluding that they had the most to gain from Raviraj's killing.[31] Subsequent police investigations revealed that he had received threatening phone calls originating from the LTTE controlled Vanni region.[32]. However, a local human right organization, University Teachers for Human Rights, claimed that they were near certain that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, current Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Sri Lanka, was involvement in the assassination.[33]
Joseph Pararajasingham Member of the TNA; December 25, 2005 The identity of the assailants is not definitively known. The Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE both trade accusations.[34][35]The Inter-Parliamentary Union speculated the TMVP was involved after examining details provided by the Government. It also concluded that the culprits could not have escaped without the complicity of the security forces, who were guarding the church at the time.[36]. UTHR, a local Human Rights organization claimed that TMVP and EPDP cadres were the assailants [35]
Neelan Thiruchelvam TULF MP killed on July 29, 1999 in Colombo by a suicide bomber LTTE [37]
V.Yogasangari EPRLF MP; 19 June 1990[2] Killed by the LTTE [38]
Sam Thambimuthu EPRLF MP; 7 May 1990[3] Killed by the LTTE [39]
Appapillai Amirthalingam leader of the TULF; killed on July 13, 1989 in Colombo Killed by the LTTE [40]
V.Yogeswaran TULF MP (Jaffna); July 13, 1989 LTTE[41]

[edit] Mayors

Victim Description Notes
Alfred Duraiappah SLFP Mayor Jaffna; July 27, 1975 Killed by the LTTE [42]
Sarojini Yogeswaran Mayor, Jaffna; 17 May 1998 Responsibility taken by the Sankiliyan Force (Suspected to be a front organization for the LTTE)[43][44]
Pon Sivapalan Mayor, Jaffna; 11 September 1998 Killed by the LTTE [45]

[edit] Other politicians

Victim Description Notes
Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru TNA member [4] TMVP suspected[citation needed]
Kumar Ponnambalam Member of the TNA; January 5, 2000 The previously unknown "National Front Against Terrorism" claimed responsibility for the killing.[46]
Maj. General (Rtd) Lakshman Algama UNP politician & former Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army Killed by the in a suicide bombing at a political rally in Ja-Ela, Colombo on December 18, 1999. Government blamed the LTTE. [47]
K. Padmanabha EPRLF General Secretary; mid 1990[5] Killed by the LTTE [48]
P.Ganeshalingam EPRLF provincial minister; 28 January 1990 LTTE[6]
Sri Sabaratnam TELO leader; April/May, 1986 Killed by the LTTE [49]

[edit] Activists

Victim Description Notes
Rajani Thiranagama University teacher – political activist; 25 September 1989 This killing is attributed to the LTTE and it has not denied responsibility[50]
Richard de Zoysa Author – Journalist; 18 February 1990 Unknown
Fr. Mary Bastian Catholic priest – Human Rights activist; 6 January 1985 The UTHR blames Sri Lankan security forces.[51]
Chandra Fernando Catholic priest – Human Rights activist; June, 1988 Unknown
George Jeyarajasingham Methodist priest – Human Rights activist Alleged SLA members in civilian clothing, along with his Sinhalese driver.[52]
Ketheesh Loganathan Co-founder, Centre for policy alternatives Colombo and Government peace secretariat deputy leader unknown
Ponniah Selvarajah Teacher, Village Officer Kokuvil, Jaffna Shot and killed by two gunmen riding on a motorcycle in Poonari Madam, Kokuvil at around 10 a.m. on September 3, 1988.

[edit] Prelates

Victim Description Notes
Most Ven. Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Buddhist priest - Chief Incumbent (Priest) of Dimbulagala Temple, Polonnaruwa District; 26 May 1995 LTTE [53][54]
Ven. Selliah Kurukkal Parameshwaran Tamil priest - Chief Priest of the Santhiveli Pilleyar Kovil, Batticaloa; 11 February 2007 LTTE [55]
Ven. Hadungamuwe Nandarathene Buddhist priest - Chief Incumbent (Priest) of Sri Pabbattharamaya Temple, Mahadivulwewa-Stage 1, Morawewa; 14 May 2007 LTTE [56]

[edit] Civil servants

Victim Description Notes
C.E.Anandarajah St John's college School principal; 26 June 1985[7] LTTE
Kanapathy Rajadurai Central College, Jaffna Principal 10 October 2004[8] unknown
Pon. Ganeshamoorthy Literary Figure, Poet, General Manager People's Bank Unknown
T. Kailainathan Director of Vocational Qualification;4th April 2005 LTTE[57]
Herath Abeyweera Chief Secretary to the Eastern Province, July 16, 2007 LTTE[58][59]

[edit] Police officers

Victim Description Notes
DIG Terrance Perera Director, Counter Subversive Division ; shot dead on 12 December 1987 in Talangama
DIG Bennet Perera Director, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ; shot dead on 1 May 1989 in Mount Lavinia
ASP Shahabdeen Security officer of Minister of Transport ; shot dead on 23 August 1989
DIG Charles Wijewardene Superintendent of Police, Jaffna ; abducted and killed in Jaffna on 5 August 2005 LTTE suspected [60]
DIG Upul Seneviratne Director of Training, Special Task Force ; killed in a roadside bombing on 7 August 2006 LTTE suspected [61]

[edit] Military officers

Victim Description Notes
Admiral W.W.E.Clancy Fernando Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy; killed on 16 November 1992 by a suicide bomber LTTE[62]
Lt. General Parami Kulatunga Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army; killed on June 26, 2006 by a suicide bomber LTTE[63]
Maj. General Larry Wijeratne Commanding officer 51-4 Brigade; killed on May 14, 1998 by a suicide bomber LTTE[63]
Maj. General Ananda Hamangoda Commanding officer 51-2 Brigade; killed on July 4, 1996 by a suicide bomber LTTE[64][63]
Colonel Tuan Nizam Muthaliff Commanding officer 1st Battalion Military Intelligence Corps; killed on May 31, 2005 by gunmen LTTE suspected[65]

[edit] Journalists

Victim Description Notes
Balanadarajah Iyer Lead editor EPDP and founder of Thinamurasu newspaper[9] The Sri Lankan Government blames the LTTE for this murder [66]
Relangi Selvarajah TV announcer and freelance producer Unknown
Nadarajah Atputharajah Publisher Thinamurasu newspaper Unknown
Chandrabose Suthaharan Editor of "Nilam" magazine Killed in a government-held area, by killers who reportedly spoke both Sinhala and Tamil.[67]
I.Shanmugalingam Editor of Eelanaadu newspaper Unknown
Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah Editor of Namathu Eelanadu" (Our Eelam Nation)' newspaper Killed in his home, located in the Sri Lankan Army's High Security Zone.[68] The LTTE proxy organization TNA[69] (of which Mr Sivamaharajah was a member), accused the government of assassinating him.[70] The anti-rebel South Asian Terrorism Portal however reported that it was committed by suspected LTTE cadres.[71]
Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan Sudar Oli newspaper correspondent Unknown[72]
Mylvaganam Nimalarajan BBC reporter The EPDP is suspected, but denies involvement.[73][74]
Taraki Sivaram Editor of Tamilnet news portal The TMVP is suspected.[72]
Selvarajah Rajivarnam "Uthayan" Newspaper Reporter The EPDP are suspected.[72]
Aiyathurai Nadesan Reporter for Virakesari newspaper He was previously threatened by pro-government Tamil groups, therefore the TMVP are suspected to be behind this assassination. The Human Rights Watch also suspect the TVMP.[75]
K.S.Raja Reporter for Radio Ceylon Unknown

[edit] Writers and poets

Victim Description Notes
Nihal de Silva Author; killed on May 27, 2006 by landmine in Wilpattu National Park LTTE blamed.[76]
Chelian Perinpanayagam Writer, journalist, former Mayor of Batticalao[10] killed on September 10, 2000 Unknown
Natpudduminai Faleel Poet, Assistant Government Agent[11] Unknown
Chasy Krishnamoorthy Writer, Film Critic[12] Unknown
Thiagarajah Selvanithy Poet Killed by the LTTE [13]

[edit] Militants

Victim Description Notes
Oberoi Thevan TELA leader[14] Killed by the LTTE [77]
Subathiran Thambirajah Jaffna district leader of splinter group of EPRLF known as EPRLF-V; 14 June 2003[15] Killed by the LTTE [78]
P. Rajaratnam General Secretary of Indian based ENDLF in Sri Lanka[16] ENDLF blamed LTTE.[17]
Sonnyboy Occerz alias Rangappa Senior member of ENDLF and from the Portuguese Burghers community[18] LTTE[disputed]
Vaithilingam Sornalingam Senior member of LTTE SLA LRRP[79][80]
E. Kousalyan LTTE political wing regional leader killed in an ambush TMVP[81]
Kandiah Ulaganathan Alias "Colonel Ramanan"; LTTE military leader for Batticaloa district killed on 21 May 2006 TMVP[82] / SLA[83][disputed]
Thambirasa Kuhasanthan (Lt Col. Nizam ) LTTE Military Intelligence Wing leader for the East SLA LRRP[84][79]
Gangai Amaran LTTE Deputy Leader Of Sea Tigers SLA LRRP[79]
Mano LTTE Head of Eastern Communication SLA LRRP[79][85]

[edit] References

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[edit] External links