Notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War

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Sri Lankan Conflict
Background
Sri Lanka • History of Sri Lanka
Origins of the Civil War
Origins of the Civil War
Black July • Riots and pogroms
Human rights • Allegations of state terror
Tamil militant groups
LTTE
LTTE • Military attacks • Terrorist attacks • Child soldiers
Expulsion 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 Gandhi • RAW
See also
Military of Sri Lanka
TMVP • EPDP
Notable assassinations
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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

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.

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]

Victim Description Notes
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[12][13][14] but denies involvement[8]
Gamini Dissanayake former cabinet minister and opposition UNP presidential candidate; killed on October 24, 1994 by a suicide bomber The LTTE is blamed,[7][15][16] But later they denies responsibility.[8]
Ranjan Wijeratne Sri Lankan Minister of State for Defense; killed on March 2, 1991 by a car bomb LTTE. [17] But later denies responsibility[8]
C.V.Gunaratne Sri Lankan Minister of Industrial Development; killed along with his wife on June 8, 2000 by a suicide bomber LTTE.[18]

Victim Description Notes
Kumar Ponnambalam Member of the TNA; January 5, 2000 The previously unknown "National Front Against Terrorism" claimed responsibility for the killing.[19]
Nadarajah Raviraj TNA MP (Jaffna); killed on November 10, 2006 by unidentified gunmen The identity of the assailants is not definitively known.[20][21][22] R. Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance, blamed the paramilitary TMVP and Sri Lankan security forces.[23] 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.[24] Subsequent police investigations revealed that he had received threatening phone calls originating from the LTTE controlled Vanni region.[25]. 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.[26]
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.[27][28]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.[29]. UTHR, a local Human Rights organization claimed that TMVP and EPDP cadres were the assailants [28]
Appapillai Amirthalingam leader of the TULF; killed on July 13, 1989 in Colombo Killed by the LTTE [30]
Neelan Thiruchelvam TULF MP killed on July 29, 1999 in Colombo by a suicide bomber LTTE [31]
V.Yogeswaran TULF MP (Jaffna); July 13, 1989 LTTE[32]
V.Yogasangari EPRLF MP; 19 June 1990[10] Killed by the LTTE [33]
Sam Thambimuthu EPRLF MP; 7 May 1990[11] Killed by the LTTE [34]

Victim Description Notes
Alfred Duraiappah SLFP Mayor Jaffna; July 27, 1975 Killed by the LTTE [35]
Sarojini Yogeswaran Mayor, Jaffna; 17 May 1998 Responsibility taken by the Sankiliyan Force (Suspected to be a front organization for the LTTE)[36][37]
Pon Sivapalan Mayor, Jaffna; 11 September 1998 Killed by the LTTE [38]

Victim Description Notes
Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru TNA member [12] TMVP suspected[citation needed]
K. Padmanabha EPRLF General Secretary; mid 1990[13] Killed by the LTTE [39]
P.Ganeshalingam EPRLF provincial minister; 28 January 1990 LTTE[14]
Sri Sabaratnam TELO leader; April/May, 1986 Killed by the LTTE [40]

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[41]
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.[42]
Chandra Fernando Catholic priest – Human Rights activist; June, 1988 Unknown
George Jeyarajasingham Methodist priest – Human Rights activist SLA Killed while stopped at an SLA checkpoint, along with his Sinhalese driver.[43]
Ketheesh Loganathan Co-founder, Centre for policy alternatives Colombo and Government peace secretariat deputy leader unknown
This section contains information of unclear or questionable importance or relevance to the article's subject matter.
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Victim Description Notes
C.E.Anandarajah St John's college School principal; 26 June 1985[15] unknown
Kanapathy Rajadurai Central College, Jaffna Principal 10 October 2004[16] unknown
Pon. Ganeshamoorthy Literary Figure, Poet, General Manager People's Bank Unknown
T. Kailainathan Director of Vocational Qualification;4th April 2005 LTTE[44]
Herath Abeyweera Chief Secretary to the Eastern Province, July 16, 2007 LTTE[45][46]

Victim Description Notes
Balanadarajah Iyer Lead editor EPDP and founder of Thinamurasu newspaper[17] The Sri Lankan Government blames the LTTE for this murder [47]
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.[48]
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.[49] The LTTE proxy organization TNA[50] (of which Mr Sivamaharajah was a member), accused the government of assassinating him.[51] The anti-rebel South Asian Terrorism Portal however reported that it was committed by suspected LTTE cadres.[52]
Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan Sudar Oli newspaper correspondent Unknown[53]
Mylvaganam Nimalarajan BBC reporter The EPDP is suspected, but deny involvement.[54][55]
Taraki Sivaram Editor of Tamilnet news portal The TMVP is suspected.[53]
Selvarajah Rajivarnam "Uthayan" Newspaper Reporter The EPDP are suspected.[53]
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.[56]
K.S.Raja Reporter for Radio Ceylon Unknown
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Victim Description Notes
Chelian Perinpanayagam Writer, Journalist former Mayor of Batticalao[18] Unknown
Natpudduminai Faleel Poet, Assistant Government Agent[19] Unknown
Chasy Krishnamoorthy Writer, Film Critic[20] Unknown
Thiagarajah Selvanithy Poet Killed by the LTTE [21]
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Victim Description Notes
Oberoi Thevan TELA leader[22] Killed by the LTTE [57]
Subathiran Thambirajah Jaffna district leader of splinter group of EPRLF known as EPRLF-V; 14 June 2003[23] Killed by the LTTE [58]
P. Rajaratnam General Secretary of Indian based ENDLF in Sri Lanka[24] ENDLF blamed LTTE.[25]
Sonnyboy Occerz alias Rangappa Senior member of ENDLF and from the Portuguese Burghers community[26] LTTE[disputed]
Vaithilingam Sornalingam Senior member of LTTE SLA LRRP[59][60]
E. Kousalyan LTTE political wing regional leader killed in an ambush TMVP[61]
Kandiah Ulaganathan Alias "Colonel Ramanan"; LTTE military leader for Batticaloa district killed on 21 May 2006 TMVP[62] / SLA[63][disputed]
Thambirasa Kuhasanthan (Lt Col. Nizam ) LTTE Military Intelligence Wing leader for the East SLA LRRP[64][59]
Gangai Amaran LTTE Deputy Leader Of Sea Tigers SLA LRRP[59]
Mano LTTE Head of Eastern Communication SLA LRRP[59][65]
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Victim Description Notes
Nagalingam Manickathasan Alias Manikadasan one time PLOTE deputy leader[27] LTTE
Kandaiah Yoharasa Alias PLOTE Mohan one time government informant and alleged hit man[28][29] LTTE
Muthulingam Ganeshkumar Alias Razeek Leader of Razeek Group a paramilitary organisation working with government soldiers[30] LTTE
Sivaguru Navaratnarajah Alias Kanthi Leader of Razeek Group 14 September 2005[31] LTTE
Vinayakamoorthy Sivanesadurai Alias Reggie : Senior member Karuna Group and elder brother of Karuna and former LTTE sharpshooter LTTE[66][67]

  1. ^ Philip Alston (2006-03-27). "Civil and Political Rights, Including the Question of Disappearances and Summary Executions" (DOC). United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka says sinks rebel boats on truce anniversary", Simon Gardner, Reuters, February 22, 2007. 
  3. ^ "Ceasefire raises Sri Lankan peace hopes", The Guardian, February 22, 2002. 
  4. ^ "Monitors Say 4,000 Dead in Sri Lanka", Dillip Ganguly, Fox News, February 23, 2007. 
  5. ^ Baker, Mark. "Hopes high for end to Sri Lanka war", The Age, 2002-09-16. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  6. ^ "Sri Lanka assassination plot", BBC, 1998-07-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  7. ^ a b Sambandan, V.S.. "Inquiries into Premadasa, Dissanayake killings closed", The Hindu, 2005-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  8. ^ a b c d "CHRONOLOGY-Assassinations of political figures in Sri Lanka", Reuters UK, 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  9. ^ "1991: Bomb kills India's former leader Rajiv Gandhi", BBC. Retrieved on 2007-11-05. 
  10. ^ "Tamil Tiger 'regret' over Gandhi", BBC, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  11. ^ "We killed Rajiv, confesses LTTE", The Times of India, 2006-06-28. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  12. ^ "EU bans Tamil Tigers over murder", BBC, 2005-09-27. Retrieved on 2007-11-05. 
  13. ^ "Senior Sri Lanka minister killed", BBC, 2005-08-13. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  14. ^ Sambandan, V.S. (August/September 2005). "For a just peace for all". Frontline 22 (18). ISSN 0970-1710. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  15. ^ "Q&A: Sri Lanka elections", BBC, 2005-11-18. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  16. ^ "Sri Lanka: Searching for a solution", BBC, 1999-08-11. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  17. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=5ff1bcb8-c706-4598-945a-76f8f3ad2bbc&ParentID=2fa65204-93c6-489d-8af5-4c6c3099b3b7&MatchID1=4585&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=8&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1151&MatchID2=4587&TeamID3=3&TeamID4=5&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1152&PrimaryID=4585&Headline=Suicide+blast%2c+LTTE%3fs+best+weapon
  18. ^ {{|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jun2000/sri2-j17.shtml}}
  19. ^ British Refugee Council (December 1999). "Carnage in the capital". The Sri Lanka Monitor. ISSN 0955-5943. Retrieved on 2007-05-13. 
  20. ^ Jayasinghe, Amal. "Lanka MP Assassinated", ArabNews, 2006-11-11. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  21. ^ Liyanage, Priyath. "Peace suffers as Tamil politicians killed", BBC, 2006-11-16. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  22. ^ "On the murder of Nadarajah Raviraj: Scotland Yard Police to conduct further forensic tests in London", Asian Tribune, 2007-01-14. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  23. ^ "GoSL should take responsibility for Raviraj's assassination - Sampanthan", TamilNet, 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  24. ^ "Tigers behind the killing of Raviraj -- International Center", Asian Tribune, 2006-11-17. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  25. ^ Police investigate mobile phone link in Raviraj assassination
  26. ^ "Can the East be won through Human Culling?", UTHR, 2007-08-03. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 
  27. ^ "Assassinations", Ministry of Defence. Retrieved on 2007-05-13. 
  28. ^ a b "[http://www.uthr.org/Briefings/Briefing5.htm Wider Significance of the Incidents in Pesalai and the University of Jaffna]", UTHR. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. 
  29. ^ Inter-Parliamentary Union (2006-10-18). "CASE No. SRI/49 - JOSEPH PARARAJASINGHAM". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  30. ^ [1]
  31. ^ Global Terrorism 1999; Asia Overview
  32. ^ Frontline, Chronicle of murders
  33. ^ [2]
  34. ^ [3]
  35. ^ [4]
  36. ^ http://secretary.state.gov/www/briefings/statements/1998/ps980519a.html
  37. ^ http://www.web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370111998?open&of=ENG-LKA
  38. ^ [5]
  39. ^ [6]
  40. ^ [7]
  41. ^ "Film explores broken Tamil lives", BBC, 2006-03-22. Retrieved on 2007-11-05. 
  42. ^ University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) (January 1989). "Report No 1" (PDF). University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna). Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
  43. ^ Sri Lanka : The Untold Story. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  44. ^ http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul38.htm
  45. ^ Shanglin, Luan. "Senior Sri Lankan official shot dead in east", Xinhua News Agency, 2007-07-16. Retrieved on 2007-07-16. 
  46. ^ "Senior civil servant shot dead in Sri Lanka", Hindustan Times, Press Trust Of India, 2007-07-16. Retrieved on 2007-07-16. 
  47. ^ LTTE hand in EROS Bala killing. Retrieved on 2007-11-07.
  48. ^ Tamil journalist murdered in government-controlled zone. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  49. ^ "Home for Human Rights, Sri Lanka", 2007-05-17. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  50. ^ "Tamil member of Parliament killed in Sri Lankan capital", AP, 10 November 2006. 
  51. ^ "Home for Human Rights, Sri Lanka", 2007-05-17. Retrieved on 2007-05-11. 
  52. ^ [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/database/majorincidents.htm Major incidents
  53. ^ a b c Sri Lanka - Annual report 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  54. ^ Sri Lanka - Annual report 2003. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  55. ^ Open letter to the Sri Lankan Prime minister. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  56. ^ Human Rights Watch. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  57. ^ [8]
  58. ^ [9]
  59. ^ a b c d Protecting informants: The Government's bounden duty.
  60. ^ PTA arrests expose covert operation - paper.
  61. ^ Sambandan, V.S.. "Tamil National Force claims responsibility for Kousalyan's murder", The Hindu, 2005-02-11. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  62. ^ Incidents of violence between the LTTE and Tamil National Front (rebel faction led by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias 'Colonel' Karuna) since March 2004. South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  63. ^ "LTTE Senior Commander Ramanan assassinated", TamilNet, 2006-05-21. Retrieved on 2007-05-10. 
  64. ^ PTA arrests expose covert operation - paper.
  65. ^ SLA penetratiom group strikes again in east.
  66. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2004/09/040923_karuna.shtml
  67. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-09/25/content_2016971.htm

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