The main opposition United National Party (UNP) last week accused the Sri Lankan government of the killing of Tamil parliamentarian Thiyagarajah Maheswaran on New Year’s day.
“The security of Mr. Maheswaran was withdrawn two weeks ago by the government despite repeated appeals that his life was in danger," UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake said.
"Mr. Maheswaran himself made a statement in parliament saying that the government must take responsibility if something were to happen to him," Attanayakke added.
Earlier, in an interview for popular Minnal program aired on Shakti TV on December 30, Maheswaran himself had expressed fears for his life and said the government should take responsibility if anything happened to him.
“My life is increasingly at risk after the reduction of my security from 18 personnel to only one. Even state intelligence has established that there are threats to me. Therefore, the government should take full responsibility,” said Maheswaran.
However senior Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva rubbished UNP accusations and said it was unfair to blame the government for the killing of Mr. Maheswaran.
“Even on earlier occasions politicians have been killed in this manner, this is nothing new. These accusations are leveled to tarnish the image of the government. The government condemns the assassination of Mr. Maheswaran and a thorough investigation has already been ordered,” Mr. De Silva said.
The suspect identified as Vasanthan, was admitted to the National Hospital in a critical condition and kept under heavy police and army protection, hospital sources said.
Maheswaran’s security officer L. Dharmasiri, who was also injured in the incident, speaking from his hospital bed alleged that Mr. Maheswaran was shot dead by one of his former security officers.
“I saw him firing at Sir. I shouted and fired back at him. He ran away firing at me and I too fell over. However I was able to identify him at the hospital,” Mr. Dharmasiri said.
Maheswaran was also highly critical about paramilitary EPDP in his interview with Minnal programme and claimed that he would reveal details on how the terror campaign in Jaffna was being managed from Colombo by the Government of Sri Lanka through the EPDP.
The paramilitary-cum-political party, EPDP, is led by Douglas Devananda, a cabinet minister in the present Sri Lanka government.
Maheswaran told Minnal program that he would come up with in-depth details of the terror campaign when the parliament resumes its sittings on January 08.
Recently, on 21 December, a UNP candidate, Muthukumar Sivapalan, was shot and killed in Jaffna, allegedly by the EPDP.
Maheswaran who was killed on New Years day is the third Tamil legislator to be assassinated since President Mahinda Rajapakse came to power 2 years ago.
Two years ago, a senior Tamil politician and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament, Joseph Pararajasingham, was shot and killed at St. Mary's co-cathedral church in Batticaloa city, while attending Christmas prayers on the night of Christmas eve.
An year ago, another TNA MP, a lawyer turned politician and former mayor of Jaffna, Nadarajah Raviraj, was assassinated in Colombo on November 10, 2006.
An year ago, another TNA MP, a lawyer turned politician and former mayor of Jaffna, Nadarajah Raviraj, was assassinated in Colombo on November 10, 2006.
In both cases, pro-government Tamil parliamentarians were blamed.
