Alleged LTTE gunmen assassinate a Buddhist monk- Anuradhapura

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

Unidentified LTTE gunmen shot dead a Buddhist monk at Mahadivulwewa-Stage 1, in the Morawewa General area, approximately 40kilometers north east of Anuradhapura, on Sunday the 13th of May, at 09.15a.m.

The assassinated Buddhist monk, Ven. Hadungamuwe Nandarathene Thero was said to be the Head Priest of the 'Sri Pabbattharamaya' Buddhist temple in Mahadivulwewa, according to civilian sources in the area. Eyewitnesses in the area said that three LTTE gunmen who came on two motor cycles had shot dead the Monk and added that the motive of the killing was not known.

The Morawewa Police are conducting investigations.

Earlier on 24 May 1986, about 15-20 LTTE terrorists walked into Mahadivulwewa stage 20, Sinhala village and shot dead 20 villagers and set fire to 20 houses. On 31 December 1987, an armed LTTE mob shot dead 10 villagers and burnt 15 houses, at Mahadiulwewa.

Earlier, the LTTE terrorists brutally killed the Head priest of the Pulliar Hindu Temple at Sandiveli in Batticaloa, on 07th February. The Head priest Chellaiah Kurukkal Purameshvaram was dragged out and killed by the LTTE terrorists while, he was having dinner with his wife and children.

The priest was brutally murdered for garlanding President Mahinda Rajapakse, during a visit to Vakarai on 03rd February, 2007.