Breakthrough in Raviraj killing

President calls in Scotland Yard

by Prasad Gunewardene

Detectives probing Friday's assassination of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, Nadarajah Raviraj have made a vital breakthrough into the murder yesterday, authoritative sources told the 'Sunday Observer".

Within hours following the assassination, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who expressed shock and sorrow over the killing of his friend, Raviraj, directed the authorities to call in the Scotland Yard to commence a high-powered probe into the murder.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department were immediately asked to probe the murder and the Inspector General of Police, Victor Perera is personally monitoring the progress of the investigations.

All political parties, including the SLFP and the UNP condemned the brutal murder of their fellow parliamentarian who was a popular figure among all communities. Raviraj (44) was shot dead by unknown assailants along with his security officer at Narahenpita on Friday morning, just a few metres away from his home.

The parliamentarian, a lawyer by profession was reported to be heading towards Borella to attend courts that morning.

Raviraj was a father of two children attending schools in Colombo at the time of his death. The parliamentarian was a popular figure who participated in TV interviews on politics and also at civic meetings to speak on Tamil rights.

Eye witnesses said that a gunman in a T-shirt had approached the MP's vehicle near Matha Road, Narahenpita and opened fire indiscriminately in him and the security officer seated on his left. The late MP was driving his vehicle at the time of the incident. The funeral will take place in Jaffna on Wednesday.

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