Many eye-witnesses saw Raviraj being murdered
November 11th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
“Many people have eye- witnessed the murder of TNA Jaffna MP Naradarah Raviraj and his Police bodyguard ” authoritative Police sources said yesterday.
The Tamil National Alliance MP from Jaffna district and his bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman Lokuwella from Gampaha were shot dead in broad daylight at about 8. 39 am in Colombo.
The spot where the shooting occurred was in close proximity to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles Department. There were many people who saw the shooting and have come forward to give information Police sources said yesterday.
“We have received a lot of information and vital evidence is available as some items have been left behind. We are confident of a breakthrough.” a senior Police official said.
Raviraj was shot close to his residence in Manning town Narahenpita.
[Sri Lankan police and military investigators inspect the vehicle-Photo AP]
The Jaffna MP had returned home after a discussion – interview on “Derana” TV from 7. 00 am – 7.30 am. He had quickly changed clothes . had breakfast and started out again to his law office.
Raviraj a lawyer by profession had his own law firm: “Raviraj and Associates”.
Though the MP had his own driver the man was on leave. The driver had requested a further extension of leave a few days before the killing.
According to Raviraj’s brother in law the MP had then told the driver good – humouredly ” Even if I die you can have your leave”.
The TNA Parliamentarian had first tried to use his wife’s car but finding the battery had run down chose to use his own vehicle.
Raviraj had asked his bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman a native of Gampaha to get in and climbed into the drivers seat.
The Toyota Landcruiser Prado bearing the No WP KE 1279 was then slowly driven along Martha road by Raviraj. The vehicle was turning into Elvitigala Mawatte when a motor cycle numbered JE 3507 came near from the opposite side.Two men with helmets were on it.
One got down from the pillion , removed his helmet , went across and stood on the pavement . He had a shoulder bag.
Raviraj’s vehicle was cruising along very slowly when the man tore apart the bag he was carrying and started firing. The weapon was a T – 56. The assassin did not pull the gun out but fired while it was yet inside the bag.
The assassin fired away at point blank range on Raviraj’s vehicle from the front, side and rear. An entire magazine was exhausted in the firing. He then ran quickly and climbed on to the motor cycle pillion again.
The assassins had then turned into Martha road and sped away. The bag containing the T – 56 as well as the helmet of one rider were found on the side of the road.
Police also say that a three – wheeler parked close to the spot had also driven away after the shooting. It is suspected that the three – wheeler driver was a “look – out” for the assassins and had tipped them off by mobile telephone about Raviraj’ s vehicle approaching.
Raviraj was hit five times and Lokuwella eight times. Both victims were taken to Colombo National Hospital speedily. Lokuwella was pronounced dead upon admission.
Raviraj was in critical condition and urgent surgery was done but Raviraj was dead at 9. 20 am.Hospital sources said the MP was “clinically dead” even when admitted.
Within an hour of Raviraj’s death Police officials cordoned off the Manningtown flats and conducted a search operation.
A top Police official speaking on condition of anonymity said that the Police if allowed to function independently could “crack ” the case easily. “We dont need Scotland Yard. We can do it but will we be allowed to do so”? He asked.
The official also said that a Tamil organization with strong links to the Government was the prime suspect.
Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapakse has instructed Inspector – General of Police Victor Perera to conduct a speedy probe into the killing. The IGP in turn has authorised Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundara to unmdertake the investigation. Rajapakse has also initiated steps to bring in Scotland Yard detectives from Britain to assist in the investigation.
Raviraj is the second Tamil National alliance MP to be assassinated after Mahinda Rajapakse became President. Veteran Eastern Province Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead last year at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa during midnight mass for Christmas. Joseph was returning to his pew after partaking of Holy communion from Batticaloa Catholic Bishop Rt. Rev Kingsley Swampillai when the assassins came from near the altar and shot him dead in full view of the terrified congregation.
Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told the press, “Raviraj’s assassination is a clear attempt by the paramilitary operating with the Sri Lanka Army to stifle the Tamil parliamentarians’ voice in and out of the Parliament to inform the International Community of the Sri Lanka Government’s genocide against the Tamils.” Sampanthan further said, “Almost an year has passed since the assassination of Batticaloa parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingam and the Sri Lanka government is yet to bring the killers to book. This reveals the covert connections the government has with them.”
Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Leader of the Opposition and the head of United National Party (UNP) condemning the assassination said, “Within a year of parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham’s assassination Raviraj has been killed. This is a threat to democracy. We strongly condemn this cowardly act and urge the government to take legal actions to bring the killers to justice besides providing adequate security measures to Tamil parliamentarians.”
S. B. Dissanayake, a senior member of UNP, after visiting the Colombo National Hospital morgue where the remains of Raviraj is kept said, “The Sri Lanka government should hold itself responsible for Raviraj’s assassination without blaming Karuna group or any other and tell the public who the killers are.”
Mano Ganeshan, parliamentarian and leader of Western Peoples’ Front party said the GoSL should take responsibility for Raviraj’s assassination.
‘Tamils’ struggle cannot be contained by this cowardly killing,” said TNA parliamentarian Sivajilingam. He added that the killers of Raviraj are the paramilitaries operating with the Sri Lanka Army.
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