Sri Lanka army soldier guns down major, two corporals

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 April 2005, 09:48 GMT]
A Sri Lanka army private shot dead a major and two lance corporals in a dispute over leave Saturday morning around 10.40 at the 7 Sinha Regiment camp in Nunavil in Jaffna. The major was second in command of the camp, Sri Lanka military sources said. The soldier was angry with his superiors for not granting him leave to go home for the Sinhala New Year, Police sources said. He was arrested and handed over to Chavakachcheri Police. The murder weapon was seized from him.

The dead officer is Major Sujeewa Ratnaweera.

Lance Corporal P. K. G Abeyasingha and Lance Corporal A. M. L Premakumara were shot dead by the soldier.

Chavakachcheri magistrate, Mr. P. Subramanian, visited the camp and recorded statements from witnesses.