4TH LEAD (Adds photos, details)

Claymore attack kills Intelligence officer, EPDP cadre in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 June 2005, 06:35 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Intelligence Officer, Lance Corporal Ellaperuma Rukman Edward,31, and an Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) cadre, Mr. Gnanakumar Kannan, 28, were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked Kurumankadu EPDP camp located 1.5 km west of Vavuniya Saturday at 11.16 AM. Five paramilitary cadres and another SLA intelligence officer, Mr. Ajith De Silva, 30, were injured in the attack. The attackers used a Claymore mine on the wall of the camp, Vavuniya Police said. The cadres and the camp belonged to EPRLF-Varathar Group until the cadres converted to EPDP a few weeks ago, sources in Vavuniya said.

Mr. Sanmukanathan Wimalathas, 30, Basthiampillai Amalathas, 28, Mr Govintharajah Sivakumar, 25, Mr. Majooran, 26, and Mr. Mukunthan, 25, are the EPDP/Ex-EPRLF cadres injured in the claymore attack.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials rushed to the scene on being informed of the incident.

Vavuniya district judge Mr. M. Ilancheliyan and police officals inspect the scene.

Vavuniya district judge Mr. Manickavasagam Ilancheliyan visited the scene and Vavuniya Hospital, and ordered Vavuniya Police to conduct investigations.

Vavuniya Police Head Quarters Inspector (HQI) Mr. A.N.C. Abeyasinha Bandara is conducting investigations.

EPRLF Varathar Group, a paramilitary that operates with Sri Lankan armed forces, had recently filed a case challenging the conversion, legal sources in Vavuniya added.

EPDP is a close ally of Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga.