Point Pedro Urban Council Chairman Vadivel Wijayaratnam was shot dead by an unidentified gunman believed to be an LTTE pistol gang cadre on Friday night, police sources revealed. According to a senior police officer the victim was shot seven times and also an employee of the council Nurali Paheerathan was also killed in the shooting. They were gunned down just outside Mr. Wijayaratnam's residence at Point Pedro, Sunday Island said.

     Mr. Wijayaratnam was elected on the PLOTE ticket at the local government elections in 1998 and was the third local body leader in Jaffna to be assassinated by the LTTE within the last two years, Sunday Observer stated.

     However according to The Island today, 15 hardcore terrorists have been arrested in several operations conducted by police stations in Jaffna immediately after the killing. Among the suspects arrested there had been members of the LTTE pistol gang, suicide bombers and an area leader. Police sources have also revealed that LTTE had infiltrated Jaffna disguised as civilians to carry out a major attack in Jaffna, which is presently under the army control.

     Several others elected to local bodies were also killed by the LTTE including Jaffna Mayor, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran and subsequently elected Mayor P. Sivapalam.

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