Raviraj killing -
Update Scotland
Yard for probe into Raviraj assassination - President [Friday,
November 10, 2006 - 8.15 GMT]
"Deliberate and well planned attempt to bring government and country
into disrepute"
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Foreign Ministry to make
an urgent request to Scotland Yard to assist in investigations into the
assassination of Mr. Nadaraja Raviraj, Member of Parliament of the Tamil
National Alliance (TNA).
Mr. Raviraj and his Police security guard were killed after being shot
at by unidentified gunmen on the road close to Narahenpita in Colombo
this morning.
The President said the assassination of Mr. Raviraj showed every
indication of being a deliberate and well planned attempt to bring the
country and the
government into disrepute; it was also a serious move to create
obstacles to the efforts being made to bring about better understanding
among the different communities in the country, in the search for peace
and harmony.
Speaking at the 75th birth anniversary of Sarvodaya leader Dr. A. T.
Ariyaratne, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute today, President
Rajapaksa said Mr. Raviraj was a very good friend who he had known for a
long time. He was a young, courageous and active politician, who could
speak in Sinhala, Tamil and English fluently, and was able to present
his views very clearly before the people. There had always the most
friendly and cordial exchange of views between them.
President Rajapaksa emphasized that he was the leader of all the peoples
of Sri Lanka, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or any other
differences. He believed that every person in this country should have
the right to speak
out and express one's ideas freely, with no restrictions; in keeping
with the ideals of a democratic society. He said he was fully committed
to uphold this principle of democratic freedom in governance. (PRIU)
Speaking at the 75th birth anniversary of Sarvodaya leader Dr. A. T.
Ariyaratne, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute today, President
Rajapaksa said Mr. Raviraj was a very good friend who he had known for a
long time. He was a young, courageous and active politician, who could
speak in Sinhala, Tamil and English fluently, and was able to present
his views very clearly before the people. There had always the most
friendly and cordial exchange of views between them.
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