T.Maheswaran, MP killed President expresses shock and grief  

[Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - 8.45 GMT]    

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing employees of the President’s Office this morning (Jan 1) on the occasion of the New Year expressed shock and grief over the killing of Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran this morning by unidentified gunmen at Ponnambala Vaneswara Hindu Temple at Kotahena, Colombo. A Security Officer of the MP was also killed and 12 others were injured in the incident.
  
A grieved President described how Maheswaran invited and welcomed him to Jaffna for a meeting when he was the Leader of the Opposition. Despite political differences the two of them remained friends.
  
President Rajapaksa also condemned the killing and instructed the Inspector General of Police to conduct necessary investigations to apprehend the assassins. He also expressed his condolences to the members of the late MP’s family and his friends and relatives.