The Trincomalee Koneswaram Chief Priest Sivakadachchi Kurukkal Sivakugaras Kurugal was shot dead by a suspected LTTE gunman last evening.

The Chief Priest, aged 43, was killed around 6 p.m. while riding his motorcycle in Trincomalee, military sources said.

He had been the chief priest of the Temple for the last five years.