Former TNA Parliamentarian Kingsley Rajanayagam was shot dead allegedly by LTTE pistol gang members at Jayanthipuram in Batticaloa yesterday, military sources said.
They said Mr. Rajanayagam, known to be a close associate of dissident leader Karuna, was travelling in his car, when the gunmen had followed him on a motorcycle for some distance and then shot him dead near the Kalliyankaadu cemetery.
A police security guard who was with Mr. Rajanayagam was also injured and admitted to hospital.
Following the killing additional troops were called in and security tightened while a hunt was launched for the killers.
Mr. Rajanayagam had contested the April 2004 general election and was elected from the Batticaloa District with 38,633 preferential votes. He had attended the TNA's first Parliamentary group meeting but he was summoned by the LTTE and was allegedly forced to resign.
