Legislator in Sri Lanka assassinated during midnight Mass

Published: 2005-12-28

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNS) -- A senior member of Sri Lanka's Parliament was shot dead inside the Catholic cathedral in Batticaloa during midnight Mass on Christmas. Joseph Pararajasingham of the Tamil National Alliance, who represented Batticaloa district in Parliament, and his wife had returned to their seats in the front row, Bishop Joseph Swampillai of Trincomalee-Batticaloa told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop Swampillai said he was still giving Communion to other people when the two killers, who had been hiding behind a pillar, ran toward the couple and fired shots before fleeing. Media reports indicate that the legislator died instantly and seven others, including his wife, were wounded when the gunmen fired into the crowd. Police were reported to have been providing security to Pararajasingham at the time of the attack. The Sri Lankan military reportedly blamed the killing on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, but the Tamil rebels have blamed military intelligence and allied groups.

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