Maheswaran killing: Assassin’s condition stable

The gunman allegedly involved in the slaying of UNP Parliamentarian Thiyagaraja Maheswaran was transferred from hospital to the custody of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) yesterday, but investigators say they are yet to establish any links between the assassin and the LTTE, though the police chief and some ministers have alleged such links.

The suspect identified as Johnson Collin Vasanthan Valentine from Gurunagar in Jaffna was taken to the CCD from hospital as his condition was now stable, the detectives said as they began grilling the suspect who also was injured in the New Year’s day shootout in a Hindu Kovil in Kochchikade, Colombo.

Despite claims by Inspector General Victor Perera and Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella that the killing was carried out by the LTTE, the detectives said that up to yesterday they had not gathered evidence to prove this. The suspect is reported to have left his Gurunagar house in 1996 and since then his whereabouts were not known. He had two national identity cards – one of them bearing his original address in Gurunagar and other carrying a Sinhala name, the detectives said.

Reports from Jaffna said he had been working at Shridhar theatre and later worked at an EPDP camp in Jaffna town for five years. But EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devananada yesterday denied that he knew the suspect.

“I totally reject the allegation that the assassination was carried out by an EPDP cadre and I have never seen this suspect earlier or heard about him,” Mr. Devananda told The Sunday Times amidst widespread reports of alleged EPDP involvement in the killing.

He said he believed that the EPDP was being accused of the killing as ‘interested parties’ were worried that his party was taking the initiative to put forward political proposals and resolve the ethnic conflict. The suspect is also reported to have worked for Mr. Maheswaran when he was a minister in the earlier UNP government, but the slain MP’s sister, Thirumagal, yesterday said they had never heard this particular name.

“Usually we are aware of the persons who worked with my brother, because we all lived in Wellawatte, but we have not heard this name. However, we are yet to see the suspect,” she said. Ministerial Security Division (MSD) Director A.S.K Munasinghe yesterday denied reports that the suspect had worked in the MSD.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said police sergeant Dharmasiri who had shot back at the suspect and was also injured was now recovering from his injuries. At least 10 persons including two relatives of the suspect are in custody in connection with the killing which also claimed the life of another youth.

The funeral of the youth killed in the incident took place in Jaffna yesterday (Saturday). He was identified as Chandrakumar Mahindan, who was staying with his relatives in Colombo and awaiting an opportunity to migrate.