The second eastern political wing leader to be targeted within 3 weeks

Ampara’s Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) WM Wijepala said the wounded were first taken to Uhana by a Sri Lanka Airforce helicopter and then to Colombo by special airplane.

The other wounded LTTE women cadre Ahalini was taken back to Kalmunai hospital as there wasn’t enough space for three patients in the helicopter, Dr. T Murugananthan, District Medical Officer (DMO) of Kalmunai basic hospital told BBC Sandeshaya.

Suspect arrested

The three LTTE women cadres were taken to Thirukkovil hospital and then to Kalmunai basic hospital after the shooting at Thambiliwil on Monday evening.

They were travelling to Thirukkovil in Ampara from Kokkadicholai in a three wheel taxi when they were shot at by an armed man came in a motorcycle, police said.

STF say there was no need for them to shoot LTTE members

The Special Task Force (STF) meanwhile has handed over a suspect who surrendered saying the LTTE was trying to abduct him.

The suspect is now detained at the Kalmunai police station, Ampara Lake house reporter Wasantha Chandrapala said.

"STF involved"

In an interview with BBC Sandeshaya, head of LTTE peace secretariat S Pulithevan accused the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) of carrying out the attack.

“The incident has taken place in STF controlled areas. After the shooting one person has gone to a STF camp. So this clearly shows that the Sri Lankan armed forces are also involved in this assassination attempt.”

The Sri Lankan armed forces however denied LTTE’s accusation.

STF commander Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nimal Levke said there was no need for them to shoot LTTE members.

The DIG reminded incidents of STF arresting armed members of Karuna faction and a gunman who shot LTTE members was shot down by the STF as examples.

Ex-soldier killed

The authorities also accused the LTTE of killing an ex-soldier of Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

The most senior LTTE leader to be murdered after the signing of CFA

Subramaniam Dayanidhi, 43, was shot dead in Batticaloa on Monday night by unidentified gunmen.

Police in Batticaloa say Dayanidhi, an ex-Tamil militant turned a soldier lived in a refugee camp after tsunami, might have gunned down by LTTE’s pistol group.

However, the Tamil Tigers denied any involvement in the killing.

Kausalyan

Kuveni is the second Batticaloa-Ampara political wing leader of the LTTE to be targeted within three weeks.

LTTE’s Batticaloa-Ampara political wing leader E Kausalyan was shot dead in the government-controlled areas on 07 February.

The rebels blamed the government for carrying out the killing.

The government denied the accusation and said it was carried out by a rival rebel faction.