COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan parliament approved extension of emergency for another month, A Buddhist priest, a school principal and his wife were among at least 107 persons killed in continued violence during the past week.
The chief priest of Bam baragala temple in central Sri Lanka was hacked to death in his temple premises by suspected Sinhala Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) extremists, of facial reports received here said.
Bala Gunasegaram principal of a prestigious St. Thomas boarding school at Guruthalawa in UVA province was shot dead along with his wife at their residence within the school premises.
While five suspected JVP men were killed in separate confrontations with the security forces in Kurune gala, Hiregolle and Matala, an army personnel was killed and another injured when they were attacked by the extremists while travelling on a motorbike.
Sri Lankan parliament Friday approved extension of emergency for another month with the entire opposition voting against the provision.
A contingent of Indian peace keeping force (PKF) soldiers left for home from Trincomalee port representing deduction of the forces from Ampara district leaving responsibility of maintenance of law and order to the provincial authorities.
Thirtynine people, including 24 JVP activists were killed, while a team of International Red Cross of facials were holding discussions with government officials on the modalities of its service in the island, official sources and residents said, reports PTI.
Twenty one killings have been attributed to alleged death squads of anti JVP vigilante groups at four different places on Oct. 17, residents said.
While 15 bodies with gunshot injuries were found half burnt in three different places in central Matale district, six other were recovered from Hunipitiya area on the outskirts of Colombo.
Three other suspected JVP extremists were killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces in Kelaniya in Colombo district, an official comminute said.
Meanwhile, a four member team of international committee of Red Cross was having consultations with foreign ministry officials to finalize the modalities of its functioning in the island.
Seven members of two families and seven suspected pro-Sinhala JVP men were among the 20 persons killed on Oct. 22.
While four members of a family, including a home guard, were shot dead in their house in Donkande in Rainapura, three members of another family were killed in Kandy.
Seven suspected JVP men were killed in separate confrontations with security forces in Galle, Gampaha and Kandy districts during the period.
On Oct. 20, 27 people including four of a family and five soldiers, were killed in separate incidents.
Five Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and 10 others injured when their vehicle was blown-up in a landmine explosion set by suspected JVP men in Talpotha area.
Four members of a family and their neighbor were killed in central Rainapura and 14 civilians and three Sinhala Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) activists were killed across the country in separate incidents overnight, sources said.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 27, 1989
