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This is an archive article published on December 7, 1999
Chandrika on top of LTTE hit list— Newspaper
COLOMBO, DEC 6 : Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga features at the top of LTTE's hit list following opinion polls showing her hav...
Written by Press Trust Of India
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COLOMBO, DEC 6 : Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga features at the top of LTTE’s hit list following opinion polls showing her having an edge over principal challenger Ranil Wickramasinghe of United National Party (UNP) in the forthcoming presidential polls, a state-run newspaper reports.
State-run Daily News, quoting security agencies, said LTTE has "intensified" its efforts to prevent Kumaratunga from getting re-elected, especially after pre-poll surveys placed her well ahead of the UNP rival in the presidential race.
In view of her re-election chances, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader V Prabhakaran has reportedly planned to obstruct the December 21 elections by "perpetrating" many killings and launching bomb attacks, the paper said.
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The LTTE hit list includes Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar, Deputy Defence Minister Gen Anurudha Ralwatte, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister for Port Development, M H M Ashraff, Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister G L Peiris.
Wickramasinghe was conspicuous by his absence in the so called hit list published by the newspaper. On Sunday,
, quoting security agencies said threat perceptions to him have increased in view of LTTE decision to disrupt the polls.
Meanwhile, Kumaratunga charged UNP with "instigating" attacks on its own offices in order to disgrace the government and win people’s sympathy.
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"UNP is setting up its goons to attacks its own offices, supporters and cutouts in order to project me in bad light. The attack on UNP headquarters at suburban Kotte here in which miscreants threw stones and damaged the office was one such attempt," Kumaratunga said at an election rally recently.
UNP intends to create panic and tension to prevent people from casting their votes, she alleged and asked the public not to believe in rumours and fake stories about the government.
infohead:LTTE release two more soldiers
info:COLOMBO: LTTE freed two more soldiers on Monday, the second release of prisoners since a rebel offensive began early last month, a red cross spokesman said.
It came 10 days after the rebels had released seven soldiers on what they called as "heroes’ day", an annual commemoration of rebel casualties in the 16-year war for an independent homeland for the minority Tamils.
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The soldiers were handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, its spokesman Harsha Gunewardena said.
The Lankan military had suffered huge military losses last month when the LTTE overran key towns and installations in the northern Wanni region.
More than 58,000 people have been killed since 1983. Militants among the Tamils say the community is discriminated against the majority Sinhalese.
