Govt. condemns killing

THE Government yesterday unreservedly condemned the reprehensible and dastardly abduction and killing of journalist D. Sivaram.

A Government news release said yesterday: "Sivaram's abduction and killing is the latest in a series of violent acts and political killings that have taken place while the Ceasefire Agreement has been operational.

Recently, Tamil Police Inspector, T. Jeyaratnam, attached to the Terrorist Investigations Unit of Mount Lavinia Police was abducted in Colombo.

Prior to that, a Divisional Secretary was killed in the Eastern Province and a Tamil Government official, a Director attached to the Ministry of Vocational Training was gunned down while in Batticaloa on official duty.

The Government has ordered a full scale investigation into the abduction and killing of Sivaram. Law enforcement authorities will ensure speedy action."