Chief Military Intelligence Officer gunned down

by Sarath Malalasekara and Asanga Warnakulasuriya

Head of the Military Intelligence Corps Major Nizam Muthaliph was gunned down by men believed to be from the LTTE at Polhengoda yesterday morning.

Major Muthaliph was on his way to participate at a function at the Kotelawela Defence Academy when he was hit by bullets near the Polhengoda traffic lights fired from a motorbicycle ridden by two men, military officials said.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News that Major Muthaliph was the head of the Military Intelligence Corps and was the most senior Army officer to have been gunned down by the LTTE, currently on a campaign of eliminating Army Intelligence operatives.

Major Muthaliph was gunned down around 7.45 am when his car stopped for the traffic lights. According to the Brigadier, one of the motorcyclists had opened fire with a special weapon identified as a Mini Uzi.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the assailant had shot Major Muthaliph at point blank range, pumping 11 bullets into his head and body. The Major was rushed to the Apollo Hospital but died on the way.

It was revealed that the Major who was among the top brass of Army Intelligence, had recently received a number of death threats from the LTTE and had informed this to the authorities. According to military sources, two motorcycle escorts were provided to the Major following the threats, but they had failed to turn up yesterday.

According to Brigadier Ratnayake, the LTTE had so far gunned down 35 undercover operatives of which 10 were from the Army Intelligence.

Information revealed that the suspects had strategically planned the shooting since they had managed to escape without being identified even though the assassination took place in a busy city hub.

He has been in service for nearly 20 years while he had worked for the Intelligence around 10 years.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) took-over the investigations on the direction of IGP Chandra Fernando while Military Police is conducting a separate inquiry into the shooting. Meanwhile, the Colombo Additional Magistarte has also visited the scene and directed the investigators to submit a report.

Muthaliph's wife, Kumudini Amerasingha Muthaliph, is the commanding officer of the Army Women's Corps.

Government condemns killing

Major Nizam Muthaliph of the Sri Lanka Army was killed last morning, reportedly by a LTTE assassination squad that had infiltrated Colombo.

The Government strongly condemns this killing. This action is in contravention of both the letter and spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The Government is examining the full implications of this killing as it impacts on the peace process, states a Government Information Department press release.