LTTE behind SSP’s killing, investigations reveal

Indika Polkotuwa

KANDY: The LTTE had been responsible for the killing of former STF Training Director SSP Upul Seneviratne in a claymore mine explosion in Digana according to confessions made by the four suspects held in connection with the murder.

Interrogation of the four suspects by intelligence sleuths had revealed that SSP Seneviratne’s name had been high on the LTTE hitlist because he was spearheading the anti LTTE campaign in the East.

The LTTE had been on his trail for nearly six months before setting off the claymore mine at his home village Digana when he visited his family for the weekend.

The LTTE had found it difficult to carry out the murder in the East because SSP Seneviratne had moved closely with the Tamil population among whom he had been very popular.

Three of the four suspects held in this connection are Tamils and the fourth is a Sinhalese who had been a former STF member. Two of his brothers are also said to be in the police service according to information gathered from the suspects.

The main suspected committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule at Kotmale. SSP Seneviratne’s murder caused consternation among the public and certain sections of the media tried to blame it on the Karuna faction.