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Remembrance for Tamil MP assassinated on Christmas Day

The assassinated Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham was remembered across the Tamil homeland today, on the 14th anniversary of his killing.

A senior Tamil National Alliance (TNA) figure and MP for Batticaloa district, Pararajasingham was shot and killed by two armed paramilitary men whilst he was attending Christmas midnight mass in 2005, at the St Mary's church in Batticaloa town.

His wife, Sugunam Pararajasingham was seriously wounded in the gunfire.

The assassination, which occurred during the official ceasefire between the government and the LTTE, was condemned by Tamils around the world.

"Mr Pararajasingham served as a supreme political leader working resolutely to confront forces that attempted to destroy Tamil Nationalism. Tamil people across the world regarded him as an honest leader and his murder has angered and saddened all of us," the head of the LTTE's political wing, S. P. Thamilchelvan told mourners in Kilinochchi who had gathered at his funeral to pay their respects.

Pararajasingham was posthumously conferred the title 'Maamanithar' by the LTTE.

 

In October 2017, the paramilitary leader Pillayan was indicted over his murder and remains in remand as the case continues.

Memorial events were held today by in Jaffna and Batticaloa by ITAK and the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF).

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