An unidentified gunman opened fire on police in Sri Lanka’s former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi in the wee hours of Friday. The incident took place a day after Tamils observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade long civil war.
Several police officers of the Kilinochchi police station escaped unhurt in the incident.
A search operation has been launched by the army and police officers to find the suspect, who reportedly fled after the attack.
The military and the police conducted a joint search operation in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi on Friday morning, following an alleged shooting at a police vehicle.
Police said part of a gun was found nearby.
The Tamil Genocide Remembrance day was marked by various events at Mullivaikkal, the location of the final battle between the Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
According to Tamil sources, there was tension in the commemoration ceremony between the hardline and moderate Tamil leadership.
Northern province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran had criticised the presence of around 150,000 military personnel in the north.
“The truth is that there is no need for army, navy and air force,” he said. “I have lit this flame, rising above the political party limits and boundaries. This Remembrance Day should be marked so also in the future,” he said while lighting the common flame of sacrifice.
