Headline News

At least three killed in Sri Lanka's volatile east ahead of prime minister's visit

Gunmen fatally shot two ethnic Tamils and a Sinhalese man in separate attacks in Sri Lanka's volatile east, hours before a planned visit Saturday by presidential candidate and current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, police said.

The Tamil men, both aged 23, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen just before midnight in Valaichchenai village, 220 kilometers (135 miles) east of the capital, Colombo, said Rohan Abeywardene, the region's top police chief.

Around six hours later, an ice-cream seller, belonging to the Sinhalese majority was shot dead in the neighboring eastern district of Ampara - parts of which are under Tamil Tiger rebel control.

The fresh outbreak of violence came as Rajapakse traveled to the coastal village of Oluvil, in Ampara, to address an election rally.

Security has been bolstered by special anti-terrorist commandos and the police ahead of his visit, Abeywardene said.

He said while the violence is unlikely to have an impact on the premier's visit, ``we are not taking any chances.''

The premier's special security team also combed the area ahead of Rajapakse's arrival by helicopter.

Rajapakse will contest presidential elections expected on Nov. 17.

Oluvil is a Muslim-dominated village. Rajapakse also visited another Muslim village in Ampara on Friday. The Muslim vote will be crucial at the poll for Sri Lanka's new president, and could determine whether Rajapakse or his main opponent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, wins.

``I will make sure there will be an honorable peace where Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims can all live without fear,'' Rajapakse told the crowd.

Muslims generally do not trust the Tamil rebels, who are mostly Hindus. Muslims claim their 1.3 million minority have been discriminated against since an earlier Sri Lankan government signed a cease-fire agreement with the rebels.

Authorities suspect the latest violence was linked to feuding between militant groups.

The split in the Tamil Tiger rebels in March 2004, sparked internecine clashes that have killed scores, mainly in Sri Lanka's east. In recent months, the fighting has spilled over into the capital.

Sri Lankan President leaves on foreign visit amid party dispute

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is nearing the end of her official term in December has undertaken a visit to Paris amidst a serious policy dispute with her presidential candidate and the incumbent prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse.

The ruling party officials said Saturday the President had lefthere early Saturday morning to attend sessions of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

The ruling party, Sri lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), said Friday that Kumaratunga had agreed to address Rajapakse's election rallies despite her earlier call on him to explain his electoral pacts with extremist political parties aimed at winning the Nov. 17 poll.

Kumaratunga who cannot contest a third time for President choseRajapakse as the party's nominee.

But she is unhappy with Rajapakse's pacts with the two hardlineparties who are opposed to a federal solution being looked at as an ultimate settlement to the separatist armed conflict.

The SLFP sources said that Kumaratunga appointed a nine-member committee comprising senior ministers and provincial governors. The committee has been mandated to formulate the policy document for Rajapakse while preserving the SLFP's own policies whilst recognizing the policies of parties who had entered deals with theparty's presidential candidate