Senior civil servant shot dead in Sri Lanka

Gunmen killed Harry Abeyweera, the Chief District Secretary, or Collector, in the heart of Trincomalee town and escaped, says the police.

Suspected Tamil Tiger guerrillas shot dead a top civil servant in north-eastern Sri Lanka on Monday as the government announced celebrations to mark the dismantling of a key rebel base.

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Gunmen killed Harry Abeyweera, the Chief District Secretary, or Collector, in the heart of Trincomalee town and escaped, police said.

The killing came hours after the government announced it will mark the wresting of the Eastern Province from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) later this week with a military parade here.

President Mahinda Rajapakse has condemned the killing.