Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah

Namathu Eelanadu

August 20, 2006, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Sivamaharajah , a Tamil newspaper editor and former member of parliament, was killed outside his home on the besieged Jaffna Peninsula, international and local media reported. Sivamaharajah, managing director of the Tamil-language Namathu Eelanadu, was shot dead in Vellippalai. The motive was unclear.

Sivamaharajah, 68, was a former MP of the Tamil United Liberation Front, and a member of the Tamil National Alliance, a pro-separatist party thought to be the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. Namathu Eelanadu was considered sympathetic to the Tamil nationalist cause.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.