In brief

Killed

Kalutara prisoner Amaratunga Rohitha, accused of attempting to assassinate Industries minister CV Goonaratne, died in custody on 6 January. Another prisoner told a magistrate that after jailors took him into a room at gunpoint he was seen bleeding profusely.

Crashes

An Israeli-built unmanned spy plane disappeared on 16 January in the Vanni. A Chinese Y-12 transporter with three crew was lost after take off from Palaly airbase on 20 January. The following day an Israeli Kfir fighter crashed into the Negombo lagoon.

Commission

The civilian-appointed Sinhala Commission headed by former judge SW Walpita to enquire Sinhalese grievances in the last 200 years, began sittings in Kandy on 26 January.

Death

Communist Party leader Pieter Keuneman, 79, died on 23 January. Mr Keuneman was a member of parliament for 30 years from 1947 and served as Housing minister between 1970 and 1977.

Attack

The LTTE attacked a police station at Kanugahawewa, 30 miles north-east of Anuradhapura, on 18 January killing 23 policemen and wounding 17. Sinhalese villagers fled the area and took refuge in Kebitigollewa.

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