From Sihara Lafiff in Kattankudy
A moulavi lecturing at the 'Al' Kuliathul Rabbaniya Madurasathui" in Kattankudy was shot dead by unidentified persons on Friday night.

The victim's wife was injured in the shooting.

The moulavi, Meera Sahib Mohammedu Farouk (42) had been at his house at Old. Road, Kattankudy when two unidentified persons came on a motor cycle looking for him around 10.15 p.m., police said.

They had told the moulavi that they wanted some holy water blessed according to Islamic religious ritual for an ailing woman and asked him to open the door.

When the door was opened, one of the persons had pulled out a pistol and shot him at point blank range.

His wife who was behind him at the time of the incident sustained injuries, police said.

The moulavi succumbed to his injuries on admission to Batticaloa base hospital. The victim's wife is receiving treatment at the Kattankudy hospital.

Acting OIC Kattankudy, SI A. W. S. Ratwatte is conducting further investigations.

Protest against issue of liquor licence to Samurdhi animator

Dehiattakandiya: The Maha Sangha and other voluntary organisations composing Samurdhi animators and farmers of Veheragala in Mahaweli C Zone are organising a protest campaign to be held today on the World Anti Smokers Day, against the issue of a liquor licence to a Samurdhi animator of the area to run a sports club.

The protest campaign organisers in this connection had stated that at a time when the Minister of Sports and Samurdhi, S. B. Dissanayake had declared to stop Samurdhi payments to those indulging in smoking and consuming liquor the issue of a liquor licence to a Samurdhi animator was contrary to the position taken up by the minister.

The organisers of the protest campaign had already submitted petitions in this connection to the President, Minister of Sports and Samurdhi, Minister of Mahaweli Development and Aralaganvila police.