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A National Hero who sacrificed his life to save the Nation and her people. SPUR salutes you and share the grief of the his family members

The President Must Suspend the Cease Fire Agreement with Tiger Terrorist with Immediate Effect

The Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR), a 10-year-old human rights organisation operating from Australia strongly condemns the continued LTTE’s assassination of Government employees, civilians, political opponents and military personnel. We especially condemn today’s cold-blooded assassination of a top level serving military intelligence officer, Major Nizam Muthalif. It is with great sadness and shock that we note that a great heroic sun of Sri Lanka, Major Nizam Muthalif, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Military Intelligence Co of the Sri Lanka Army was shot and killed in Kirullapone early this morning by the LTTE. (Read full text of the Letter sent to President of Sri Lanka in SPUR)

Muthaliff shooting: court inquiry continues - The magisterial inquiry into the death of Commanding Officer of the Military Intelligence Corps Tuan Nizam Muthaliff will be continued on Tuesday before Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya. Police are due to submit a further report on the ongoing investigations including statements from eyewitnesses to the incident at Polhengoda, Kirulapone. Soon after the incident Mr. Pilapitiya had visited the scene of the incident. The Kirulapone Police which led evidence at the inquiry submitted a summary of the evidence in which the statement of the officer's driver, Private H. M. S. Herath, was included. In his statement to the police the driver said men wearing jackets riding a motorcycle had followed his vehicle and stopped alongside and then one of them had fired at Major Muthaliff. Herath said that although the Major had tried to shoot back at them with his own revolver, he was shot before that. After the shooting the assassin and his accomplice had fled on the motor cycle. The driver said he was taking Major Muthaliff to the Kotelawala Defence Academy as the latter was following a computer course there (full report in Sunday Times).

The Murder of Major Muthalif: Cold War in the City — By Dayan Jayatilleka - What defines ‘the political’, says Carl Schmitt, is the friend/enemy distinction. The murder of Major Nizam Muthalif by the LTTE brings home the fact that the LTTE is the enemy. It is the enemy because it regards the democratic state as the enemy and acts as such, lethally. As Lenin drove home, the military and the police are the quintessential apparatuses of the state. The LTTE threatens, targets, attacks the state, and therefore it is the enemy. The killing also underscores the fact that we are not now and have never been in a state of ‘no war, no peace’, and that was a phrase that disarms us, is part of the psychological war waged against us. The LTTE has been waging a Cold War against us, using the peace process and negotiations as war by other means. The murder of Major Muthalif is very much part of that Cold War. The murder is a significant escalation, but the very fact of escalation reminds us that there was an escalation ladder with other previous episodes as rungs. The recent murder points to both change and continuity in the LTTE’s behaviour during the peace process/CFA (Full report in Sunday Island).

Was Maj. Muthaliff trailed? : Weapon holds key to murder - Did the murderer and his accomplice follow Major T. Nizam Mutaliff, for some time so as to monitor his movements before they finally caught up with him at the Polhengoda traffic lights? The assassin fired a volley of shots at Major Muthaliff while he was seated in the rear seat of the car last Tuesday. Investigators are now probing whether he has been followed daily from his residence at Manning Town, Narahenpita to the Kotalawela Defence Academy, where Major Muthaliff was supposed to be undergoing a course in computer science. Army sources blame the LTTE for the killing. The assassins had meticulously executed the brutal killing with precision and managed to get away. Major Muthaliff being the Commanding Officer of the Army Intelligence Corp 1, was fully aware of the risks involved in cloak and dagger operations especially at a time when security forces were battling the Northern insurgency during the past two decades (full report in Sunday Observer).

The Mutaliff Killing, P-TOMS and the Continuity Project - The dastardly killing of Major Nizam Mutaliff by the Tigers in the heart of Colombo not only caused an irreparable loss; it also demonstrated once again that a ruthless adversary committed to achieving its objectives at whatever the cost, can make written agreements not worth the paper they are written on. The assassination of Major Mutaliff is a clear ceasefire violation; but that did not prevent the Tigers from killing him. Any agreement with the Tigers however good or innocuous it may look on paper would go the same route, as long as the Sri Lankan side lacks the political will to stand up to the LTTE; wither the ceasefire has gone, there will go the JM (now known by a much sillier sounding acronym, P-TOMS). With most observers agreeing that the President received from Delhi a signal to go ahead with her P-TOMS, the possibility exists of a deal being signed in the coming weeks (the freeing of all the Bindunuwewa accused was probably a sop-in-advance to the Southern extremists). (Full report in Asian Tribune).

Govt. cannot wash their hands off by blaming the Opposition on Muthalif killing: UNP - Forty seven intelligence officers and five journalists were killed since April 3, 2004 during the present UPFA government with President Chandrika Kumaratunga as the Commander-in-chief of the Three Forces said UNP assistant Secretary Tissa Attanayake. He was addressing a press conference at the Opposition Leader's Office yesterday. Mr. Attanayake said President Kumaratunga took over three key ministries including the Defence Ministry from the UNF government stating that national security was under serious threat.  "But what has happened after she took over the ministries, had she been able to remove at least the Manirasakulam Camps," Mr. Attanayake asked. He also said that the UPFA including the JVP misled the people saying that the Ceasefire Agreement signed by the UNP is a way to Eelam, but we are thankful to the President for realising the importance of the ceasefire even after three years (Full report in Daily Mirror).

Muthaliph's killing: Diverse motives as theories abound - Attorney General meets Buddhist monks to settle statue issue - The killing of Major Tuan Nizam Muthaliph the Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence Corps in broad daylight on Tuesday sent shockwaves down the intelligence arm of the State. The government's legal establishment too was jolted by the news as Muthaliph who was awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama had a hand in the arrest of many key LTTE suspects. In fact, in many instances he has contributed his expertise to crack several cases and some feel his killing could be to silence witnesses. This is besides his role in decimating many top rungers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Muthaliph, a product of D.S. Senanayake College, who was promoted posthumously to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was one of the biggest, if not the biggest asset in the intelligence arm of the government. Had he lived another two days he would have completed 19 years in the Sri Lanka Army having joined it on June 2, 1986 as a cadet officer (Regular Force). He mainly served in operational areas until he was promoted to the rank of Captain exactly six years after his was enrolled. He followed several professional courses both here and abroad and received several gallantry awards (full report in Daily Mirror).

Muthalif killing: Five suspects remanded on tip-off - Five suspects were arrested in Matale in connection with the killing of Army intelligence unit Chief Major T.N. Muthalif, police said. They said the suspects were nabbed following a cordon and search operation in Matale on Wednesday night following a tip off that the suspects involved in the intelligence officer's killing were hiding in the Matale area. The suspects were remanded after being produced before the Matale magistrate. Meanwhile the CID, under special instructions from the IGP Chandra Fernando initiated inquiries to ascertain facts regarding speculation that information for the assassination of Military Intelligence Corps. head Lieutenant Colonel Tuan Nizam Muthaliph had been furnished to the LTTE by a member of the Tiger intelligence service who had posed himself as the Lieutenant Colonel's security officer. Serious doubts had arisen that this person had disclosed certain Tiger activities to win Lt. Col. Muthaliph's confidence and at the same time had collected information about his movements, a CID officer said (full report in daily Mirror).

Ranaviru Lt Col Muthaliff bids adieu to his motherland amidst military honours - Commanding Officer, 1 st Regiment Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps Lieutenant Colonel T. N. Muthaliff RWP slain in LTTE gunfire on Tuesday (31), made his final journey to the burial grounds at Dehiwala Muhaideen Grand Jumma mosque for Janaza Wednesday (01) morning where his remains were laid to rest in conformity with Islamic traditions. Gun salute followed the full military honours accorded to his memory at the mosque premises. The military parade with the presence of over five hundred military personnel from more than ten Regiments, perhaps an unprecedented event in the Dehiwala- Mount Lavinia precincts, solemnly wended their way to the mosque premises while thousands of mourners lined up on waysides to pay their last respects to this fallen hero of the Sri Lanka Army. Some grief-stricken by-standers paid their tribute throwing flowers and petals towards the hearse that carried Lt Col. Muthaliff's remains. (Full report in Sri Lanka Army).

Lt Colonel Muthaliff defended unitary state & territorial integrity fearlessly - Lieutenant Colonel T. N. Muthaliff RWP (O/60727) of the first Regiment, Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence Corps (MIC) who died Tuesday (31) morning following an LTTE terrorist attack was an exemplary Officer who served the Sri Lanka Army in order to defend Sri Lanka’s unitary state and territorial integrity at the risk of his own life, states the Special Part I Order released by Colonel of the Regiment Major General H K G Hendawitharana on behalf of Commander of the Army Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda.  Major T. N Muthaliff was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after he was felled by LTTE gunmen on motorbike. Here is the full text of the Special Part I Order of the Army issued today (31) :  “It is with profound regret we, Colonel of the Regiment and all Other Ranks record the sudden demise of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel T. N. Muthaliff RWP first Regiment, Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence Corps following an LTTE attack at Polhengoda on Tuesday morning (full report in Sri Lanka Army).

Major T.N. Muthaliff falls victim to LTTE gunmen - Major T. N. Muthaliff RWP, Commanding Officer, Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence Corps (MIC) was one of the most senior officers of the MIC to fall prey to LTTE bullets in Colombo on Tuesday (31 May 2005) morning in broad daylight while he was on his way to work. Motorbike-riding LTTE gunmen neared Major Muthaliff’s official vehicle and opened fire at close range as the vehicle slowed down before traffic lights on the highway at Polhengoda, Colombo. Major Muthaliff (O/60727), who has been serving as Commanding Officer, First Regiment Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps since November 2004, has also worked as the General Staff Officer (GSO) 111 (Intelligence) and GSO I at Vavuniya between 1992-1994 and 2000 –2001 respectively (full report in Sri Lanka Army).

LTTE GUNMEN GUN DOWN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER - Commanding Officer of the first Battalion of the Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps (MIC) was assassinated at POLHENGODA, COLOMBO 5 by motorbike-riding LTTE gunmen Tuesday (31) morning around 7.45 a.m. while he was on his way to work. Slain Military Officer, Major THUWAN NIZAM MUTHALIF (39) is the senior most Army Intelligence Officer that fell prey to LTTE gunmen in broad daylight inside his official vehicle while it was waiting at highway traffic lights. He has just covered distance of a few kilometers from his official residence at MANNING TOWN when those LTTE assassins who waylaid and opened fire at close range causing fatal injuries in his head and chest. No sooner than the incident took place, he was rushed to the APPOLO Hospital in the closest vicinity, but he succumbed to gunshot injuries during an immediate surgery. Major T. N. MUTHALIF is the senior most Officer from Army Intelligence Corps to be assassinated by the LTTE and this brings the total number of Military members killed by the LTTE to ten (10) after the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Mrs MUTHALIF is also a serving Officer of the Army. He is a father of two children at the time of his untimely death. The Police as well as the Military Police have commenced investigations (Full report in Sri Lanka Army).

Major Muthliff killing - Bhikku Front blames Joint Mechanism  supporters -  All parties advocating a Joint Mechanism with Tamil Tigers should be held responsible for the assassination of Army’s Intelligence Corps Commanding Officer Major Tuan Nizam Muthliff, the National Bhikku Front said in a press release yesterday (2). All communities in the country, Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim will greatly appreciate the service he rendered to the nation for a long period as a member of the Army’s Intelligence Corps. This assassination is another example of the nature of the pseudo-ceasefire agreement reached between the former Premier Ranil Wickremesighe and Prbhakaran. Norwegian peace monitors, the UNP and the LTTE should also take responsibility for this criminal act, the release signed by the Ven Dambara Amila Thera said. Tigers have demonstrated that the claim of bringing them into the democratic mainstream by some Government ministers, the so-called international community and the NGO peace band is only a fairy tale. Tigers are continuing their killings such as the recent murder of a Sub Inspector of Police at Batticaloa, the abduction of Inspector Jeyaratnam and the previous killings of members of the Intelligence Divisions and informants. There is no room in the Tigers savage mentality to join the democratic mainstream though some of the ministers, members of the opposition, ceasefire monitors and the international community are engaged in white washing the Tigers which we reject with contempt, the release said (Full report in Island).

Where were slain officer's bodyguards? - Controversy surrounds the absence of Major T. N. Mutaliff's bodyguards when an LTTE assassin targeted him at Elvitigala Mawatha close to Polhengoda junction as he drove to Kotalawela Defence Academy. Army Headquarters yesterday acknowledged that none of Mutaliff's security contingent, which included motorcycle outriders, had been with him at the time of the attack. A senior army official dismissed claims that the entire contingent had been on leave. Thirty-nine-year-old Mutaliff, posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was the Commanding Officer, first battalion, Military Intelligence Corps, the official said. "No one would have interfered with his security," he asserted, while revealing that Army Chief Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda had recently inquired about the slain officer's security. The official emphasised that Mutaliff could have easily called for reinforcements. But unfortunately he had decided to go even without existing security (full report in Island).

LTTE killings: Government condemned for its lethargic policy - The National Fortress for Safeguarding Intelligence officers (NFSIO) and Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday mourned the death of Major Muthalif and condemned the government for their lethargic policy towards the killings of many intelligence officers by the LTTE. NFSIO in a statement pointed that the LTTE has killed 48 military Intelligence Unit undercover agents, 10 Army Intelligence Officers, seven police officers, 21 Army undercover agents and 37 spies after the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002, with the respective governments not taking any action. "Today the LTTE is reaching their goal of a separate state while the government and the Norwegian monitoring mission refusing to respond to the violence and killing of the LTTE," spokesman for NFSIO Palitha Wickremerathne said. He also remembered the recent statement made by President Kumaratunga at the Kandy Donor Conference insisting that there is no risk in entering a joint mechanism for tsunami Relief with the LTTE since they have entered a path of appeasement questioning as to what the President see as appeasing in the action of LTTE (Full report in Daily Mirror).

Ranaviru Lt Col Muthaliff bids adieu to his motherland amidst military honours - Commanding Officer, 1 st Regiment Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps Lieutenant Colonel T. N. Muthaliff RWP slain in LTTE gunfire on Tuesday (31), made his final journey to the burial grounds at Dehiwala Muhaideen Grand Jumma mosque for Janaza Wednesday (01) morning where his remains were laid to rest in conformity with Islamic traditions. Gun salute followed the full military honours accorded to his memory at the mosque premises. The military parade with the presence of over five hundred military personnel from more than ten Regiments, perhaps an unprecedented event in the Dehiwala- Mount Lavinia precincts, solemnly wended their way to the mosque premises while thousands of mourners lined up on waysides to pay their last respects to this fallen hero of the Sri Lanka Army. Some grief-stricken by-standers paid their tribute throwing flowers and petals towards the hearse that carried Lt Col. Muthaliff's remains. (Full report in Sri Lanka Army).

Slain military chief says good-bye to Sri Lanka - Slain Military intelligence Chief Major T.N. Muthalif was buried this morning at the Dehiwala Muslim burial grounds with full military honours. A large gathering of Army officials including top Major Generals took part in the funeral ceremony, which started at 8 AM today. Security was tightened in the area for the funeral. The 39-year-old Major Muthalif was gunned down by a LTTE suspect yesterday morning at Polhengoda. He was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Military Intelligence Corps. Meanwhile, President Chandrika Kumaratunga has given him a posthumous promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Full report in Colombo Page).

Two arrested in Sri Lanka military officer killing - Two suspects have been arrested for alleged involvement in the killing of a senior military intelligence officer, the state radio said Wednesday.  Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) quoting police sources as saying t hat two suspects had been arrested at the Eastern Province town of Ampara, 347 kilometers from capital Colombo. Major Nizam Mutaliph, the commanding officer of the Sri Lanka Army's First Intelligence Corps, was gunned down Tuesday morning at the east Colombo area of Polhengoda by assassins allegedly belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  The 39-year-old Mutaliph had taken a lead role in the Army's intelligence operations against the Tigers and therefore had figured in their hit lists for sometime. He became the highest ranking military officer killed by the LTTE since they entered the ongoing Norwegian backed cease-fire with the government of Sri Lanka. The defense ministry spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake on Tuesday said the LTTE had killed at least 38 of intelligence operatives including 10 Army personnel since February 2002.  The government condemned the killing and said it was a violation of the cease-fire agreement and would impact on the peace process (Full report in China View).

Army loses brilliant officer
Tigers all out to eliminate military intelligence In a desperate bid to force the government into implementing the controversial proposed joint mechanism, the LTTE has decided to decimate the Army and Police intelligence services. Yesterday morning (31) they successfully targeted Major Nizam Muthaliff RWP, Officer Commanding the Army's First Intelligence Unit. He was gunned down in broad daylight at Polhengoda, Kirulapone by an LTTE gunman.
The killer had pursued Muthliff's car on a motor cycle ridden by an accomplice, while the Intelligence Officer was on his way to the Kotelawala Defence Academy.
Army sources said the LTTE would in the next few weeks attempt to target other intelligence services personnel.
Major Muthaliff (39) was the highest ranking Army Intelligence officer to be killed after the ceasefire agreement came into force two years back. The gunman, using an automatic firearm, had fired nine bullets at Major Muthaliff. Though he was rushed to the Appolo Hospital nearby he was found dead on admission police said.
The assailant is said to have targeted the officer when his car stopped at traffic light signals near the Army Camp and Government Information Department, Polhengoda. The two men who had been following his car on a motor cycle without number plates had fled along Vijaya Kumaratunga Mawatha after shooting him, police said. (Full report in Island) 

Senior Army officer shot dead-Terror at traffic lights: Major blow to military intelligence apparatus  By Senaka De Silva
Striking a major blow to the military intelligence apparatus, a top officer of the Army intelligence unit was gunned down at Polhengoda by two suspected LTTE pistol gang members around 8.30 yesterday morning.
The killing of Major Tuwan Nizam Muthalif took place about 200 metres from the Polhengoda army camp in the thick of morning traffic along Elvitigala Mawatha at Narahenpita.
The 39-year-old intelligence officer was travelling from his official residence at the army quarters in Manning town to the Kotelawela Defence Academy in Ratmalana when he was gunned down.
According to initial investigations, the Major had left home around 7.30 a.m. He was seated on the rear seat of the Toyota Corolla car driven by an Army driver. (Full report in Daily Mirror)

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