Jaffna commander dead

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO, JAN. 19. The security forces commander of the northern Jaffna peninsula, Maj. Gen. J.K.N.Jayakody, died this afternoon following a heart- attack.

The post is crucial as the peninsula was regained from the control of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in December 1995, following which the army's role, especially in human rights issues, came under scrutiny.

Maj. Gen. Jayakody (50) maintained a low-profile in his new posting which he had taken charge on December 29, 1999, after his training in the National Defence College, New Delhi. During the Seventies and Eighties, he was involved in anti- insurgency operations against the Left-radical Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. He also served in the eastern Trincomalee district, and Anuradhapura prior to his departure for training in India.

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Section  : International
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