E. Kausalyan was killed in the Welikanda area as he was traveling toward the town of Batticaloa, military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said.

Kausalyan was the rebels' political leader for the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, in which four of Kausalyan's associates were also killed.

However, scores of people have been killed in factional fighting between the Tigers' main body and a faction that broke away from the group last March.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam rebels began fighting government forces in 1983 to create a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing majority Sinhalese of discrimination.

More than 65,000 people were killed in the conflict until Norway brokered a cease-fire in 2002. Published: Mon Feb 7 12:41:09 EST 2005

Meanwhile, at a tsunami related meeting held in the worst affected districts of Ampara during the weekend, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem had requested the Government Agent of that district to discuss with top Government officials and suspend the Government’s decision to impose the law which prohibits the constructing of houses or buildings within a distance of 100 metres from the coastal area for the Kalmunai division only.

Citing reasons for his request, Hakeem had pointed out that the Kalmunai division faced a severe shortage of land, and thus at least as a temporary measure houses or tents will have to be reconstructed at the earlier places, which were destroyed due to the tidal waves, until authorities can find enough ground land for relocation. Published: Mon Feb 7 12:06:51 EST 2005

The rebels control a large area in the ethnic Tamil-majority north and have authorized the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization to coordinate tsunami relief work there.

The military Web site said the balls ``could be used for production of bombs or explosives.''

The report said the pots, believed to have been shipped from Britain, are being held for investigation.

Naren Narenthiran, TRO's disaster management director, said a Hindu temple in London had shipped the pots to the group and denied they contained materials for bomb making.

The temple authorities ``believe that it's a highly exaggerated interpretation,'' Narenthiran said, adding that manufacturers commonly place weights in the bottom of pots for stability.

He said a temple official had acknowledged sending the material ``and I am satisfied with his explanation.''

More than 65,000 people have been killed since Tamil Tigers began an armed insurrection in 1983 to carve out a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese. Fighting ended with a Norway-brokered cease-fire signed in February 2002.

Peace talks however, broke down a year later when the rebels withdrew, demanding more autonomy in the northeast.

The Dec. 26 Asian tsunami killed more than 30,000 people in Sri Lanka - and left nearly 4,700 missing.

On the Net:

Sri Lanka - Army Online: http://www.army.lk Published: Mon Feb 7 10:01:52 EST 2005