The Chief Monk of the Thabbatharama Vihare has been shot dead yesterday morning by two unidentified LTTE gunmen.

Venerable Hadungamuwe Nandarathna Thero of Mahadivulwewa, in Morawewa, approximately 40kilometers north east of Anuradhapura, was the Head Priest of the 'Sri Pabbattharamaya' Buddhist temple in Mahadivulwewa.

Eyewitnesses in the area have stated that two LTTE gunmen who came on two motor cycles had shot dead the Monk. The motive of the killing was not known.

The monk, who spoke fluent Tamil could deliver sermons in that language. He was very popular among the Tamil community in the area.

This is yet another incident where LTTE carried out their brutal mission targeting the clergy. Earlier, the LTTE terrorists brutally killed the Head priest of the Pulliar Hindu Temple at Sandiveli in Batticaloa, on 07th February.

The Head priest Chellaiah Kurukkal Purameshvaram was dragged out and killed by the LTTE terrorists while, he was having dinner with his wife and children.

The cause which earned the brutal death to the priest was garlanding President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during a visit to Vakarai on 03rd February, 2007.

Morawewa Police are conducting investigations.