Atputharajah Nadarajah, editor of the Tamil-language weekly Thinamurasu, was shot dead in a Colombo street on 9 November. Following changes in the newspaper's editorial line he had made several enemies, both in the army and among Tamil separatist movements. On 18 December, three days before the presidential election, a suicide attack aimed at Chandrika Kumaratunga was launched at the end of a ruling party rally. Anura Priyantha Kooray and Indika Pathiniwasam, journalists and cameramen with the state-owned Independent Television Network and the privately owned channel Sirasa, were killed in the explosion. About 50 people were injured, including Chandrika Kumaratunga and five journalists.
Police suspect the LTTE of being behind the attack.
A few hours later, a second suicide attack killed 11 people during a rally of the main opposition party. 14 May. The police accused him of committing five murders - on the basis of evidence given by villagers who had allegedly recognised him on television. A month later the journalist was admitted to the emergency wing of Colombo National Hospital. He had been tortured while in custody, even though he had always proclaimed his innocence. He was allowed home after treatment.