Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead a political opponent in Colombo on Monday and killed a soldier in an ambush in the north, on the anniversary of riots that spiraled into war 23 years ago. Officials said Maha Kanapathipallai, a senior member of Tamil political party EPDP, former militants opposed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and now part of the government coalition, was gunned down in Colombo's main Tamil neighbourhood. "He had just been to prayers at a Hindu kovil (temple) and they came and knocked him down from his (motor-scooter) and shot him," said EPDP spokesman S Thavarajah. Kanapathipallai was public relations head for party leader and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda. "It is very clear it was the Tigers," Thavarajah said. "Anyone who is affiliated to the minister is a target. They want to cripple him," he said.