Soldier in Sri Lanka Kills 8; Slain by Officer

A Sri Lankan soldier attached to the security unit of a state-run steel plant opened fire today on his sleeping comrades, killing eight and wounding nine before he was shot dead by his commanding officer, military officials said.

Initial reports said Pvt. G. H. G. Ranjith went berserk because of mental instability, but officials later said that investigators are looking into whether he belonged to a Sinhalese extremist group blamed for more than 150 slayings in recent months.

They said Ranjith, who joined the army 11 months ago, and his unit were posted as the security detail at the state-run Steel Corp. complex at Arthurugiriya, 20 miles southwest of Colombo.

While the rest of the unit was asleep, Ranjith picked up a Chinese-made assault rifle from a weapons rack shortly after midnight and raked them with bullets.

Five soldiers were killed instantly and three others died later in a hospital, officials said. Nine men were injured, including their commanding officer, Lt. D. P. R. Jayaratne.

Jayaratne pretended to be dead until the firing ended, then grabbed his own weapon and shot Ranjith dead, officials said.

Officials said there is evidence that Ranjith may be linked to the killings in recent months of a top police official, former ruling United National Party Chairman Harsha Abeywardene and actor-turned-politician Vijaya Kumarangatunga.