Colombo: A Sri Lankan soldier was allegedly shot dead by Tamil Tiger guerrillas even as the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were making elaborate plans to jointly mark the first anniversary of their bilateral truce.

The soldier moved from the Army camp at Kilali in the Jaffna peninsula and tried to advance towards the area held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on February 15 evening, the Voice of Tigers radio said on February 16.

The Tigers also accused the soldier of trying to lob a grenade. The remains of the soldier are to be given to the International Committee of the Red Cross to be returned to security forces, the Tiger radio said.

There was no immediate reaction from the military.

The victim is the second government soldier to be killed since a ceasefire went into effect from February 23 last year.

Tigers had allegedly shot dead another government soldier who went berserk and began firing in an area held by the rebels seven months ago.

The ceasefire was rocked on February 7 when three Tiger rebels blew themselves up taking down their arms-laden trawler to end a stand-off with the Navy.

PTI