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When silence told a story
By Shelani Perera in Omanthai
After eight years of captivity and separation, Commodore Ajith Boyagoda, though hardened in battle, could not hold back tears. He wept as he worshipped his mother at the Omanthai reunion yesterday.

Amarawathie Boyagoda, in return, hugged her son for a few minutes and fed him a piece of kevum. Then started the emotional family reunions. No words were spoken, none was needed. Instead, parents, wives and brothers just clung to each other wiping the pain and trauma experienced for the past eight years.

The reunion in a stretch of no-man's land became a reality at long last yesterday after years of negotiations, agreements and then several agonising weeks of delays. In exchange for seven government troops 13 LTTE cadres were released - 11 in Omanthai while two preferred to remain in Colombo.

While Commodore Boyagoda was prominent among the security forces personnel released, the same spotlight went to the LTTE's Kennedy - real name Jesumy Fernando - who had reportedly led the attack on Palaly.

The families of the Seven government troops were flown to Omanthai around 9 am yesterday and taken directly to the site where the exchange took place. The 11 LTTE prisoners were met by Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, the chiefs of the armed forces and other officials. They were given gift parcels and then taken to the venue.

The seven government troops were escorted by an LTTE motorcade, providing a touch of pomp and ceremony to the occasion. Neatly clad in long sleeve shirts, Commander Boyagoda and his fellow prisoners were led to the head table. Then arrived the 11 LTTE prisoners who sat on the opposite side.

The prisoners and their families just gazed longingly at each other until the formalities of the exchange were completed. While all seven government troops were emotionally embraced by their families, it was not so emotional for the LTTE cadres. There was little by way of hugging until Kennedy's parents embraced him and a few others followed.

Commodore Boyagoda told The Sunday Times they were looked after well by the LTTE even under difficult conditions. The commodore thanked the President and the Prime Minister for making their release a reality.

For all of them it was a new beginning. Soldier Navindra Jayalath said their last night had been a long night but now their release was a reality after many delays. He said he believed they were freed because of the peace initiative.

The main LTTE prisoner Kennedy, who was responsible for destroying an aircraft at the Palaly air base, sounded a different note. He said they could not be happy until all their colleagues were released.

However, Kennedy also acknowledged that his release was linked to the peace initiative and he was optimistic about the peace talks. Speeches were also made by Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, LTTE's Sudahar Master, ICRC Colombo Representative Markus Brudermann and Vavuniya Government Agent K Ganesh.

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