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Tiger delegation takes 25 packages in two choppers

The Tiger guerrilla delegation to the latest Berlin peace talks who arrived in Colombo last Friday for their return journey to the Wanni demanded two helicopters, one to carry their members and the other for more than 25 packages they brought along. They received both.

The Sunday Times learns that LTTE Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan, his deputy, Pulithevan (Prabagaran) and others arrived in Colombo in a SriLankan Airlines flight. They are said to have brought in more than 25 packages of various sizes. What these parcels contained is not known. None of them had been opened for examination.

Customs officials declined to comment on the matter or confirm whether the items were declared. The clearance of formalities of the LTTE delegation was carried out last Friday by a controversial senior official of the Airport and Aviation Services.

Even before the LTTE delegation arrived in Colombo, instructions had gone out to change the commando guard assigned to protect them. This came after the commandos had complained that the Airport official in question ordered them to keep away from certain areas of the airport when he was attending to formalities.

The commandos had pointed out that if they were to follow his instructions, they could not take the responsibility of providing full security cover for the LTTE team. Hence, the commandos had sought written instructions asking them to keep away from some zones.

Following representations made to higher authorities by the senior official in question, order had been issued that a Sri Lanka Air Force team be assigned to provide security cover to the team. This was carried out by the Air Force.

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