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Pulithevan apologises for giving slip to Commandos
LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief K. Pulithevan was compelled to extend an apology to the Sri Lanka Army when they threatened to withdraw a team of crack commandos assigned for his security whilst in Colombo.

This came after he told the commandos they could take a break since he was leaving with the personal security staff of a Government VVIP for an undisclosed meeting. The commandos discovered the claim was not true and he had left in the company of a controversial official now holding a top job at the Bandaranaike International Airport. He had disappeared with him for several hours before returning.
The commandos reported the matter to the Army's Directorate of Operations who assigned them to protect the Tiger guerrilla political wing top man.

It has now transpired that Pulithevan arrived in Colombo by road from the Wanni and was staying in a city luxury apartment owned by the airport official in question. His visit, arranged by the Norwegian Embassy, was to obtain treatment for a lung ailment at a private nursing home in Colombo.

When they discovered that Pulithevan had lied to the commandos and gone with the airport official, the officer responsible for the commandos had told him they would withdraw since they could not fully ensure his security. He had then apologised and declared he would not repeat that mistake. It is still not clear to the commandos where the guerrilla top man went after giving the slip to them.

Meanwhile The Sunday Times learns that President Chandrika Kumaratunga has written to Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, asking him to probe several allegations against the airport official concerned. She has said the inquiry should be conducted by an independent group of at least two persons and until it is completed he should be placed on compulsory leave.

People’s Alliance sources said President Kumaratunga's four-page letter to Minister Marapana pointed out that there was a possible threat to her own security from the official concerned since he had unhindered access to every part of the airport.

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