News

News

Prisoner swap ahead of talks
By Chris Kamalendran
Four LTTE cadres taken into custody by the Navy in a security zone adjoining the Trincomalee harbour are to be released as a ‘goodwill gesture’ before peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 22, The Sunday Times learns.

In a swap, the government is expected to secure the release of two NCPA policemen held in custody of the LTTE since September last year.
The four LTTE cadres in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were not produced before Trincomalee Magistrate V. Ramakamalan on Friday due to security reasons but the police told court they had no objection to releasing them.

The court on Friday was due to consider a further report from the Police about their investigations. The Magistrate said the Attorney General’s Department needed to be consulted before the release and accordingly the case is due to be taken up on February 17 – three days before the LTTE delegation leaves for peace talks.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission representatives on Friday were present to secure the release of the four LTTE cadres and were prepared to accompany them back to the LTTE-controlled areas. The Sunday Times learns that consultations between the Government’s peace secretariat and the LTTE’s peace secretariat had taken place about the release.

The four unarmed LTTE cadres, said to be prominent members of the organization, were travelling between Mullaitivu and Sampur in a boat when they were arrested on suspicion of spying on the Navy. They were identified as S.S. Vijyayakumar, S. Shanmugarasa, P.S. Ranjan and C. Aravindan.

Meanwhile the ‘case’ about the two remaining policemen of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Bandujeewa Bopitigama and Dilip Hemantha in LTTE custody is due to be taken up on February 21, a day ahead of the peace talks. Two weeks ago, Sub Inspector K.A.D. Sarath, was released after the LTTE agreed to hold talks in Geneva.

Top

Back to News