SLA deserter Surrenders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A deserter from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) who was arrested and sent to operational areas of the Vanni surrendered to the Liberation Tigers, said the LTTE today. The Liberation Tigers added that the SLA soldier would be handed over to his parents according to his wishes through the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC).

Mr. Pirabakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers, ordered the return of the soldier, said the LTTE.

The Liberation Tigers, however, did not say how the soldier had approached them.

The SLA soldier, who is being held in Mallavi, in the Vanni, was visited by representatives of the ICRC yesterday morning, said sources in the Vanni.

Meanwhile, Kfir jets of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombed the general area of Mankulam, around noon on Monday, said sources in Vavuniya. Further details are not known.