SLA trooper commits suicide in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 07:07 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, S.Samankumara, 29, attached to 51-4 Brigade shot himself to death at Ariyalai Forward Defense Line (FDL) Wednesday morning, according to military sources in Jaffna.

The acting Magistrate for Jaffna Mrs.Sarojini Ilangovan, on being notified by Jaffna police held an inquest into the death at the scene of the incident and then permitted the body of the deceased soldier be transported to his home town.

Threat of military attack by Liberation Tigers in Jaffna has prompted the SLA command to impose extended stay in Jaffna and severe restrictions on soldiers to visit their family in the south.

Suspension of vacation time for SLA soldiers and the resulting psychological impact is said to be the cause of the escalating number of deaths due to suicide among junior officers and soldiers from self inflicted gun shot injuries.

A large number of soldiers in Forward Defense Line (FDL) in Thenmaradchy Nagarkovil area are believed to have been affected by severe pschychological disorders, sources said.