2ND LEAD (CORRECTION)

60 Tamils arrested in Colombo, 7 in Chilaw

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 June 2007, 13:17 GMT]
More than sixty Tamils were arrested during a cordon and search operation carried out by Sri Lanka Police between midnight Friday and early morning Saturday in Mt Lavinia, Ratmalana, Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Mattakuliya, Kirilapone and Kohuwela, SSP for Colombo Central region, Ajith Fonseka, said Saturday,

Mr Fonseka said twelve special branch police groups participated in the search operation. Most of the arrested were from Northeast and from Hill country areas, according to Police.

Those who proved their identity and provided satisfactory reasons for their stay in the location were released after preliminary inquiry, police sources said.

Forty-three of them are now being detained in police stations and are being interrogated, sources said.

Meanwhile, seven Tamil civilians were arrested in Uddapu in Chilaw (Chilaapam) police division in cordon and search operation conducted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police Saturday morning. Chilaw Magistrate ordered remand for them till June 8 on an application made by the police, sources said.