2ND LEAD

Hoodlums attack Tamil settlement in Western province, 1 killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 2009, 19:45 GMT]
Sinhala hoodlums attacked a Tamil settlement in Paadukka estate in Kalutara district in the western province Saturday night killing a Tamil worker and set fire to three houses of Tamil residents. The victim was identified as Selvarajah. Other Tamil workers had fled from the area with their families and sought refuge elsewhere to ensure their safety.

Two days earlier, locals say, there was verbal altercation between a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and residents of the estate.

On Saturday night unidentified men entered the estate armed with knives and clubs and started attacking Tamil estate workers, killing Selvarajah.

More police personnel have been sent to the estate on representation made by Mr.Mano Ganeshan, Colombo district parliamentarian and leader of the Democratic Peoples Front to the Police Headquarters in Colombo.

Police said the tense situation in the estate had been brought under control, but locals say tension still prevails.