Sri Lankan soldiers sell jewelry pilfered from battle areas

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 April 2009, 11:57 GMT]
Jewelry shops in Anuradhapura in the north central province are reportedly busy purchasing gold items from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who return home from Wanni battle field on leave. Three-wheel drivers are allegedly working in hand in glove with SLA soldiers in disposing these items to jewelry shops in Anuradhapura town, according to media reports.

The SLA soldiers who return from Wanni battle field travel to their home towns and villages in the south via Vavuniya-Anuradhapura highway. Exchange of jewelry for cash take place on the soldiers way home, sources said.

Three-wheel drivers are acting as middlemen, media reports said, quoting a three wheel driver.