SLA, Police arrest 75 Tamil civilians in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 2009, 15:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Sri Lanka Police arrested seventy five Tamil youths who are residents of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and upcountry areas in cordon and search operations conducted during the last three days from dusk to dawn in Kotahena, Grandpass, Muhathuwaaram, Wellawatte, Bambalapitya and Kollupitty. Similar operation was also conducted in Negombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, media sources in Colombo said.

The operations were conducted to strengthen the security of Colombo and its suburbs and to prevent strangers infiltrating into Colombo city during Vesak festive season, police sources said.

Nearly one hundred Tamils are being detained in police stations in Colombo and the Crime Prevention Unit located in Dematagoda for further questioning, media sources said.