SLRC official to be released through courts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 13:29 GMT]
Sivanathan Kishore, the Vavuniya official for the Sri Lankan Red Cross will be handed over to the police for release through the courts, sources said today.

Mrs.Kishore was granted permission to visit her husband for the second time this morning.

Family sources said that she went with her two year old youngest child to Vavuniya army camp where Sivanathan Kishore is being detained for the third day.

Three senior officials of the National Sri Lanka Red Cross from Colombo arrived in Vavuniya this morning to get first hand information regarding the sudden arrest of Mr. Kishore.

The team met the co-ordinating officer of the area at the Security Forces Headquarters in Vavuniya and had discussions with him regarding the arrest and release of the Red Cross official.

The co-ordinating officer told the Red Cross team that Mr. Kishore will be handed over to the Police once their inquiries have been completed.

A relief driver for the Red Cross Vavuniya branch who was taken in for inquiries yesterday was released this morning after his statement had been recorded, said sources.

Sources at the Red Cross branch said that transport duties previously undertaken have been suspended after the sudden arrest of the branch secretary as many of the drivers feel insecure.

The team from Colombo has tried to make arrangements to restore the functions of the branch, sources said.

Meanwhile arrangements have been made to send back over 1,000 people who were stranded in Vavuniya after the Uyilankulam road across the Sri Lankan Lankan Army's forward defence lines were closed on April 15.

These people had come to Vavuniya to buy provisions and other essentials for small trade but were not able to get back home.

The SLA has granted permission for 9 buses to take 700 people back to Uylankulam today, said government sources.

Another 5 buses will take back a further 350 people tomorrow, the sources added.

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