News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 20:47 GMT]
Two Jaffna University students arrested; The Sri Lanka Army Commander meets Madhu priest and Aid convoys for LTTE controlled area.

Two Jaffna University students arrested

The Sri Lankan Army arrested two Jaffna University undergraduates during curfew hours last night, said human rights sources in the northern peninsula today.

The two undergraduates, Amirthalingam Sutharsan, 24, of Paandikkulam and Saravanamuttu Nandaseelan, 24, of Mallaavi - are from the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni

They were taken into army custody from their lodgings near the University campus at Tinnelvely.

Sutharsan and Nandaseelan are students at the Arts Faculty said Jaffna University sources.

Sources said that the two students were arrested by the SLA on information that they allegedly have links with the Liberation Tigers.

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Army Commander meets Madhu priest

The Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt.General Srilal Weerasooriya visited the Madhu church and its environs today accompanied by the Mannar 21-2 brigade commander, Ranjith de Silva.

The SLA commander met the Madhu parish priest Rev.Devasgayam and discussed the situation in the area.

The priest raised the question of the withdrawal of government troops from the precincts and environs of the church, particularly in view of the large throngs of devotees from the southern parts of the island that are expected to arrive in Madhu for the annual festival in July.

Fr. Devasagayam had pointed out that the presence of troops at this time would pose a major problem.

The SLA commander told the priest that he would look into the matter and try to withdraw troops from the area if it is feasible.

Meanwhile alleged former members of the Liberation Tigers who were arrested by the SLA have said that they were assaulted and harassed during their interrogations.

They also said that they had received residential passes written in red ink stating that they had links with the LTTE.

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Aid convoys for LTTE controlled area

The Vavuniya Government Agent (GA) said today that following negotiations by the ICRC it has been agreed that 15 lorries carrying essential goods would go through Uyilankulam to the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni on Monday.

The convoy would be accompanied by the ICRC he said.

Another convoy will go to the Vanni again on Wednesday he added.