Arrests in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2000, 20:29 GMT]
Four people were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army soldiers during a cordon and search operation at Sasthirikoolankulam in Vavuniya Thursday, according to complaints made with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the northern town.

According to the HRC, they are;

1. Velu Sivakumar,26, of Puthukulam Welfare Centre
2. Velupillai Akileswaran,21, of Puthukulam
3. Sivaperumal Thevarasa,22, of Puthukulam
4. Shanmukanathan Gnanasekaran,36, of Kidachoori

On 4 August five young men were arrested at Sasthirikoolankulam during a search operation by the government troops, according to the HRC. They are;

1. Thavarasa Sathasivam,26, of Sasthirikoolankulam
2. Suntharalinkam Kanakarasa,18 of Sasthirikoolankulam
3. Thamotharampillai Mathivarnan,33
4. Periyasamy Santhirathas,36
5. Kandaiah Kesavan,39.

Meanwhile an employee of Vavuniya University Campus, Sithilinkam Gajenthiran,39, has been reported 'missing' since 9 August. He was returning to the campus after lunch break, according to a complaint by his relatives with the Human Rights Commission.

Also on 9 August, Thanabalasigham Sasitharan,27, was detained by the Counter Subversive Unite (CSU) at Brown police station. He was arrested when he went to the police station to renew his police permission.