Journalist Sivaram abducted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 April 2005, 18:31 GMT]
Mr. Sivaram Dharmeratnam, 46, a senior editorial board member of TamilNet was abducted at around 10.30 PM by a group of unidentified men in front of a restaurant in Bambalapitiya, Colombo, according to reliable media persons in Colombo. A Sinhala journalist who has been in touch with the HIRU newspaper said that four unidentified persons, who were standing in front of the Bambalapitya Police Station, got into an ash coloured Toyota SUV type of vehicle and pulled Mr. Sivaram into the vehicle and drove off. 9.30pm was the last time Mr. Sivaram was in touch with TamilNet.

At least one of the kidnappers could be identified by an eyewitness, the journalist said. The number of the vehicle started with WPG11, according to the journalist who didn't want to be named.

Mr. Sivaram was scheduled to meet a HIRU journalist Thursday night.

Mr. Viraj Mendis, a German based human rights activist who was in contact with the Sinhala newspaper, HIRU, revealed the details to TamilNet.

Mr Sivaram, also known as Taraki, is a reputed military analyst and columnist for Daily Mirror.

Mrs. Sivaram has lodged a formal complaint with the Police.

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