2ND LEAD (Correction)

SLN arrests seven youths from Pesalai refugee camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 April 2006, 10:50 GMT]
Seven Tamil youths staying in Pesalai refugee camp located along Talaimannar and Mannar road were taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Sunday morning in a cordon and search operation. After interrogation at the the Pesalai Police post, SLN soldiers handed over the youths to the Talaimannar Police for further inquiries, sources said.

Pesalai refugee camp provides shelter to displaced villagers in 1990 violence from the districts of Mullaitivu and Killinochchi.

Sri Lanka Government troops surrounded the refugee camp located in the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation building in Pesalai Sunday morning around 5 a.m. But troops entered the camp at about 8 a.m. and conducted search operation.

Every inmate of the camp was subjected to body search, sources said.

Refugee camp officials have reported the arrests to the Mannar Government Agent and members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Commission (SLMM) in Mannar, sources said.

Talaimannar Police confirmed the arrests, sources said.