News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 November 1998, 12:25 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army in Jaffna deny arrest of 15 persons; five Tigers have died in confrontations with the Sri Lankan Army since Saturday; displaced civilian feared dead in floods in the Vanni, and posters against British Minister's visit.

Fears over missing arrested civilians

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in the Jaffna peninsula have informed relatives of 15 persons, reported to have been arrested recently by the SLA, that no such arrests were made by them.

The relatives were told when they had gone to the SLA camp to inquire about the detainees.

The relatives said that the arrests were made during search operations in the Thenmaradchi sector of the peninsula.

The SLA has intensified search operations and made wide spread arrests in Jaffna recently amidst reports that the LTTE might launch an attack in the peninsula.

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Five LTTE casualties since Saturday

The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said yesterday evening that five members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had died in confrontations with the Sri Lankan Government troops since Saturday.

The radio said one member of the LTTE, Maj. Rajan, (Karthikesu Vilvarajan of Trincomalee) died in a confrontation at Salli in the Trincomalee district on Saturday 7 November.

The radio further said 2 Tigers, Major Karmegam (Thambirasa Varathakumar) and Cpt. Easan (Muthukumarasamy Sivaranjan of Jaffna) died in a confrontation with the Sri Lankan Navy off the coast of Mullaitivu Monday night around 9.30.

Meanwhile a LTTE member Yarlvaanan (Rasiah Tharmaseelan of Jaffna) died in a confrontation with the Sri Lankan Army at Mankulam on Monday, and Maniyarasi (Xavier Velusiya) died at Mankulam on Tuesday, according to the radio.

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Civilian dies in flooding

A displaced civilian, Sinniah Sivathasan, who had sought refuge at Vadakadu Mallavi in the Vanni region, is feared dead after he was washed away by the spilling floods over the bridge at Parangiyaru, on Sunday 8 November.

Sinniah Sivathasan is from Sarasaalai South, Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna peninsula. His body has not been recovered.

Meanwhile continuing heavy monsoon rain has affected atleast 30 displaced families living in temporary shelters in low lying areas of Vidathalthivu in the Vanni region said sources. They have moved to higher land area.

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Protest at British Minister's visit

Posters appeared in the capital Colombo and it's suburbs yesterday protesting at the visit of the British Foreign Office Minister, Mr. Derek Fatchett.

The posters have been put up organisations called the Patriotic Bhikku Front and Ruhunu Rata Bhikku Front.

Mr. Fatchett arrived in Colombo yesterday morning on a three day visit.