News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 1998, 22:04 GMT]
Police in Amparai shot and killed three youths and arrested a jeweller in connection with two motorbikes they found fixed with explosives. A special combat unit of PLOTE cadres is to work with the Sri Lankan Army in operations against the Tigers.

Amparai police find explosive laden motorcycle

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in Jaffna arrested a female employee of the Mannar Hospital alleging that she had given room to a member of the Liberation Tigers.

SLA sources said that the employee, Mrs. D.M.Lambert, is being investigated by military intelligence.

Elsewhere, in the eastern Amparai distinct, the Police said that they have discovered two motor cycles fixed with explosives.

They said that a jewellery shop owner in Ampara, believed to be the owner of the motorcycles, has been arrested and is being interrogated by the police.

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Three killed in STF fire

Three youths from Amparai were killed and one wounded when the Special Task Force of the Sri Lankan Police opened fire on them last night.

The incident occurred at around 11.00 p.m. while the youths were returning home from a wedding at Thirkkovil.

The wounded has been identified as Kanthasamy Yogarasa, 24.

Three Sri Lankan Army soldiers who are alleged to have shot dead two children in Kilaly, in the Jaffna peninsula, on December 9 have been remanded in custody by the Acting magistrate of the Chavakachcheri court.

The soldiers are : T.E.Francis, M.M.Indike Prasath and P.K.Ajith Priyanth.

Meanwhile the Jaffna Municipal Council, which has not met since September this year will meet tomorrow, December 16.

The acting mayor of the JMC, Sinnaththurai (also known as 'Aavarangal Sinnaththurai') will preside at the meeting as the deputy mayor, S.Raviraj, is not in Sri Lanka.

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PLOTE forms special combat unit

Five-hundred cadres of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, (PLOTE), will function as a special combat group to help the Sri Lankan Army in its operations against the Liberation Tigers, said Sri Lankan Army sources.

They will receive a monthly salary of 5000 Rupees, free meals and a uniform from the Sri Lankan Army.

The PLOTE is preparing a list of their members who wish to join this special combat group. However PLOTE sources have not officially confirmed the formation of the special combat group.

A similar group within the EPRLF, the notorious Razeek Group, is functioning in the eastern province with the Sri Lankan Army.

They are on the regular pay list of the Sri Lankan Army and take part in SLA operations in the eastern part of the island.