Sri Lanka police arrest 52 Jaffna Tamils in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 March 2011, 23:27 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate, Rashmi Singapuli, Tuesday ordered remand for 48 Tamils, all residents of Jaffna, till March 27, legal sources in Colombo said. Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID) of Sri Lanka Police last week arrested fifty two persons, including four children less than 10 years of age, while they were staying in lodges in Colombo and Negombo.

All 52 arrested Tamils were produced in court Tuesday.

The CID moved court to remand them until their investigation is completed.

The CID told court that they were taken into custody on receipt of information that all were attempting to leave to Australia.

Inquiry is underway to find out whether they were LTTE cadres.

Counsels appearing for the suspects submitted to court that all were arrested as they were Tamils from Jaffna, and that it was preposterous to claim that even the children had links to the LTTE.

The Chief Magistrate ordered the release four children on bail and remanded the other 48 arrestees till March 27.