News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 1999, 17:17 GMT]
Airforce commander visits Batticaloa; Search operation in Kalmunai bazaar; Two youths arrested in Jaffna and Figures released for Mallavi hospital.

Airforce Commander Visits Batticaloa

The Sri Lanka Airforce commander, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakody, visited Batticaloa today.

Airforce sources said that Air Marshal Weerakody had discussions with local officials regarding the extension of the airport area to strengthen its security.

Mr. Weerakody also met local army and police officers.

The entire Batticaloa area was under tight security during the visit.

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Search Operation in Kalmunai Bazaar

The bazaar area in the eastern town of Kalmunai came to a standstill for about an hour this afternoon as Special Task Force police commandos conducted a cordon and search operation, said residents.

Security sources said that the operation was conducted following a tip off that the LTTE cadres had infiltrated the town.

The movement of vehicles in the area also came to a standstill.

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Two youths arrested in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan army arrested two youths in the Naakerkovil area of Vadamaradchi East this morning, said sources in Jaffna.

S.Aathavan and K.Suthan, from Pt.Pedro were arrested when they went to meet their friends in Vadamaradchi East.

Sources said that the youths had only been released from Kalutara prison a month ago.

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Figures for Mallavi hospital released

Figures released from the Mallavi hospital in the LTTE controlled areas showed that 90,310 people were treated in the Out Patients Department (OPD) in May this year. Of this: 1430 were treated for malaria; 232 for diarrhoea; 2308 for fever and 866 for other diseases.

Six hundred and ninety eight people were admitted and treated in the hospital. Of this: 61 were treated for Malaria; 20 for diarrhoea; 2 for tuberculosis and 18 for other diseases.

Five patients died during the month and 144 babies were born.