Six arrested entering Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 August 2002, 17:09 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam police arrested six people who entered LTTE-held Vanni without permission in two separate incidents on August 4, Tamil press reports said Monday. Among those arrested were three weapon-carrying Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who attempted to infiltrate into LTTE-held areas.

In the first incident three armed SLA reservists were arrested in a Tamil Tiger-held part of Mannar province. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was told of the arrests and the three were sent to Sri Lankan Army controlled Vavuniya to be handed over to the military authorities there.

The STF personnel, Saman Udugamsuriya (left), Antony Kumara Bandula and Nimal (right) who were arrested and handed over to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission by Tamileelam Police were produced at the Vavuniya Court Monday. (Photo:TamilNet)

In the second incident, another Sri Lanka soldier was arrested along with two civilians on the Mullaitivu coast.

Lance Corporal E.U.S.P. Saman was attempting to get a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by running, swimming and walking around the island, AFP reported. He was reportedly being assisted by the two civilians.

The soldier began his effort at Galle Face Green in Colombo on 11 July and crossed into Batticaloa on 25 July, Tamil press reports said.