LTTE demands release of cadre arrested one year ago

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2003, 11:25 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Friday said it would release the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldier, Mr.S.T.Ruwankumara, who is in its custody in Trincomalee district in exchange of its cadre Kururathan now in remand for more than a year, sources said.

The LTTE cadres took the SLN soldier into custody last month when he entered the LTTE controlled area at Kadawanai in Thampalakamam divisional secretariat division in Trincomalee district with arms, sources said.

LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Tilak Friday said one year ago soon after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the LTTE the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested a LTTE cadre Kururathan at Thampalakamam. Since then he is in remand. He should be released soon if the GoSL is interested in the release of the SLN soldier in LTTE custody, Tilak added.

Military sources said the LTTE cadre Kururathan was arrested for allegedly possessing weapons.