Police say the LTTE may be using Sinhala youths for civilian work

The police produced the youth, who was handed over to them by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), before Vavuniya District Judge M Ilanchelian.

He informed the police that a two other Sinhala youth, Indrajith Pushpakumara and Indika Samantha Kumara, are still in the LTTE captivity.

Head Quarters Inspector (HQI) of Vavuniya Police, Abeysinghe Bandara, told BBC Sandeshaya that the youths might have been used by the LTTE for civilian work.

But the Tamil Tigers deny the accusation.

PLOTE leader abduction

The young man told the police that a person called Saleem approached them while they were helping fishermen near Kalutala beach some eight months ago.

Saleem has offered them to find ‘better jobs’ if they could come to Vavuniya.

Upon arrival, he said, Saleem arranged them to be smuggled to LTTE stronghold Wanni through Omanthai checkpoint.

Saleem is wanted by police for the abduction and killing of Farooq, the former regional leader of Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Ealam (PLOTE).

Meanwhile, a Hartal was organised in Vavuniya against the murder of school teacher Kanakasingham Kamalachandran on 23 January.

The LTTE said the paramilitaries linked to SLA are behind the shooting, a charge that SLA deny.