Ship carried supplies to nortrh

More than a hundred and fifty people are being taken by ferry to the northeastern town of Trincomalee.

It is expected to arrive there on Sunday.

Latest violence

In the latest violence in the area, the Sri Lankan army says six of its soldiers were killed when a booby trap bomb exploded in Muhamalai ,army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

Four other soldiers were wounded. Airforce planes also destroyed a mortar launching pad in Palai in Jaffna, he said.

Policeman released

Earlier, separatist fighters released the policeman B.W. Bopetigoda they had taken prisoner in the north more than ten months ago.

Peace monitors said he was handed over to them in what the rebels had called a goodwill gesture.

The policeman was one of three officers captured in the north in September 2005 as he pursued a suspected British paedophile.

The two other policemen had already been released.

Weapons seized

In the capital, Colombo, police said they had arrested sixteen people after seizing weapons at a house on the outskirts of the city.

Army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarsainghe said that the special task force and police arrested these suspects in Uswetakeyyawa, Pamunugama on a tip off by a civilian.

The police also found two claymore mines, four detonators, wires, arms and ammunition and eight hand grenades.