India seizes arms

Talking to media, Minister Rambukwella said Indian authorites have taken into custoday three persons, along with ammunition,cyanide and kits worn by suicide bombers who were directly involved with the LTTE.

The Indian authorties have now taken steps to strengthen security in the southern India.

Indian Coast Guard officials last week said they seized vessel loaded with arms and ammunition off the coast of the southern state of Tami Nadu.

According to Commander S. Mukherjee of the Indian Navy, "Three Sri Lankan Tamils were arrested along with one hundred and twenty five sacks of spare parts and bomb making equipment."

The officials said a Coast Guard ship spotted a "suspicious" vessel in Palk Bay on Tuesday night and had to use fire-arms to prevent it from fleeing.

Five people--three Sri Lankan nationals and two Indians --were on board the vessel which had been camouflaged to look like an ordinary fishing boat.

Minister Rambukwella also praised the bishop of Jaffna, Fr.Thomas Saundranayagam who recently had provided information about suspected people near St.Maria Church to authorities.

Following this information security forces were able to locate handgrenades, ammunition and weapons, the minister said.

LTTE is resorted to use religious institutions and also sinhalese people to carry out their terrorist activities, he said.