US urges Sri Lanka to investigate kidnapping of TRO staff

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 15:11 GMT]
The US Embassy in Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, expressed concern about the reported January 30 kidnapping of five members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda in Polonnaruwa District. Urging the relevant authorities to rapidly investigate the allegations of the kidnapping, the US embassy called on all parties to exercise restraint and calm, especially in the run-up to the cease-fire talks in Geneva.

Full text of the press release follows:

UNITED STATES CONCERNED ABOUT REPORT OF TRO KIDNAPPING

Colombo, January 31, 2006: The U.S. Embassy is concerned about the reported January 30 kidnapping of five members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda in Polonnaruwa District. The Embassy urges the relevant authorities to rapidly investigate these allegations. The Embassy again calls on all parties to exercise restraint and calm, especially in the run-up to the cease-fire talks in Geneva.