NMAT demands Daya Master's arrest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 July 2006, 04:38 GMT]
Members of the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT), an extremist Sinhala nationalist organization, protested in front of Appollo Hospital in Narahenpitiya, Colombo Friday 11:15 a.m. demanding the arrest of LTTE's Media Co-ordinator, Daya Master, who is recovering from chronic heart condition in the hospital, sources in Colombo said.

The Sri Lanka government, in a humanitarian gesture, allowed Mr Valayutham Thayanithi, safe passage from Kilinochchi to Colombo with military escort, and is providing security at the hospital.

Representatives of other extremist organizations also joined the protest. Protesters carried placards and shouted slogans condemning the LTTE and accused Sri Lanka Government of aiding the 'terrorists.'

NMAT officials said they were forced to organize the protest as the Police were reluctant to move expeditiously on taking action to arrest Mr Daya Master after NMAT pressed charges of terrorism against Daya Master with Colombo police.

The NMAT is a hard-line Sinhala organisation, which claims to have over five thousand members and advocates stronger prosecution of the war as the solution to the Tamil question.