More than 250 Tamils arrested in South, taken for questioning

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 January 2007, 19:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Security forces assisted by Police arrested 209 youths in Gampaha, 36 in Nittambuwa, 22 in Minuwangoda, and 7 in Borelesgamuwa Friday and Saturday during separate cordon and search operations, sources in Colombo said.

Many were released after proving their identity, and others were detained for further questioning, sources said.

Majority of the arrested youths are Tamils.

Most of the youths are natives of Trincomalee, Killinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Upcountry, and have been working in factories and other worksites in Sinhalese dominated areas, according to sources.