9 Tamil civilians arrested in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2008, 15:00 GMT]
9 Tamil civilians, most of them permanent residents of North and East, who had been working in business establishments in Gampaha town in the Western Province, were taken into custody by the police and Sri Lanka Army in a dusk to dawn cordon and search operation that concluded Wednesday. Police alleged that the 9 persons had 'failed to prove satisfactory reason for their stay.'

During the operation 893 vehicles and trains were subjected to search and commuters were interrogated, police sources said

The SLA took 51 persons into custody during the operation. 31 persons were handed over to the authorities concerned as they had been avoiding arrest by the court warrant. The remaining, except the 9 persons, were released after preliminary inquiry.