2ND LEAD

Jaffna University lecturer abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 March 2009, 09:32 GMT]
Selvarajah Raveendran, a lecturer of the Geography Department of the Arts Faculty of Jaffna and brother of Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Selvarajah Kajendran has been abducted by armed persons inside the high security area in Madiwela in Colombo while he was returning to the parliamentarian's residence Tuesday night, Police said. Meanwhile eyewitnesses said Mr. Raveendran was stopped by a police sentry for a routine check. A short while later a van arrived on to the scene and bundled him into the vehicle before speeding away, eye witnesses said. The incident took place barely 48 hours before the TNA was to decide its position on accepting an invitation for a meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that was scheduled for Thursday evening.

Family members of TNA parliamentarians have earlier been harassed, especially during the time of budget voting.

Mr. Raveendran was on study leave from the Jaffna University to attend a postgraduate course at the University of Moratuwa, according to the sources at Jaffna University. He has been residing in Colombo to attend the course since 2007 January.

Sources at the University in Jaffna said CID had visited Mr. Raveendran's residence in Karaveddi in Jaffna two weeks ago, questioning his parents of the whereabouts of him, according to the latest information they had from Mr. Raveendran.

Mr. Raveendran had also said that some persons were following his vehicle last Friday in Colombo.

Mr. Ravindran’s motor cycle was later found abandoned on road side close to the scene of the abduction.

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