News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 March 1999, 22:22 GMT]
Loyal EPDP party workers prioritised in choice of new Jaffna MP's; Student shot dead in Sri Lankan army retaliatory fire and Sri Lankan Police arrest family of five in Jaffna.

EPDP chooses new MP's

Mr. Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), said today that the party would choose two new Jaffna MP's after meeting with the Commissioner of Elections tomorrow.

He said those who had been working hard for the benefit of the party would be given priority.

Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the removal of former Jaffna Parliamentarians, Rameswaran and Ramamorthy, was valid in law.

Meanwhile the former Jafna MPs said that they will continue their political work with the People's Democratic Front.

Mr. Rameswaran has been elected as president of the People's Democratic Front and Mr. Gunaseelan, member of the Kayts Preshiya Sabha, as the Secretary, said its organiser, Mr. Ramamoorthy.

He said that the People's Democratic Front was formed during Jaffna local government elections held in January last year.

"Several persons who have resigned from other Tamil groups have joined the organisation" he added.

He further said that they had no plans to register People's Democratic Front as political party now.

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Student shot in retaliatory fire

A 23 year old student, Sellathurai Jegan, 23, of Urumparai, was killed on Sunday in the Sri Lankan Army's retaliatory fire after an attack on soldiers on the Urumparai-Neervely road.

His body was taken to the mortuary of the Jaffna Hospital. His mother and sister identified the body today.

Meanwhile Pushparajah Antony,20, of Water tank road in Jaffna was wounded when the Sri Lanka Navy opened fire at him while he was fishing near Manalthiddi.

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Family of five arrested in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan Police arrested a family of five, parents, their two daughters and a son, in Koddady in Jaffna today. They have been detained at the Kankesanthurai (KKS) detention centre said human rights sources in Jaffna.

Their relatives have complained to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna.

Meanwhile a HRH official, Miss Gower Suntharalingam, visited 9 persons detained at the KKS detention centre today. They were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy on March 7, while they were travelling in a boat from the South Indian state of TamilNadu to Sri Lanka.

HRC sources said following are also detained at the KKS detention centre:

Sinnappu, 47, from Gurunagar Amirthanathan Arulrikson, 28, of Old Park road, Jafna Sangarappillai Sumithiran, 17, from Maduvil, Jaffna Varamuththu Varatham, 18, Mahintharasa Piramman, 17.