News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 May 1999, 17:40 GMT]
Vavuniya traders in unenviable position and A towel was found in the diesel tank of locomotive engine connected to the Yarl Devi express train bound for Vavuniya.

Vavuniya traders in unenviable position

Traders in Vavuniya found themselves in a difficult position today after being told by TELO cadres to close their shops in memory of the TELL leaders shot on Saturday while the police and LA instructed them to keep their shops open.

The uncertainty remained till midday when the shops in town were closed one by one and the streets deserted.

Schools closed at the usual time and no incidents were reported, Police said. However, late classes were cancelled due to the tense situation prevailing in the area, officials of the Department of Education said.

Meanwhile, private tuition centres in Vavuniya were closed for the third day running, sources said.

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Attempted sabotage on northern train

A towel was found in the diesel tank of locomotive engine connected to the Yarl Devi express train bound for Vavuniya that left Colombo Fort at 5.45 a.m., said sources.

Engine trouble was first experienced when the train was still about 185 km south of Tambutegama railway station. It was delayed there for one and three quarter hours but the driver managed to get the train to Talawa, about 25 km south of Anuradhapura, sources said.

When the driver and others inspected the engine they discovered the towel in the fuel tank.

However the Express train reached Vavuniya at 4.45 p.m., 5 hours behind schedule, said railway sources.

Railway authorities suspect this may be an attempt to disrupt the northern train service by someone working at the Railway Yard at Maradana in Colombo.

Sources said that inquiries are being made into the matter.