Youth missing since Salli rampage

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2000, 23:28 GMT]
A Tamil youth, Vairamuthu Jayakili, who was arrested by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel on 25 February has been reported missing since February 24. He was arrested at Pigeon island at Salli village in Trincomalee district.

Mr. R. Sampanthan, Member of Parliament for Trincomalee district, has brought the matter to the notice of the President.

The SLN arrested three Tamils including Vairamuthu Jayakili following an attack on naval personnel by the Liberation Tigers at Salli village on February 24. Subsequently naval personnel arrested another Tamil person at the village of Salli. Later the SLN handed over three persons to the Police and not Vairamuthu Jayakili who has been missing thereafter.

"I have contacted several times, the Naval Officer in Charge of the Trincomalee Base and the Commander of the Nilaveli SLN camp. They have not been able to furnish any information about the said Vyranuthu Jayakili who is the father of 2 children, with his wife expecting a third child," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, in a letter to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge sent today.

In the meantime, the President has directed the Defense Secretary Mr. Chandrananda de Silva to take immediate action regarding the incident that took place on the night of February 24 at Salli village in which several Naval personnel went on a rampage and caused damages to properties, vehicles and personal belongings of the civilians.

Now Mr. Sampanthan has requested the President to direct the authorities that the scope of the investigations regarding unruly behavior of the SLN at Salli village should encompass the disappearance of Vyranuthu Jayakili.

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