SLA escorts LTTE convoy to Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 September 2002, 23:34 GMT]
A large number of Liberation Tigers from Batticaloa-Ampara district travelled to the Vanni region by road Tuesday, escorted by Sri Lankan troops. Sources said 285 LTTE members made the journey.

The cadres were seen off from LTTE controlled llupadichenai in the Manmunai West Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa by LTTE officers led by the LTTE military commander for Batticaloa-Ampara district, Robert.

The cadres travelled in five buses and 2 pick ups and were met by Sri Lanka Army troops at Black Bridge in Chenkalady. The vehicles in which the LTTE members were travelling were escorted to Vavuniya by two SLA armoured personnel carriers at the front and back of the convoy.

Later Sri Lankan police escorted the cadres from Vavuniya to Omanthai where they were received by LTTE representatives from the Vanni.

Of the LTTE contingent, 200 were female fighters, travelling to participate in the Tamil Eelam Women Uprising Conference to be held in Vanni. The cadres are expected to participate in the remembrance functions for LTTE Lt. Col. Thileepan.