SLMM vehicle damaged in Trinco violence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 June 2005, 11:15 GMT]
A vehicle belonging to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee was damaged by a group of persons around 8.30 a.m., Saturday, at Hali Oluwa, a predominantly Sinhala suburb, located south of Trincomalee. Meanwhile, police in the eastern port town said several violent incidents against Tamils had taken place in Serunuwara and Hali Oluwa areas in the wake of the the killing of Police intelligence officer, Friday. Several lorries transporting cadjan and fishing boats were attacked by Sinhala youth. Tamil civilians who were using the Hali Oluwa junction for travelling to their areas were also assaulted, civilian sources said.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel rushed to site and provided security to two scandinavian monitors, Mr.Ove Jansen and Mr.Morten Johnson and the civilian driver Mr.Kumar. The SLA escorted them to Trincomalee. The windscreen of the vehicle was damaged.

The SLMM had gone to Hali Oluwa to investigate the attack on a lorry belonging to Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). Mr. Kamaladas, the driver of the lorry belonging to the TRO was assaulted around 7.50 a.m, Saturday.

Mr.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head has made a complaint to the SLMM, Trincomalee regarding the assault on Tamil civilians.