2ND LEAD (Adds details)

LTTE releases second Sri Lanka policeman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 February 2006, 11:56 GMT]
Following the Sri Lanka Government facilitated release of four LTTE sea tiger cadres in Trincomalee, Liberation Tigers released a policeman held in custody for more than five months as a goodwill gesture ahead of Geneva Talks, Daya Master from the media section of the LTTE said from Kilinochchi Saturday.

Police officer Velangoda Gamage Sri Hamentha, 30, was released in Kilinochchi Saturday morning.

LTTE leader V Pirapaharan, ordered the release of Kariapperuma Aththu Koralake Donsarath (40), on 26 January, following the meeting with the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim.

Police officer B.W.Bopetigoda still remains in LTTE custody.

Meanwhile, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said, LTTE has indicated to the Government of Sri Lanka that LTTE is prepared for a prisoner swap. Sources added that LTTE has requested for the release of four sea tigers arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Mannar seas for the LTTE to release the remaining Sri Lanka Policeman.

Liberation Tigers arrested three members of the Sri Lanka Police, K.A.D. Sarath, B.W.Bopetigoda and W.G.D.S. Hemantha, for tresspassing into Liberation Tigers held area in Mannar on 11 October. The Police officers told Tamileelam Police that they entered the area by mistake when pursuing a convicted British paedophile hiding in Mannar. LTTE said they found contradicting statements from the arrested policemen and kept them in custody while conducting investigations. The case was progressing through the Tamileelam courts in Kilinochchi.

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