2ND LEAD
SLN arrested refugees handed over to civil authorities in Mannar
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 10:32 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy Monday around midnight arrested 37 Tamil refugees and two boatmen in the mid-sea fleeing to South India in two boats from Mannar shore. These refugees include women and children were among the refugees displaced from Trincomalee coastal villages and staying in Pesalai St. Mary's School. Mannar Additional Magistrate Mr.T.J.Pirapaharan Wednesday remanded the two boatmen who were arrested the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Monday night when they were transporting 39 Tamil refugees to South India. SNL officials in Mannar handed the arrested refugees to the Mannar Divisional Secretary Ms Stanley de Mel for the safe custody in the Pesalai St Mary's Tamil School, court sources said.
The SLN handed these 37 refugees to Mannar Divisional Secretary who is looking after the welfare of Trincomalee refugees given shelter in Pesalai St. Mary's School and Talaimannar St. Lawrence School. Two boatmen identified Kanthasamay Inbaraj and Antony Soosai Dias were ordered remand till June 21, sources said. Meanwhile the Mannar Divisional Secretary Ms. Stanley de Mel has requested the naval authorities located in the Sunny Village Naval Camp to hand over the Mannar Youth Corp Centre for allowing more refugees to stay there. But the naval authorities have refused to hand over the youth corps centre to the Mannar Divisional Secretary. Currently soldiers of the SLN and Police are using the centre building as their camp, sources said.
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