Tamil journalist detained by Mt.Lavania Police

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 20:21 GMT]
K Kumarathasan, 35, a news editor at Jaffna based Tamil daily Uthayan, was arrested by Sri Lanka Police at 10:00 a.m. Friday in Moratuwa at a sentry point in Galle Road, and held at the Mt.Lavania police station for more than 10 hours before he was released, sources in Colombo said. Kumarathas's wife, two children, and the driver of the van he was travelling, were also held in custody with Mr Kumarathas, sources added.

Kumarathasan had travelled to Colombo to attend to some personal matters with his wife, Vasuki, 35, his son Athithan, 8, and daughter Atharsha, 5.

Sri Lanka Police officers refused to accept the Press Identity card issued by the Sri Lanka Government Information Department, Kumarathas said after his release. The Police had confiscated his cell phone and barred him from calling anyone including his lawyer while he was in custody, sources said.

Police did not disclose reasons for the arrest.