News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 December 1999, 04:51 GMT]
Villagers forced to stay home, SLA bans cremation at Kanapitty, SLA permits food lorries into Mannar, Court holds inquiry into rally explosion, Youth commits suicide.

Villagers forced to stay home

Sri Lanka Army stationed at Kinnaiyadi in Valaichenai has ordered civilians living in camp's environs that they should stay in their houses during the nights, residents said. Villagers use to spend nights in other areas, away from the camp, for security reasons, they added.

The SLA conducted a search operation in the environs of the Kinnaiyadi camp and herded the villagers to a public place.

There, the SLA told villagers that severe action will be taken against those who do not stay in their houses during nights.

The Kinnaiyadi SLA camp is about 3 km. west of Valaichenai, along the lagoon, and it is often shelled by the Liberation Tigers during nights, from the other side of the lagoon sources said.

---

SLA bans cremation at Kanapitty

The SLA has ordered the public not to use Kanapitty Hindu cremation ground at Chavakachcheri in the Themaradchi Division of the peninsula.

Sources said the SLA has put up a new artillery base near the cremation ground, and therefore it is preventing the use of the cremation ground.

The villagers have complained to Divisional Secretary.

Meanwhile one SLA soldier was wounded when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at Chavakachcheri around 10.30 p.m. Tuesday night sources said.

The soldiers retalitated by firing at random.

---

SLA permits food lorries into Mannar

Government officials in Vavuniya said that it has been decided at top level meeting held at Security Forces Head Quarters on Wednesday, to send 3 lorries of food items, three days a week, to Mannar district effective immediately.

The meeting was presided by Major General Neil Dias, Commander of Vanni Security Forces Head Quarters.

Brigadier Piyasoma, Brigadier Tissa Jayawardene, Brigadier Alwis, Vavuniya Government Agent K.Ganesh, Additional Government Agent S.Ragunathapillai were also present at the meeting.

---

Court holds inquiry into rally explosion

Colombo Chief Magistrate D.G.Kulatileke, conducting the Magisterial inquiry into the deaths at the Town Hall bomb blast, has ordered the Judicial Medical Officer L.B.L.de Alwis to preserve body parts of the alleged woman suicide bomber until her blood samples are collected.

Court also allowed an application by the CID to collect the blood samples of the suicide bomber.

Court further directed the Finger Print Bureau to obtain finger and foot prints of the suicide bomber and to submit a report.

Court also ordered the police to protect the scene of incident until the investigations are over.

At least 24 people were killed and several others wounded, including the Preident Chandrika Kumaratunga, in the explosion at PA's final election rally at Colombo Town Hall grounds, two weeks ago.

The police claim that the explosion was triggered by a woman suicide bomber.

---

Youth commits suicide

Sri Lankan Police said a 'Black Tiger' member committed suicide by swallowing cyanide at Wellawatte, a suburb of Colombo, Tuesday evening, when they tried to apprehend him. The Police said they found a bomb in his possession.

The police said today that the youth was loitering in a suspicious manner and that he committed suicide when they tried to search him.

He has been identified as Sauntharajah Kandasamy of Karaveddi in Batticaloa, the police said.

Police sources said earlier that a live bomb was found abandoned at Fernando Mawatte, Wellawatte, and it was later defused by an army bomb disposal squad.

The Police conducted a search operation in the area, residents said.