Family of hunger strikers allowed to visit

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 09:37 GMT]
Parents and relatives of the 15 POWs who are on a hunger strike will be allowed to visit them. The Tigers have also granted permission for journalists and politicians, who are interested in securing the release of the POWs to visit and to hold discussions, according to the Voice of Tigers radio.

The 15 POWs began a hunger strike on 10 February, urging the Sri Lankan Government to secure their release, the Liberation Tigers said.

The radio further said that the health condition of Ajith Boyagoda, the Captain of the sunken Sri Lankan Naval ship, 'Sagarawardene', has become bad.

The ship was sunken in the seas off Katpiddy six years ago.

Boyagoda is reported to have told the radio that the POWs are very eager to see their families and relatives.

"Peace cannot be achieved through war. The government should come forward to find a solution through a political process. We have decided to die through hunger strike, if the government fails to take appropriate action to secure our release" the radio quoted as Boyagoda saying.

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