SLN shells village, two killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 April 2000, 05:53 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and another wounded yesterday morning when the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) gunboats shelled Ilakkanthai, a fishing hamlet in the Mutur area, about 15 km. south of Trincomalee.

Several huts and a school were damaged in the shelling the villagers said.

The civilians who were killed in the shelling were identified as Alakuthurai Thirukumaran,20 and Rajenthiram Kirupakaran,26. They were having their meals after returning from fishing when they were hit by a shell, according to the villagers. The wounded civilian was identified as Tharmalingam Kunanayakam,30.

About 120 families live in Ilakkanthai, a village not controlled by the government troops.

In a separate incident, two fishermen are feared killed after their boats were hit by naval fire Wednesday evening around 8 p.m., off the coast of Chundikulam, in the north-east of the island, sources said. The fishermen, Arulanantham Arulraj,22, and Mariyanayakam Jude,17 are from Kaddiakadhu.

Two other fishermen who were in the boats escaped and swam ashore, the sources said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Amnesty International issued an urgent action appeal expressing its concern about Vyramuttu Jeyakili, who was arrested by SLN personnel on 25 February and taken to Nilaveli navy camp.

The Amnesty said "despite evidence from people arrested with him, Naval authorities still deny having Vyramuttu Jeyakili in custody.

"Plain clothed naval officers have reportedly threatened his relatives, and the two people arrested with him, to say nothing about him and file no court action on his behalf.

"Officers at the camp have privately given conflicting accounts to his family, including claims that Jeyakili will be released, and that Jeyakili was never arrested.

"Fears for his life are mounting," the Amnesty said.