Armed guards for Vesak lantern

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2001, 20:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers arrested five Tamils Monday morning in a cordon and search operation at Faizal Nagar in Kinniya Division, 15-km northwest of Trincomalee town. The arrested Tamils are said to be inmates of a refugee camp at Faizal Nagar where a large number of Tamil families displaced from Upparu village in 1998 live.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan armed forces have stepped up their security measures in Trincomalee town when the Vesak lantern constructed in the Urban Council market premises was ceremoniously opened for the public Monday evening.

Armed policemen body searched people who went to see the colorful Vesak lantern before they entered the UC market premises, said sources in the eastern port town.

Hundreds of armed police personnel are deployed in and around the market area. All roads leading to the UC market are barricaded and people are allowed only by foot, the sources said.

Normally massive Vesak pandal was constructed in the UC market premises by the Market Sinhala Buddhist Society. This time a small Vesak lantern has been constructed.