EPDP, PLOTE, EPRLF meet SLA officers in Batticaloa
[TamilNet, Monday, 09 December 2002, 20:38 GMT]
The paramilitary EPDP, PLOTE and EPRLF(V) groups met with officers of the Sri Lanka armed forces at the headquarters of the 23-3 brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Batticaloa today to discuss their own security, sources said.
Brigadier S.R. Balasuriya, the commanding officer of the 23 division of the SLA, Major. Mangala Perera and Capt. Karunaratne of the 23-3 brigade
represented the armed forces. Pratheepan Paraneetharan and Siva of the EPDP, R. Thurairatnam of the EPRLF(V), Julie and Rathan of the PLOTE participated in the meeting. The meeting was held following the allegation by these groups that the three EPDP cadres missing since last week at the Kallady beach in Batticaloa, were abducted by the LTTE. LTTE has strongly denied any involvement. At the meeting the groups representatives requested SLA's help in identifying the abductors. They also demanded that their should be allowed to carry out political work and that their party offices be given security. Brig. Balasuriya asked the groups to remain patient and had told them that the SLA was keen to ensure the freedom of the Tamil groups, and that in cooperation with the Police, action would be taken to provide them security. Brigadier Balasuriya reportedly asked the groups if they wanted him to make arrangements for them to meet with Col. Karuna, but the groups said they would have to consult their group leaders for an answer.
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