Two UN expatriates forcibly detained by the LTTE terrorists in Wanni have been released and allowed to return to the government controlled areas yesterday (Jan 29), military sources said. The terrorists forcibly detained the two expatriates and 13 other local UN workers in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaittivu since Friday (Jan 16). The 13 local workers are still under LTTE captivity, the sources said.

The American lawyer Bruce Fein, who specialises in making grave charges against distinguished Americans and Sri Lankans, is currently in Chennai. He seems determined to dodge the debate to which he grandly challenged the Secretary General of SCOPP. First he imposed some conditions, and then failed to respond to the Secretary General’s expression of keenness about the debate.

The Secretary General has now suggested that the debate take place in Oxford, which it is hoped will tempt Mr Fein, whose previous education seems to have been inadequate, and morally misleading. A copy of the letter is below.

-Click here to view the Letter-

Courtesy: SCOPP

Colombo (PTI): Maintaining that the military offensive in the north was not aimed at Tamil civilians but the LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the Government is determined to give the community its "rightful place in society".

"The Government is determined to give Tamils their rightful place in society and treat them as equals among the Sinhalese, Muslims or Burghers," Rajapaksa said.