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by Ranil Wijayapala

All arrangements are complete for the exchange of detainees in the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government, in the no man's land in Omanthai at 10.30 am today, Military Spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said.

The exchange of detainees will take place in the presence of representatives from the Government, LTTE and the ICRC and after brief statements by three representatives.

Defence Secretary Austin Fernando will head the Government delegation and make a brief speech. The LTTE has not confirmed the name of its representative. However, it is reported that no high ranking members of the LTTE are participating in the function.

Army Commander Lt. General Lional Balagalle, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri and representatives from the Air Force and the Peace Secretariat will represent the Government.

The Government delegation and relatives of the Security Forces personnel to be released by the LTTE will fly Vavuniya this morning.

The seven Security Forces personnel are due to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a tea party at Temple Trees at 4.30 pm.

According to Defence sources, the seven personnel will be reinstated in their positions in the Army and the Navy.

The Seven Security Forces personnel due to be released are: Commander Ajith Boyagoda of the SL Navy, S.B. Gunawardene, S.R.Jayakumar, T.P. Gamini and D.S. Priyanka de Silva of the 3rd Gajaba Regiment and P.B. Nawindra Jayalath and T.M. Nimal Dissanayake of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry.

Meanwhile, the Association of Disabled Ex-service Personnel yesterday commended the Government's initiative to exchange the detainees. They commended the Government for taking steps to secure the release of a group of detainees held by the LTTE for more than eight years.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has demanded the release of two its members arrested by police two weeks back in Mollipotana, Trincomalee for the release of seven soldiers taken by them in Vilgamvehera on Wednesday.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) awaiting the release of the seven soldiers yesterday said they are in constant touch with the LTTE office in Kilinochchi.

The LTTE has taken seven soldiers from the Monkey Bridge camp of the 221 Brigade, who had gone in a lorry to collect sand from the Vilgamvehera area on Wednesday around 1.30 am, along with the lorry. One of the soldiers was uniformed and armed.

SLMM spokesman Teiutor Torkelsson told the Daily News that it is not clear whether the soldiers have breached the MoU but they could have been a "little bit careless" to enter an area held by the LTTE. The 'boundaries' of the areas are not so clear in this part, he added.

However, he said the SLMM is not interfering with the judicial system of the country as the two LTTE members have been arrested by the Police. 

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