Tiger negotiators nabbed with gun catalogues

Sarath Malalasekera

KATUNAYAKE: The Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport had detained several catalogues containing weapons and number of powerful search lights from the possession of the several LTTE members who returned to the country from Oslo yesterday morning.

According to Customs officials they had released a large video camera after imposing a duty of over Rs. 38,000. LTTE delegation headed by its political wing leader S. P. Thamilchelvan arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport, yesterday morning.

Customs officials checking the luggages found gun catalogues and held back them.

Later, according to Director General of Customs Sarath Jayatilake, those catalogues after examined by the military specialists, were released as they were of small guns and weapons like revolvers and shot guns.

The LTTE members at the airport paid Rs. 38,000 in duty for items including electric razors, headmounted torches and digital cameras.

Meanwhile, S. P. Thamilselvan and seven other key figures took part in the Geneva talks were flown to Killinochchi by an Air Force helicopter and it reached there at 2.30 p.m.

The other members of the LTTE delegation were taken to Killinochchi by land route.