Letters tarnishing country's image: two suspects arrested

Sandasen Marasinghe

Two suspects from Vavuniya who attempted to tarnish the image of the country and the security forces by preparing fake letters to show that the security forces were harassing the Tamil community and by issuing them to those living abroad to get their period of political asylum extended, were arrested on Tuesday.

The two suspects issued these letters to many people in Vavuniya who were seeking opportunities to obtain political asylum abroad. They also issued them to those who were enjoying perks and privileges abroad under political asylum but have had to come due to the peaceful situation in the country to get their period of political asylum extended.

Police Spokesman stated that the two suspects prepared forged letters under the letterhead of Joseph Camp, Kandy road, Vavuniya ordering the person who needs the letter to come to the camp for an investigation.

The political asylum seekers and those who need to get their extensions submit these letters to respective governments seeking for political asylum or to get their extensions, stating that they would be tortured at such camps. The Police Spokesman said that this was an act which tarnished the image of the country internationally.

The two suspect were clerks of the Vavuniya South MOH office. The suspects were arrested with the letters, the rubber seals and few other equipment.

The raid was conducted by the Vavuniya Special Crime Unit on information provided by the Vavuniya Army Camp. The suspects were to be produced before the Vavuniya Magistrate yesterday.