Sri Lankan military conducts massive anti-Tamil sweep through Colombo

An estimated 18,000 heavily-armed troops and police were mobilised to comb the predominantly Tamil areas of Colombo, including Kotahena, Wellawatte, Bambalapitya, Kirulapone, Narahenpita and Pettah, as well as the suburbs of Dehiwela, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Wellampitiya and Nugegoda. Many of the residents are Tamils who have fled the war in the North and East or plantation workers from the central hills districts looking for work. Raids also took place in other parts of the country.

Roadblocks were set up covering all the major highways into Colombo. Vehicles and their occupants were checked. Any Tamil was regarded as suspect. Many Tamils travelling on buses were taken into custody. Eyewitnesses reported police as saying: “We arrest any Tamil who we come across.”