800 Colombo Tamils woken up from sleep & videoed

Nearly 800 Tamils living at Colombo 15 were reportedly videoed individually in the early hours of this morning. Police and army personnel had woken up these people at Kimbulahela Watte on Madampitiya Road from their sleep around 4.00 pm and ordered to gather at a nearby playground.

Once there, each of them had been asked to clearly tell the name, address and other personal details, while being videoed.

When 'Lanka Dissent' inquired about this from Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara around 6.15 pm, he first said he was unaware of such a happening and asked us to call him again.

Later, he admitted the area police had conducted a routine search this morning.

The army had assisted in the search, but no videoing had taken place, Brig. Nanayakkara said.