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After honouring parents of Maaveerar, former LTTE cadres arrested

Parents of Maaveerar being honoured in Eelam last month.

At least two former LTTE cadres were arrested by Sri Lankan police on charges of ‘preparing claymore mines’, just weeks after one of them organised an event to honour the parents of fallen Tamil fighters.

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested 48-year-old Arokyanathan Saverian, also known as Johnson, and 63-year-old Thambu Gunasekaram last week.

According to the press reports, both men are accused of attempting to manufacture plastic moulds that authorities allege could have been used to prepare mines.

One of the men has been taken to Colombo, whilst the other was being interrogated in Kilinochchi.

Locals stated that Johnson presided over an event to honour the parents of fallen LTTE cadres last month. The event was part of several that took place across the Tamil homeland to commemorate Maaveerar Naal – or Great Heroes Day – when tributes are paid to those who gave their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle.

Commemorations were disrupted by Sri Lanka security forces and several Tamils were arrested under an anti-terrorism law.

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