COLOBO, July 5, Reuter: A Sinhalese politician has been kidnapped by Tamil guerrillas in Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula during a visit there to canvas support for forthcoming by-elections, two local newspapers reported today.
The Tamil language newspapers, published in Jaffna, said Central province constituency, were seized on Friday after leaving the city’s main government office.
He was visiting Jaffna as he planned to seek a parliamentary seat from a constituency there.
The Eeelamarusu, a newspaper tun by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrilla group, said, however, that Tennekoon was abducted by residents and was being well look after.
Tennekoon is the first Sinhalese politician in the past decade to contest an election in the Tamil dominated peninsula.
The government has announced by-elections to 16 parliamentary seats in northern and eastern areas where Tamil guerrillas are waging a violent fight for a separate state.
They are to fill vacancies caused by the resignation of separatis! policies. No date has been set for the elections.
A family spokesman at Tennekoon’s home told! Reporters that politician left home for Jaffna or Thursday.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1987
