COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Government on Wednesday night facilitated transport of the LTTE media coordinator and spokesman Daya Master from Kilinochchi to the national capital for urgent medical treatment even as five more people were reported killed in fresh incidents on Thursday.

The gesture apparently followed a directive by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse on a request from Mr. Master's family. Even before the convoy carrying Mr. Master reached here, a government spokesman made it a point to call up media organisation to publicise the decision.

Obviously, the Government wanted to convey a political message that it is humanitarian in its outlook even when it comes to LTTE. According to hospital sources the condition of Mr. Master, with a heart condition, is stable.

LTTE cadres killed

In a related development, TamilNet quoting LTTE said four of their cadres were killed in its area at Kadawanaikulam in Thampalakamam division in Trincomalee district by a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in an ambush Wednesday night.

It said a group of SLA soldiers had penetrated into the LTTE held area Kadawanaikulam along Trincomalee-Kandy highway located about 20 km off southwest of east port town.

Separately, the website reported that leader of the PLOTE's military wing in Vavuniya has been killed. It said the body of Ratnam Sriskandarajah, alias Bavan (46) was found on Thursday morning at Cheddikulam, about 15 km. southwest of Vavuniya, police said.

According to TamilNet, `Bavan' has been operating with PLOTE in Vavuniya for a long period. He was abducted when he went on Wednesday night to put up posters. "PLOTE operatives have been working closely with Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence. A number of paramilitary carders have been targeted recently," it said. There was no word from the Army on the latest incidents.

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