Clarify charge of ship-LTTE nexus, Lanka told

M V Princess Kash which was carrying3,500 tonnes of cement, motorcycles, tractors, autorickshaws and food supplies to Jaffna peninsula from Colombo port, was destroyed by Lanka reportedly to prevent the cargo from falling into the hands of the LTTE. But according to reports, some of it had already been unloaded before the air force struck.

Describing the location of the ship and the conduct of its captain in not heeding the navy’s commands as "suspicious", the government said yesterday that it gave "sufficient cause" to believe that he "was acting in connivance with the LTTE to transport and deliver dangerous merchandise to the LTTE".

Indian High Commission here released the names of the 17 Indian crew aboard the ship: Captain B N Karkera, Chief officer Ramesh Singh, Third Officer E J I Dias, Chief Engineer Gian Singh, Second Engineer G M Sayed, Third Engineer Majer Singh, Engineering Officer W P D’Souza, Bosun M C Fernando, Assistant Bosun Ramesh Chandra, Assistant Bosun M Y Syed, Cadet S J Gonsalves, Cadet M G Nayal, Oiler Jose Carvelho,Oiler B G Fernandes, Oiler Melvin Pinto, Chief Cook F G Fernandes, Mess Boy Trindade Gomes.

Phone Nos for information: 00 94 1 421605/422788/422789.

LTTE to free Indians

The LTTE today agreed to release 17 Indian crew members of a merchant vessel hijacked by it and bombed yesterday by the Sri Lankan air force to the International Committee of Red Cross.