The Hindustan Times
Colombo, 1999 March 31 (HT Correspondent)
General Secretary of the over ground Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) S. Vinothalingam has been arrested for possessing two gold coins with the LTTE logo embossed on them.
Tamil sources said that the leader of the anti- LTTE group was taken into custody on March 15,after a priest in a church in Kollupitiya in Colombo found the gold coins after a service which the Vinothalingams had attended.
Mrs Vinothalingam had been wearing a chain with these two coins strung on it. That the coins belonged to them was confirmed when the couple came back in search.
Tamil sources said that such coins might be found in the possession of many Tamils from Jaffna because the LTTE, which had taken gold from them, had subsequently returned them in the form of coins, but embossed with their emblem.
In a written representation to the anti- harassment committee of the government, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda pointed out the gold coins in question were presented to Mr Vinothalingam, when he got married a year ago.
The emergency regulations are meant for apprehending those who have links with the LTTE.