<b>Release 350 PTA detainees</b>

Tania Fernando - The Sunday Times

In the wake of hunger strike in two jails by PTA detainees, the Attorney General has agreed to make a case-by-case review - with Tamil parties saying that upto 350 of the detainees should be released.

TNA spokesman A. Vinayagamoorthy said they had come to this compromise at a meeting with Defence Minister Tilak Marapana and Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabeyson. He said they had asked for the release of suspects who were being held for failure to give information, those who had given extracted confessions and those who were found in the possession of hand-grenades which might have been planted on them.

Mr. Vinayagamoorthy said they were not asking for the release of the suspects being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for alleged involvement in major attacks.

- The Sunday Times -