Sri Lanka diplomat in talks over weapons

PHUKET: Nimal Sirinathan, First Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand, today met with senior police officers from Phuket to discuss the weapons seized at the fishing port last week. Mr Sirinathan met with Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, and Phuket Town Police Superintendent Pol Col Paween Pongsirin. After the meeting, Col Paween said that the diplomat had asked whether there was any evidence linking the weapons seized with rebels in Sri Lanka. Gen Kongpol had replied that there was so far no evidence to tie the weapons to the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who are fighting for independence from Colombo. Asked about progress in the case, Col Paween said, “Right now police are amassing evidence and we have already obtained warrants for the arrests of another two suspects.” Police are already hunting Phang Nga resident Somporn Paupadung, the registered owner of the pick-up truck used to transport the seized material. He told reporters, “I cannot give you more information at the moment but when we can find these two suspects I will be able to give you more details.”