Sri Lankan envoy thanks Phuket

PHUKET TOWN: Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Thailand, Karunatilaka Amunugama, visited Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamut today to express his country’s gratitude to Phuket officials for their investigations into possible Tamil Tiger activity in the province. He also visited the mini-submarine found by Gazette reporters in a Koh Sirae shipyard last month. “The Phuket authorities have been very helpful and concerned about the suspected presence [in Phuket] of Sri Lanka’s rebel Tamil Tigers. “The Sri Lankan government was [kept] informed and the two countries’ police departments have been working closely to ensure Phuket’s security,” said Ambassador Amunugama. “Both countries’ police departments are keeping [a close eye] on any movement related to the Tamil Tigers,” he added. Later, he went to Koh Sirae to inspect the half-built mini-submarine. He was accompanied by several high-ranking Phuket officials, including vice-governor Vongsak Swasdipanich; Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, commander of the Phuket Provincial Police; and Vice-Admiral Sanay Chaichomlert, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, Third Fleet. To date, no one has been able to say exactly what the Koh Sirae mini-sub was built for.