LTTE media spokesman in Colombo for medical treatment

Colombo, July 13 (UNI) Sri Lanka today granted permission for an ailing media spokesman for the Tamil Tiger rebels to come to Colombo for further medical treatment, despite locking horns with the rebel outfit on the Norwegian-brokered peace process.

''President Mahindra Rajapakse purely on humanitarian ground, responded positively to a request made by the family members of LTTE's media co-ordinator, Velautham Dayanithi, alias Daya Master to bring to him to Colombo for medical treatment,''Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Media, Anurapriyadarshana Yapa told reporters here today.

''Despite all the differences, when a person is sick our culture is that we always help,'' the Minister said, adding that Daya Master was brought down to Colombo by road from Kilinochchi with the facilitation and supervision of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

According to medical sources, Daya Master, who reached a leading private hospital shortly after midnight yesterday, was currently undergoing heart surgery amidst tight security by the government troops.

UNI XC SB VA RK1350