Former Sri Lankan PM gheraoed in TN

Tiruvarur, Nov 20 (UNI) Former Sri Lankan prime minister and United National Party leader Ranil Wickramasinghe spent some anxious moments as hundreds of CPI workers waylaid his car and gheraoed him while he was returning from a temple after worshipping in this district today.

Mr Wickramasinghe was returning after worshipping at the Pongu Saneeswarar temple (Lord Saturn) at Thirukkollikkadu near Tiruvarur when about 500 CPI activists, holding black flags, blocked his car and shouted slogans against him for his remarks that there was no possibility of a ceasefire in the strife-torn Sri Lanka.

Police had a tough time as the activists surrounded his car, preventing him from moving out of the place. After nearly 30 minutes, police cleared the way for the diplomat to continue with his journey.

The CPI workers also showed black flags to Mr Ranil while he crossed Thanjavur, en route to Chennai via Tiruchirapalli.

Police arrested 49 CPI workers, including local Panchayat Union Chairman Pandian in this connection.

UNI RV-WS SKB AS1617