February 17, 2003	Monday	Zul Hijjah 15, 1423

COLOMBO, Feb 16: Reports of ceasefire violations by the LTTE in the northeast has increased over the past two weeks with the latest incidents being the killing of a government soldier in the northeast of Kilali and two abductions of Tamil youth.

Military reports on Sunday confirmed that K. G. A. Dharmadasa, belonging to the Wijayaba regiment of the Sri Lankan army, and who had been missing since last Thursday, was shot by the LTTE. The LTTE charged that the soldier had ‘strayed’ into its territory.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Thangani Pigarado a member of the LTTE, who had been on medication and recuperating at home in eastern Mannar, was abducted on Saturday. The girl was abducted while she was on her way home from hospital.

Reports indicated that she had taken medical leave from the LTTE for a period of over a month and was to extend her medical leave following medical instructions.

A 15-year-old-boy, Linganadan Gajan, was abducted on Saturday from Vavuniya by the LTTE, eye-witnesses said.