Sri Lanka releases TNA MP frpm detention

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni district Sathasivam Kanagaratnam was released on condition after being produced before Vavuniyaa Magistrate Alex Raja Wednesday night.

Mr. Kanagaratnam was taken into custody while he was staying with his people in one of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) internment camps in Vavuniyaa, for displaced civilians from Mullaiththeevu.  He was detained by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) since May 2009.He was asked to surrender his passport to the courts.

According to TNA sources, he is now staying with his family in the Vavuniya rest house but TNA has still not met him after the release today.

Meantime, unconfirmed news reports say that the Sri Lanka government is trying to use him for its presidential election campaign.