The woman has confessed to be coming from Vellaveli in Batticaloa during the interrogation. Further, she has said that the reason she had joined the LTTE was to spite her husband who had left her.

     A massive house to house cordon and search operation was conducted by the police and soldiers in search of suspected suicide bombers on January 7. About 1500 people were arrested during the search and about 30 of them were detained for further questioning, Midweek Mirror said. According to the SLBC, the state radio had reported on Monday that authorities had received information regarding the LTTE trying to use suicide bombers in pairs to ensure there was a second hit if the first attack failed. The radio has also stated that at least three more suicide bombers had infiltrated the city apart from those who had believed to have already entered the city, Midweek Mirror revealed.

     It is believed that at least 10 members of the LTTE's elite suicide squad, known as the Black Tigers are already in the city on suicide missions, police sources said.

     Security in Colombo City has been strengthened.

     Also in order to hunt for LTTE pistol gangs in Point Pedro, Jaffna, the security forces had launched a cordon and search operation around the Sivan Kovil area, Midweek Mirror said. The suspects after been taken for an identification parade were held for further questioning. The search operation was launched after the assassination of Point Pedro Urban Council Chairman Vadivelu Wijayaratnam who represents the PLOTE. Twenty members of North east local government bodies have been killed by the LTTE during the past two years.

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