Sri Lankan seaman released by LTTE after four years
[July 5, 2001]

Jayantha Jayakody, one of the remaining crewmen of the vessel MV "Missen", the 500-seater Indonesian passenger ship hijacked in July 1997, was released from LTTE custody July 3. 

Several crewmembers of the vessel have been held by the LTTE since then.  Jayakody was released to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at Killinochchi. 

Spokesman for ICRC Harsha Gunawardena said, "ICRC escorted him to the south today and we hope to reunite Jayakody with his family during the course of the day."  

However, the ICRC said that three crewmembers of the vessel  "M.V. Missen", four crewmen of the vessel "Princess Kash" along with nine others from the Sri Lankan Army and one from the Navy still remain in LTTE custody. 

The crewmembers of the Princess Kash were taken into LTTE custody on August 28, 1998.

"The remaining detainees have been registered and are regularly visited by the ICRC," Gunawardena added.

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Last Updated Date: December 16, 2003 .