The Army has expressed concern over some Indian passport holders, especially some from Tamil Nadu masquerading as peddlers selling Indian saris and frequently visiting the North and spying.

Vanni Security Forces Commander Boniface Perera told the media that a large number of foreigners had entered the North through the Omanthai military checkpoint in Vavuniya.

He said foreign elements including foreign journalists were planning to tarnish the image of the country and that of the Government. Maj. Gen. Perera stressed the need to look into the movement of foreigners through Omanthai and to check how many of them had returned to the South.

The media conference was held on the occasion of relaxing security checks at the checkpoint.

“Groups of Indians visit the north on Visas valid for a month as peddlers selling Indian clothes. It is not possible to sell their stock of goods in a month. These individuals who bring cloth and other articles that attract young women frequent several areas in the North and are known to stay in the country even after the expiry of their Visas. It is doubtful whether they are really traders and not spies. The movement of these individuals should be subject to stricter security checks at the Omanthai military checkpoint,” he said.(Wanni Romesh Madusanka)