On an LTTE request the government last Friday deployed an SLAF chopper to ferry Trincomalee district LTTE military commander Sornam and Batticaloa commander Banu to Kilinochchi. Another senior military wing cadre identified as Nagesh had accompanied them, a senior security official said.

The LTTE had said that the eastern commanders were needed for consultations with the Kilinochchi based leadership.

The UPFA had previously rapped the UNP for deploying helicopters to ferry senior Tigers within the north-east provinces. (SF)