Action has been initiated to apprehend youths who had returned to the plantations sector of the central hills after undergoing arms training in LTTE camps in the Wanni, Major General Lawrence Fernando, the Joint Operations Commander of the Central Province said yesterday.

He was briefing the Mahanayake of Malwatte Most Ven. Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera on the enhanced security arrangements for the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Security for the on-going historic pageant of Kandy has been stepped up in an unprecedented manner, according to the plans worked out jointly by the police and the security forces.

The security zone has been expanded to the entire Central Province during the pageant ending on August 17, Major General Fernando told the Mahanayake Thera.

Search operations are in force. At least fifty suspected LTTErs have been apprehended and many more are expected to be rounded up, he said.

All entry points to the hill capital of Kandy during the Perahera season are guarded and at least 35 road blocks are controlled by the police and the security personnel to screen the motor vehicles and persons, he added.

Under the security measures in force, every person entering the Perahera route are subjected to a body check, shops and boutiques are searched to ensure that no unidentified persons remain in the premises.