Paris April 26 - French police arrested eight Tamil youths near the Theatre le Trianon, the venue of the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ the Musical and Cultural Show conducted by the troupe of the Sri lankan security forces on April 25. While six Tamil youth were arrested when the police found several weapons in the vehicle in which they traveled, four others were held in front of the Theatre. The car was parked close to the Theatre le Trianon, which is one of the best theatres in the famous entertainment area in the French capital.

The musical show was organized by a committee of expatriate Sri Lankans Headed by Ven Parawahera Chndaratana Nayaka Thero, Chief High Priest of the International Buddhist Centre. Ambassador of Sri Lanka Lionel Fernando was the chief guest at the cultural show held on April 25. Ambassador Fernando and Minister Counsellor Sugeeswara Senadhira spoke to senior police officials who were at the venue and requested them to enhance security for the Sri Lankan community who attended the show.

"As there were several incidents of assault and threats as well as attempts of intimidation by the Tamil Tigers, the organizers have requested the Embassy to urge the French authorities to provide sufficient security for the show," Senadhira told media; "I am glad that the French police has done the needful and there wasn’t any untoward incident. We were bit anxious as there was a demonstration by the LTTE at Trocadero in Paris on the same day".

A week ago the French police detained 211 Tamil Tiger cadres and sympathizers for rioting, possessing of weapons and damaging public property. On April 20 police arrested them when they fought policemen after attacking several busses and cars with bottles at La Chapelle area in Paris.

After preliminary investigations, 27 of them were discharged. Police are conducting investigations to ascertain the links between the detained Tamils and the LTTE, which is a banned terrorist organization in France.

Police said the demonstrators might be charged with belonging to an "armed gathering" as the bottles they threw could be considered weapons.

Police urged the rioters to disperse peacefully, but the demostrators started to pelt stones and bottles at the policemen and passing vehicles. Three policemen received injuries. For the last several weeks Tamils have been demonstrating in different venues in Paris.

The ‘Ranaviru’ Troupe arrived in Paris after a series of shows in Italy. Ven. Dr Chandaratana Thero thanked the Paris based Sri Lankans for attending the show despite threats from the Tamil Tigers. "When our heroic forces are liberating the LTTE held areas and ensuring the territorial integrity of our great nation, we the expatriates are duty bound to help them in every possible way," he said. "We must also generously contribute for not only the welfare of the forces but also the Tamil displaced persons in need of food and shelter".

Ambassador Fernando said that the Sri Lankan forces were second to none in the world and top military experts in the West could not believe how the Sri Lankan forces had defeated the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world in just two years. He thanked the French government for all the support extended to Sri Lanka.