Sri Lankan man finds missing family

A PARK Street shop keeper whose family were made homeless by Sri Lanka's brutal civil war has heard from them after more than a year of anxiety, but still fears for his missing niece and imprisoned brothers.

Raj Kularajah, who has lived in Radlett Road since fleeing from his native homeland 18 years ago, spoke to the Review last month about his desperate search to trace his 76-year-old mother, two of his brothers and their children.

Raj, 44, who runs a shop in Park Street, has now learned after 14 months of silence that his family have been detained in a military-run camp in a small village called Vavuniya, after escaping assaults on the country's rebels.

Raj's mother has now been released by Sri Lankan officials into the care of relatives coincidentally living in the village, but the whereabouts of his 22-year-old niece remain unknown.

She has not been seen since the family fled the fierce barrage, which killed 20,000 innocent civilians and ended the Sri Lankan government's 26 years of war with the Tamil Tigers on May 19.

The bloody attack came just weeks after Raj's sister-in-law was killed by a stray missile in front of her husband and children.

Raj told the Review: "We managed to find every member of the family except my 22-year-old niece - my brother's daughter.

"I don't know if she's in a different camp or if she's dead."

The other surviving family members were re-united at Manik Farm refugee camp, where most of them remain, some 80 miles from the area which came under attack.

Speaking about his mother's release, Raj said: "I was over the moon. I couldn't speak to her directly but I got the news that she and my brothers were safe from an aid worker.

"She had some sickness but now she's getting better. She's now very mentally upset - she wants her grandchildren to get out of the camp.

He claimed: "They are living in poor conditions. They used to live a comfortable lifestyle and now the children can't even have an education.

"I don't think the Government will release them unless British authorities help.

"It's very difficult to get them out. They are only releasing elderly people over 60 and whose relatives are willing to look after them."

Sandy Walkington, who is supporting Raj, said: "I'm relieved that at least some of his family are safe.

"Obviously we have to continue to be concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka and the very real possibility of human rights abuses. The British Government has to bare down as heavily as it can to make sure that things are done properly."

The Review has requested a comment from the Sri Lankan High Commission and is awaiting a response.

By Alexandra Barham