Freed Sri Lankan driver reunites with family

The Sri Lankan truck driver held hostage in Iraq for more than nine weeks, reunited with his family in Colombo yesterday.

He appealed to other Lankans in Iraq and those employed in countries around Iraq not to run the risk of undertaking employment or other missions to the trouble-torn country.

Thirty six-year-old Dinesh Rajaratnam joined his family yesterday morning when Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Baghdad Amanullah Farook, who was instrumental in his release, accompanied him back to Colombo.

Foreign Ministry officials and his wife Rita and three children were among those present to welcome him.

On arrival in Colombo, Rajaratnam said that during his custody he was questioned in detail about the services provided to the US forces and was warned that if any more Lankans are taken hostage they would not be released.

"My captors told me they were eventually releasing me as our country was not taking the side of the US and allied forces. But their warning was clear that we should not help the US forces directly or indirectly," he said.

He was taken hostage on October 18 along with Abul Kasheem, a Bangladeshi national when they were carrying supplies for a US base at the Airport in Baghdad.

The Bangladeshi national was also released to the Sri Lankan Ambassador who personally travelled to Baghdad from his current base in Jordan.

The Bangladeshi was handed over to their mission in Jordan.