The Government yesterday launched a manhunt for a controversial South Indian Islamic preacher amidst reports that he was responsible for sparking sectarian violence among Muslims in Sri Lanka. Immigration Controller P.A. Abeykoon told the Sunday Times yesterday he had sought Police help to locate the preacher named Kovai Ayoob.

Displaced people in camps in Vavuniya and Jaffna are being used for election propaganda by the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for next week’s local polls in the areas, residents said yesterday.