British medic 'held in Sri Lanka's detention camp'

Officials are negotiating with the Sri Lankan government to secure the release of a British medic.

Damilvany Gnanakumar, of Chingford, east London, was detained while working in the country to treat civilians.

She was held in a detention camp following bloody clashes between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We can confirm that a British national is currently in Menik Farm Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Vavuniya.

"We are in discussions with the government of Sri Lanka and are actively seeking her release and return to the UK.

"We are keeping her family informed of developments."

British Government officials have been aware of Ms Gnanakumar's situation since May 21.

Her sister, Subha Mohanathas, 29, told the Guardian that Ms Gnanakumar - known as Vany - had called home on May 19.

"She said: 'I'm in this camp, you have to get me out of here,' but then the phone went dead," she said.

Ms Gnanakumar had spent the last few months working in temporary hospitals and was thought to have been staying in the Mullivaykkal area.