A HARROW man who was abducted in Sri Lanka has been freed by his captors.

Sivapatham Sivasorupan, of Twyford Road, was kidnapped in Colombo earlier this month.

It is unclear why Mr Sivasorupan, who has lived in Harrow for the last ten years with his wife and children, was in Sri Lanka and it is not known when he is expected to return home.

Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar (Labour, Roxeth) was contacted by the kidnapped man's wife who pleaded for his help.

The Tamil councillor joined forces with local MP Gareth Thomas to get in touch with the British High Commission in Colombo and the Sri Lanka Commission in London and appeal for the man's release.

It is believed Mr Sivasorupan, who is also Tamil, was released on Wednesday.

Cllr Idaikkadar said: "His wife called me and asked for my help to get him released.

"I spoke to Gareth Thomas and arranged a meeting with him and Mr Sivasorupan's wife.

"We are not sure why he was released but he is in India and we are hopeful he will be back soon."

The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to the north or east of Sri Lanka. The department's website also warns that there is "heightened security, particularly in Colombo and southern Sri Lanka. There have been detentions, particularly of people of Tamil ethnicity".

A number of Tamil websites have also reported the abduction of a second man from Harrow but Cllr Idaikkadar said: "Apparently there is a second man that has been abducted but I have no details and cannot help until I know more."