Colombo: Norwegian Tamil poet and actor V I S Jeyapalan has been arrested in Sri Lanka for violating visa regulations. Jaffna-born Jeyapalan,79, was arrested on Friday at Mankulam in the country's north, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said. Rohana said Oslo-based Jeyapalan, who was in the country on a tourist visa, has been arrested for holding seminars in Jaffna. "He was reported to have taken part in gatherings aimed at causing communal unrest," Rohana said.

The police spokesman said the Tamils living outside the country can visit any place in the island but they cannot be allowed to disrupt the peace and normalcy in the country. Jeyapalan, who is a popular Sri Lankan Tamil poet, also acted in several Indian movies and he was awarded National Award for his acting in Tamil movie Aadukalam.