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by Sarath Malalasekera

Inspector General of Police T.E. Anandaraja said that not a single life had been lost or any property damaged on account of war ever since the MoU was signed between the Government and the LTTE on February 22, 2002. "This is an excellent situation. 'We pray for everlasting peace in this country, the IGP added at a press conference held at the Police Headquarters yesterday morning.

There are no check points or barriers on main roads now and children could attend school and citizens could move about freely without any fear of harrasment, the IGP said.

This press conference was summonded by the IGP to explain the religious activities organised by the Police to celebrate the first anniversary of the Government-LTTE MoU occasion on Febraury 22.

According to Police statistics 399,220 people have been killed during the North-East war. They include 14,487 service personnel including 2318 police personnel and one DIG, 7,473 civilians, 70 politicians, 214 informants and 17,478 others including LTTE cadres.

IGP Anandarajah said the Police Department is assisting the Government in arrangments made to celebrate the first anniversary of the MoU with religious ceremonies countrywide.

The IGP appealed to the public to join the ceremony by lighting a lamp at the entrance to their houses on Febraury 22.

He said Rs. 257 million had been paid to the 2488 police personnel injured during the war as compensation. Another Rs. 67 million had been paid to the members of police personnel who sacrified their lives during the war.

During the war 577 banks had been robbed and cash and jewellery worth over billions of rupees removed. 1228 vehicles had also been robbed during the period.

Sacred places of religious worship including the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anurdhapura and locations such as the Central Bank building, Parliament, Maradana Junction, Pettah junction, Kolonnawa Oil Installation, Galadari Hotel, Colombo Town Hall and several other places were damaged in bomb attacks.

The damage caused to the Bandaranaike International Airport and Katunayake Air Force base was estimated at over 155 million US dollars.

DIG Jayantha Wickremaratne appealed to the public and the media to attend the ceremonies due to be held at the Field Force Headquarters on February 22 at 7 30 a.m. Two minutes silence will be observed by the participants in memory of the police personnel who sacrified their lives to defend the motherland.

DIG Wickremaratne said that on the direction of IGP Anandarajah the Police Department had invited all ranks of police personnel from the Western Province to participate in the ceremony. Police personnel injured on account of the war will be given a gift parcel each by the IGP at this ceremony, DIG Wikcremaratne added.

Police, Public and Media Director, Senior SP Rienzie Perera gave a detailed report about the ceremonies organised by the Police Department to celebrate the first anniversary of the MoU between the Government and LTTE.

Senior DIGs Indra de Silva, Jayatissa Herath, DIGs Sirisena Herath, Nimal Jayamanne, Seneviratne Banda, Sarath Kombalavithana, Senior SPs Lalith Gunasekera, Kinsley Ekanayake, Asoka Wijetileka and Interior Ministery Media Secretary Anthony Fernando also participated at the conference.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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