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Marapana responds to President

Former Defence Minister Tilak Marapana yesterday asserted that neither he nor the Government had ever taken any important decisions pertaining to national security without first consulting the President. He was responding to allegations made against the Government by President Chandrika Banadaranaike Kumaratunga in her address to the nation on Friday.

Addressing the media at a special briefing, the Minister said that he as the Defence Minister did his optimum within the resources and capabilities available to ensure the security of the country, especially the North and East.

Responding to the President's speech, the Minister denied that the Government gave instructions to release six shipments of arms brought into the country by the LTTE. "Clear instructions have been given to the Navy to seek, and if necessary, destroy any vessels bringing arms or warlike material to sri Lanka."

Minister Marapana also said that all LTTE camps except the Manirasakulam camp were in areas not fully dominated by the forces while the area to the South of the Trincomalee harbour had been virtually abandoned when army camps were withdrawn in 1995.

He also said it was never the suggestion of Norway that the army should withdraw military camps or recognise the LTTE naval unit. The facilitators merely conveyed these to the Government," he said.

He also refuted the President's statements that about 60 per cent of the attack craft of the navy and aircraft was out of operations and that the army possessed less than one-month requirement of ammunition.


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