Stop provoking Security Forces, Ratnasiri tells LTTE

BY RANIL Wijayapala and Asanga Waranakulasuriya

PUBLIC SECURITY, Law and Order Minister and Acting Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told the LTTE yesterday to stop their attempts to provoke the Security Forces as the Government has no intention to wage a war against them at all.

Referring to recent attempts by the LTTE to provoke the Security Forces, the Minister said the Government would not be moved by their deliberate provocations to wage a war against them.

Addressing the media after commissioning the US donated offshore patrol vessel USCG 'Courageous' as SLNS Samudura at the Colombo Port yesterday, the Acting Defence Minister said the Security Forces were acting with great patience in the event of provocations by the LTTE.

"We are doing our best to maintain peace. We have no intention to start the war again. Even this newly commissioned offshore patrol vessel will also be used to protect peace in this country," the Minister added.

The Minister said it was upto them to fire the first bullet if they need to have a war again adding that Government was ready to face any situation.

"We are tolerating all deliberate provocations by them as a Government committed to create a peaceful society in the country," he added.

"There should be a stop to their attempts of firing at the Security Forces from 100 meters or 200 meters. We are ready to face any situation to protect peace," he added.

Acting Defence Minister Wickramanayake expressed the Sri Lankan Government's gratitude to the US Government for donating the offshore patrol vessel 'Courageous' to enhance the off shore patrolling capability of the Sri Lanka Navy.

He said the Government has only to bear the cost of repairing the patrol vessel as the US Government donated the vessel.

Defence Secretary Major General Asoka Jayawardena, Chief of Defence Staff and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Air Force Commander Air Marshall Donald Perera, Army Commander Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Geoffrey Lunstead were also present at this commissioning ceremony.