Ranil visits High Security Zone in Palaly

by Ananth Palakidnar

Opposition Leader and UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking to soldiers at the Palaly military base yesterday said he would modernise the Armed Forces to match international standards to serve in peace missions globally. Wickremesinghe was touring the High Security Zone area around the Palaly military base.

He visited the Kankesanthurai Naval base and also bunkers and the sentry points in the Forward Defence Line areas in the High Security Zone in Palaly.

He also attended a special pooja at the historic Mavittapuram Kanthaswamy temple in KKS. Wickremesinghe went to the North in a special Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft hired for his campaign. He was accompanied by MPs Milinda Moragoda and Sagala Ratnayake, sources said.

The aircraft carrying Wickremesinghe reached the Palaly airbase around 9.30 a.m. and was received by the Commander of the Armed Forces in Jaffna Major General Sunil Tennekone, sources said.

Wickremesinghe speaking to the press at the end of his tour in Palaly said he did not have any intention of disbanding the armed forces.

"Within two years I will create peace in the country and modernise the Army to protect the country's resources. Our Armed Forces personnel can serve in peace missions abroad, so I would make every effort to see that our Armed Forces are modernised to suit international standards," Wickremesinghe said.

A large number of journalists in Jaffna gathered at the Jaffna Government Secretariat, the town area and the General Hospital premises with the expectation that he would visit Jaffna town.

However the visit was confined to the High Security Zone of Palaly.