Welikanda killers were in Tiger uniform

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Monday's barbaric killing of 13 civilians by the LTTE in Welikanda was aimed at evicting villagers from the area, Valachchenai ASP W. Senaratne told the Daily News.

He said is it now confirmed that the LTTE was behind the massacre.

"The two survivors of the massacre in their description of the incident told police that there were 15 LTTE in Tiger uniform."

The EU ban on the LTTE had angered the outfit and drove it to massacre innocent civilians who were working on the Mahaweli canal project."

He said there is also information that more than 300 LTTE cadres are moving around in this area to attack Security Forces installations. The massacre was a signal for civilians to leave to allow the LTTE free mobility.

He said the LTTE had ordered banks and NGOs to close their premises on Monday to protest the EU ban on the LTTE .

"The LTTE cadres extorted money from people in these areas and those who resisted were threatened," ASP Senaratna said.

The brutal killing of civilians occurred in Omadiyamadu area which is located between Valachchenai and Welikanda in an uncleared area.

Security has been strengthened in the villages following Monday's incident with the deployment of additional personnel. "We also advised villages who go to collect firewood and other needs not to enter jungle areas as a precaution," an officer at Polonnaruwa police said.

The bodies of the victims have been handed over to their families.