Govt has a right to provide water to people - Defence Spokesman

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO: Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella reiterated that the ongoing military operation to free Mavilaru was all about gaining control of the sluice gates and release water to over 15,000 families who have been affected by the water blockade created by the LTTE.

Minister Rambukwella was speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Colombo on the current situation with regard to the military operation carried out to open the sluice gates of Mavilaru anicut. "There is no declaration of war. We as a responsible Government have a right to provide water to the people and to assist them in their livelihood," Minister Rambukwella added.

Describing the military operation, the Minister said the military operation was launched a week ago with the aerial support of the Air Force.

According to Minister Rambukwella, twelve soldiers including two officers were killed and 19 injured (including an officer), during the operation around 40 to 50 LTTE cadres were killed by the Security Forces.

"We do not want the fighting to continue. The Government is ready to drop the operation immediately if the LTTE agrees to open the anicut," said Minister Rambukwella.

Meanwhile, Minister Rambukwella also responded to the comments made by LTTE's Trincomalee Political Leader S. Elilan over the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).

"There is a clear cut procedure in place if either party wants to pull out from the Ceasefire Agreement.

"The party that decides to pull out from the CFA will have to give two weeks notice and the decision to pull out will have to be conveyed to the other party through the Norwegian facilitator and this is very clearly mentioned in both the CFA and the MOU," Rambukwella said.

The Minister said, the Government has not given any such message to Norway and that he believed the LTTE too has not taken such a decision.

"We believe, the LTTE as a whole, sees the issue in a different light than that of Elilan," he said.