Sampur recapture won't lead to war - Defence Spokesman

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday expressed its satisfaction over the recapture of strategic Sampur and neutralising LTTE artillery threats but stressed the victory would not lead the country to an all out war.

Addressing the media, Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government's real victory was in the progress of the peace process.

"Our objective was not to capture land. What we did was in the national interest," Rambukwella said.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa last month explained to the donor co-chairs the necessity of neutralising LTTE threats on the Trincomalee harbour and the main Eastern Naval base emanating from Sampur, situated across Koddiya Bay and used by the LTTE as an artillery launching pad.

The Minister said despite the recent military operations, both sides have pledged to uphold the truce. "We are happy the LTTE has not withdrawn from the CFA as they warned before the recapture of Sampur," he said.

"There is no victory there," he said referring to the recapture. "But the Government is happy it could neutralise artillery threats to the naval port and other vital economic centres in the East," the Minister said.

He said LTTE presence in Sampur with its heavy artillery and mortar within the striking distance of the main Eastern Naval base and strategic natural harbour posed a serious threat to the country's security from the beginning of the Ceasefire in 2002.

Before the recapture the Air Force camp, Indian owned oil tank farms and Prima and cement factories were under constant threat from artillery fire, Rambukwella said. He said the Government will take steps to restore normality in the Tamil majority village of Sampur adding that an estimated 10,000 civilians are waiting to re-settle in their original habitats.

Meanwhile, Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said the troops re-captured Kataparichchan, Sampur and Foul Point, three critical costal towns in the Trincomalee district after a battle lasting nine days. "Last Wednesday, troops launched an operation to clear artillery and mortar positions in Sampur and to facilitate civilian resettlement," Brigadier Samarasinghe said adding that by yesterday the troops had wrested full control of the three coastal towns.

He said the LTTE had destroyed some of its artillery while removing the rest beyond Verugal, away from striking distance.