Forces assures security to Wilpattu villages

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: The Security Forces have allayed fears of civilians in adjoining areas of the Wilpattu Wildlife Park about their security in the aftermath of Saturday’s incident, assuring protection to the villages.

Brig. Mohan Jayawardena, Commander of the Army 21 Brigade told the Daily News that steps have been taken to ensure the safety of all civilians in the area.

Security Forces personnel launched a massive multi-pronged search operation in the Wilpattu wildlife park and the adjoining areas in the aftermath of killings in Kokkarivillu.

Four Security forces personnel and four forest officers were ambushed by LTTE cadres in Kokkaravillu area, 30 km north of the main entrance, of the Willpattu Wildlife Park on Friday.

Among the dead were Anuradhapura area Commander Lt. Col. Jayantha Suraweera, Major D.P.F.A. Jayarathna, Corporal Kapila Kumara and Private Suranga along with Willpattu Wildlife Park Warden Wasantha Pushpananda and three forest officers.

Defence sources said eight bodies were found on Saturday morning with gunshot and severe cut injuries along with the vehicles they travelled. The bodies were later identified.

The team had embarked on a fact finding mission to assess the security arrangements inside the wildlife park on Friday, sources said. The LTTE carried out a land mine explosion in the same area on May 28, 2006 killing seven visitors to the Park.

According to Brig. Jayawardena in addition to the Security Forces and Police personnel, home guards too have been used to strengthen the 24 hour security patrol in the area. The terrorists appeared to have fled the area after the attack, Jayawardena added.

The post mortems were conducted by Dr Ajith Jayasena at the Anuradhapura Hospital under the instructions of District Judge and Additional Magistrate of Anuradhapura Sumudu Premachandra.

The bodies were later handed over to the relatives.

Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent a Parliamentary delegation comprising MP Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thera and Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and S.M. Chandrasena to assess the situation and report back to him.