PM urges vigilance

Ranil Wijayapala, Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday warned of reprisal attacks by the LTTE targeting individuals and Security Forces.

He said the possibilities are very high of a counter strike to avenge the loss of LTTE political wing leader Thamilselvam.

"We should be more vigilant in the aftermath of this victory," the Prime Minister opening the Emergency Debate told Parliament yesterday.

He also said support should be extended towards steps implemented by the Intelligence Units, Security Forces and police to prevent such terror plans, without challenging those security plans.

He pointed out that the LTTE's objective was to destabilise the peaceful co-existence of society in where all three communities live together peacefully, using innocent civilians as a shield.

"The terror attack on the Thalgasmankada Army Detachment and Anuradhapura air base were such desperate attempts by the LTTE," the Premier said.

He said though the Government is fully committed to a peaceful resolution of the North-East conflict, the Security Forces cannot stand by and watch when terror attacks are launched targeting its members.

"Thamilselvam, considered to be the second in command of the LTTE, was killed as a result of such retaliatory attack by the Security Forces," the Premier said.

"Thamilselvam is a man who is responsible for a number of assassinations in this country.

"According to his terror plans a number of national leaders and Security Forces officials were killed.

He also misled the international community," he added.

"Silencing a person of that nature is a great victory by the Security Forces," the Prime Minister added.