Joint security programme for threatened villages
Nimal WIJESINGHE, Anuradhapura Additional district
group correspondent
On the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Political
Authority and the Top Ranking officials of the Armed Forces and Police
in Anuradhapura district have jointly launched a security programme to
assure the protection of civilians in villages which are targets of the
LTTE terrorists.
Under the new security net a new coordinating system connecting
closely the high ranking Government officials, Armed Forces with the
Political Authority in the district is being designed and also immediate
action has been executed to form vigilance committees at the village
level.
At the security review meeting held on Wednesday it was decided to
divide the district into 12 security zones and appoint a top ranking
officer of the Armed Forces to head each such division. Accordingly,
Coordinating officers have been appointed now to Wilpatthu, Pandulagama,
Tanthirimale, Rajangana, Saliyapura, Horowpothana, Huruluwewa, Kalawewa,
Eppawala, Kekirawa and Mihintale new security zones.
These security zones will function under the direct supervision of
General Sanath Karunaratne, the Combined Operations Commander. A fleet
of motor-cyclists consisting of selected members of the Armed Forces, is
being arranged to enable to proceed instantly to any place of incident
or disaster in the district for rescue and armed operations.
The Security Review meeting was attended by Governor Karunaratne
Divulgane, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Chief Secretary A.
Talakotunage, Government Agent H.M.K. Herath, Governor’s Secretary A.W.C.
Ariyadasa and the Armed Forces chief of the district.
North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake
toured the threatened villages such as Wilpatthu, Nochchiyagama,
Wilachchiya and Tantirimale and conversed with the community with regard
to their needs. |