Forces had no hand in claymore attack in Madhu

LTTE sympathisers spreading canard - Minister:

Rafik Jalaldeen

Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday hit out at certain elements whom he charged with making baseless allegations that the Security Forces were responsible for the claymore mine explosion which killed 10 persons including nine school children and injured 17 others in Periya Madhu on Tuesday.

Addressing the weekly security news briefing Minister Rambukwella said the Madhu area was declared as a No War Zone area at the request of the Bishop.

The Government and defence authorities adhere to the declaration since it is considered a sacred land. “Out of sheer respect for the Bishop of the area the Government accepted its status as a No War Zone and is bound by the declaration”, he added.

He denied the allegation made by certain elements that the Security Forces were responsible for the claymore mine which was detonated by the LTTE in the Periya Madhu area on Tuesday killing 10 civilians and injuring 17 others.

“Some of the comments made by certain people on the claymore mine explosion was baseless.

We have reliable information that the LTTE are moving around and carrying out their activities in the No War Zone.

The Security Forces are not operating in the area since the declaration was pronounced out of sheer respect to the Bishop”, Minister Rambukwella said.

“We totally deny the allegations levelled at the Government and we have reason to deny it. It is not that we aren’t capable to control the area but we are purely respecting the declaration made by the Bishop of Madhu being a sacred area”, he added.

He charged certain elements who were backed by LTTE sympathisers of using the opportunity to place the blame on the Government and defence authorities.”Without any hard evidence or investigations, how can one place the blame on the Government”.

Rambukwella also querried as to how the SLMM would identify the perpetrator as if they were monitoring the area? Basically, the SLMM was based in Colombo and were reporting the incidents that took place in the conflict areas like a scoreboard in a cricket match. They never identified the perpetrator.