Bombs in South, LTTE ploy to divert gallant forces from Wanni - Minister of Power

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The gallant and energetic war heroes of the country have succeeded in confining the LTTE cadres to a limited area in the Wanni.

The LTTE terrorists badly humiliated and weakened in fighting are now engaged in killing innocent civilians in the South to break the morale of the civil community and to prevent the forward march of the Armed Forces to attack their strongholds in Mullaitivu jungles which once were believed to be protected, said Minister of Power and Subject Minister of Establishment of Civil Security Committees Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

He was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural meeting of the formation of Anuradhapura district Civil Security Steering Committee, held at the auditorium of the Central Bank Anuradhapura.

The Minister said the LTTE hierarchy, by blasting claymore bombs and landmines in the South were trying to make the Armed Forces engaged in military operations in Wanni to be withdrawn and to show the global community that there was instability in the country thus tarnishing the image of the Government.

He said we have planned to form District Civil Security Committees in 25 districts, 326 committees at Divisional Secretariat level and 14,913 grass roots level, civil security committees in Grama Niladari divisions by mid March. These committees are represented by the political authority, State officials, members of the Armed Forces and Police and civilians to ensure the protection of the public, the public places including transport services and public property. It is commendable to observe the wholehearted cooperation and understanding of the Opposition parties in the formation of the Civil Security committees.

Aluthgamage describing the new trends in civil security planning said that simultaneously to the establishment of civil security committees, a volunteer front of youths consisting 150,000 would be formed at the rate of 10 young men from each Grama Niladari division to assist the Police and Civil Security Corps in security operations and activities. The President is scheduled to meet them on March 05 at Colombo.

He said we are used to looking at every Tamil suspecting them as LTTE sympathisers. It is not practical. It has been found that some Sinhalese and Muslims are serving the LTTE to go on with sabotage. As such we are required to be tactful in identifying suspicious elements irrespective of cast, creed, nationality or religion. Recently after interviews 400 Tamils were recruited to the Police from Up-country area. The Government is not allowing the Police to be political-friendly or biased.

The Minister said that 5,000 new recruits would enter the Police Force soon, who would be detailed to associate with villagers in vigilance duty, in civil and unarmed, promoting village police ties.

Sirisena Herath the Senior DIG said that the security of the country and nation had reached a serious juncture. The people in the North Central Province have experienced the bitterness of the conflict very closely and sacrificed much. The committees being established would comfort them and make them fearless and confident.

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, the Director General of the Civil Security Department stated that at present the newly formed Civil Security Corps consisted of 40,000 security personnel. They were a well-disciplined battalion reformed and rehabilitated to serve in their own villages protecting adjoining villages and property.

The North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake in his address said that the recent blasting of a claymore at Welioya, the attack on the Air Force Base Anuradhapura and discovery of time bomb in the Anuradhapura Sunday Fair premises indicated that the LTTEers were moving very close to the people in Anuradhapura, as such the civil security committees must be guided properly to take up the challenge.

SSP I. M. Karunaratne also spoke. Governor (N.C.P.) Karunaratne Divulgane, Ministers S. M. Chandrasena, Duminda Dissanayake, W. B. Ekanayake, Provincial Council Ministers Gamage Weerasena, H. B. Semasinghe, Chairman P.C. (NCP) K. H. Nandasena, Chief Secretary A. Talakotunage, G. A. H. M. K. Herath, DIG (NCP) K. P. P. Pathirana, SSP Macarthy Perera, SP, S. M. Samarakoon, all O.I.C's in the divisional police stations, Chairmen of Pradeshiya Sabhas, Mayor Dr. Kithsiri Kaldera, all Divisional Secretaries and civil representatives attended.