LTTE plot to infiltrate VIP functions posing as civilians bared - PM

WADDUWA: A terrorist plot to assassinate VIPs in the South by infiltrating public functions attended by them has been uncovered by State intelligence sleuths, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka.

The terrorist plan was to get their cadres to attend such functions unarmed as normal civilians and assassinate VIPs attending them after grabbing weapons from the Security Forces personnel detailed to cover such events.

The Prime Minister revealed this when addressing a meeting after laying the foundation stone for a new Sanghavasaya at the Pravachanodaya Pirivena, Molligoda, Wadduwa.

The Prime Minister said he wished to remind LTTE leader Prabhakaran that the heroic Forces and intelligence sleuths were smarter than him (Prabhakaran) and able to uncover all sinister plans hatched by him to undermine the State.

The Prime Minister said Security Forces were today carrying out their humanitarian struggle to liberate the North and its people from the barbaric LTTE clutches.

The Forces which carried out this struggle from four different fronts had now opened two additional fronts to corner the LTTE.

He said the LTTE which could not bear the successive defeats faced in the face of Security Forces' onslaughts were trying to destabilise the South by resorting to bomb explosions targeting civilian life

"Our sole desire is to restore peace and discipline in the country and ensure a contented life to its people. Creating discipline is a timely need today. Where there is no discipline there will be no development. A society without discipline will be like a desert," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Wickramanayaka said an indiscipline clique in the North was showing total disregard to human life and engaging in a killing spree killing clerics and people of all ages including infants.

The Government was today on a mission to put a fullstop to this miserable state of affairs, he said.

A society rich in moral ad cultural values could not be established as long as the law of the jungle prevailed in a part of the country. Terrorists were exploding bombs daily to obstruct the Governments' forward march.

The people should remain calm without panicking in the face of such provocations. The Government hoped to bring an end to this state of affairs soon.

The Prime Minister said the education system had its origins in Pirivena education.

The Government had given prime attention to develop this Pirivena system of education because it laid the foundation for a disciplined society.

Nation Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, and Western Provincial Council Chairman Jagath Angage also spoke. UNP chief organiser for Panadura Dr. Ravindra Fernando, Kalutara District Secretary S. Hapuarachchi, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner Chandra Prema Gamage and Kalutara Bodhi Trust Chairman Ajith de Soysa were also present.