More food stocks to North

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Government has made arrangements to send 800 metric tons of food to North with the assistance of World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN.

"A small delay in sending food to North is tolerable than facing a major disaster by sending food without proper checking. This was proved when explosives and GPS equipment were discovered at the commencement of sending food to North," Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a media briefing yesterday.

Minister Rambukwella said people in uncleared areas in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu were asked to move into safer areas to ensure their safety and well-being.

All the INGOs and NGOs were asked to come to Vavuniya to prevent a repetition of a 'Muttur incident' which was given big publicity.

The other reason for making this request is the LTTE attack on the team of ambassadors who travelled to the East with Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, he explained.

"Some NGOs act beyond the mandate given to them. The Government cannot be fooled any longer by the promises given by the LTTE."

Minister Rambukwella recalled that in 2006 Prabhakaran said the war will be brought to Colombo and he was now moving from one bunker to another to save his life.

"He is now transporting explosives from Colombo to Kilinochchi to save his life," he added.

"The Government always considers the people living in the North as brothers and sisters and takes all possible steps to ensure their safety and well being. It is true that they face certain difficulties at the moment and the Government considers it as a great short term sacrifice by them for the sake of a free and prosperous future."

"The Government has a very good example for liberating people and giving them a prosperous life. It comes from the Eastern Province. The same thing will be followed in the Northern Province."

Rambukwella said people have severely suffered during the last 25 years and made an enormous sacrifice due to the LTTE terrorism.

"World leaders, Presidents, Presidential candidates, political leaders and many more were among them.

"Presidents to ordinary citizens suffer day and night because of Prabhakaran's barbarism. President Mahinda Rajapaksa enjoyed a carefree life moving among people. He is a people's President who came from the common society and wishes to move closely with the people. But today he is forced to be restricted to four walls because of Prabhakaran. Living like that is not comfortable or easy."

Responding to a question by journalists Minister Rambukwella said that all Sri Lankans enjoy equal rights and all are under the country's Constitution which has ensured equal rights to all citizens.