Army on countrywide recruitment drive

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Government expects to recruit 14,000 to the Army by year end and the recruitment drive is now on countrywide.

The number of persons who re-joined the Forces exceeds 4000, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. He was addressing the weekly defence press briefing held in Colombo yesterday. Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that the Air Force does not take targets if it causes damage to civilians and a target is taken after constant monitoring and using data collected by intelligence.

There is no way that civilians could get harmed, he added.

Navy Spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said that the LTTE has access to the sea from 44 kilometres in the Eastern sea and only 15 kilometres from the North Western (Wayamba) sea but there have been no movements in the recent past. It is because of the Navy's new strategy to use a large number of small boats to safeguard the sea. Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said Police will arrest the Army deserter who shot the doctor at Hambantota. Three police units are conducting investigations.

He said 1,549 complaints have been received against Sakvithi Ranasinghe and the total number of persons who have deposited money is 4,100. Investigations are going on in connection with attack on J.C. Weliamuna's house, he added