No reversal in fighting terror - Defence Affairs Spokesman

Rafik JALALDEEN

COLOMBO: The Government would not turn back from fighting terrorism amid the LTTE propaganda to the influence of the international community and regional leaders.

Addressing the media yesterday at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the LTTE was carrying out their propaganda to influence the international community and regional leaders at a time it is facing a heavy defeat in the conflict.

“We have experienced this over the decades with the LTTE when the Security Forces were approaching the edge of the LTTE strongholds. Then they raise a cry to halt the offensive citing humanitarian concerns.

This obstacle was continuing in the past decades to keep the Security Forces from capturing the LTTE stronghold,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.

Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government will initiate discussions with leaders of any country but not with provincial party leaders. “The LTTE network is trying to influence the Tamil Nadu party leaders based on humanitarian grounds. We are well aware and capable to protect our sisters and brother entrapped under the LTTE tyranny. We understand their grievances,” he said.

Minister Rambukwella emphasised that terrorism is not a problem affecting only Sri Lanka but it is a cancer spreading all around the world, particularly SAARC countries.

“Terrorism is a main problem of the regional countries, particularly in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Heads of the SAARC nations solemnly promised to defeat terrorism and to cooperate against terrorism. The world and the SAARC nations are joining hands with us to defeat terrorism,” the Minister said.

During the last SAARC summit in Colombo Indian Premier Manmohan Singh pledged to fight terrorism. “Prime Minister Singh made his clear comment and steady stand on fighting terrorism in his speech at the 17th SAARC summit in Colombo. Therefore, the SAARC country leaders solemnly promised to cooperate on defeating terrorism as it battered and dented the economy of the region,” he pointed out. The LTTE was using civilians as human shield. “Their human rights were violated by the LTTE and they are using civilians as a human shield to blame the Security Forces and the Government. The Tigers are targeting the food supply lines in order to prevent the food supplies reaching the civilians in Wanni and Jaffna and then blame the Government that people are starving in the war torn areas,” Minister Rambukwella said.

Addressing the media Essential Services Commissioner General S. Divaratne said the Government had dispatched adequate essential food items, medicine, shelter and other essential needs to the civilian living in the Wanni.

“There were significant changes in transporting essential relief supplies to civilians in the Wanni. The Government had taken full responsibility with a certain number of INGOs to provide food supplies to the people living in Wanni. Around 95 per cent of civilians living in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu districts are provided relief items through the welfare centres coordinating with the Government Agent,” he added.

Divaratne observed that a logistic hub was established in Vavuniya with a capacity of storing 4,500 Metric Tons. Every week 50 lorries carrying relief to civilians in Wanni cross the Omanthai entry/exit point.