Brotherhood Train to North

Chamikara Weerasinghe

A Brotherhood Train will make its maiden trip this month to appreciate the services rendered by the Security Forces engaged in humanitarian operations in the North to liberate the country from LTTE terrorism. The Brotherhood Train will take provisions of food and other supplies to the North to be distributed among the public who have been internally displaced in the Wanni.

The convenor of the Manel Mal Movement S. L. Gunsekera yesterday said , they have arranged to operate the "Brotherhood Train" from Matara to Medawachchiya carrying love and aid to Security Forces and those internally displaced citizens in the Wanni district who have suffered at the hands of the LTTE terrorists.

Gunesekera was speaking at a press conference held at the National Library Service Auditorium, Colombo. He said , the train will travel from November 22.

"We intend to express our deep concern to our brethren in the North, who have suffered under the LTTE," he said.

"There has been enormous false propaganda by the Western powers against the Sri Lankan State in this regard," he said. "The Brotherhood train will disprove them. We are morally and ethically bound to help our brethren," he said.

"This will be more than providing material benefit to cope with an IDP situation for we want them liberated from the LTTE," he said.

"It is the duty of all citizens, especially those in the South to look after the people in the uncleared areas. Civilians who escape from the terrorist grip of Prabhakaran need to be protected. We must look after them."

The Manel Mal Movement organised "the Brotherhood Train" in a joint effort with the Patriotic National Movement.

The train will stop at 20 railway stations on its way from Matara to Medawachchiya through which it will collect and carry necessary provisions such as food and clothing for the IDPs.

"We plan to get the entire nation around the train and its envisioned task," said Gunasekera.