Navy expands coast guard security

Rafik Jalaldeen

The Sri Lankan Navy had expand its coast guard security to the maximum point within the country's territorial waters drawing attention to prevent any possible LTTE infiltration as well as to block the Tigers fleeing from the North.

Speculation was rife locally and internationally that following the severe battering received by the Tigers in the Vanni front that the defeated LTTE cadres might seek asylum in a neighbouring country escaping via sea.

Navy spokesman Commander D.P.K. Dassanayake said with the fall of the LTTE de fecto capital Kilinochchi, the Navy is put on maximum alert and security tightened along the North and East coast of Sri Lanka.

"Naval patrols and coast guards have placed barriers on the territorial waters, enhanced security and vigilance to tackle the LTTE and outside infiltration in our territorial waters. Special attention was paid after the Killinochchi liberation and therefore, the LTTE has the choice of either dying in the jungle or fleeing from the sea route", Commander Dassanayake said.

He asserted that the coastal belts were extended in three lines to strengthen the security in the North and the East. The "closer land line, Middle line and Outer barrier line were established to strengthen surveillance in the coastal area", he added.

Commander Dassanayake stressed that the Navy is fully prepared to face any eventuality.

"In a routine procedure, we check arriving civilains from the uncleared areas to the Government controlled areas", three times, he added.

According to the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Navy and coast guard had intensified monitoring missions in the Southern sea. "There is "talk" among people in Chennai of the LTTE fleeing to Tamil Nadu. The Chennai police, however denied any LTTE infiltration in to Tamil Nadu", sources said.

Meanwhile, several media have reported that security agencies on the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu and marine agencies in Kerala have intensified their vigial and surveillance following the fall of Kilinochchi, observing that fleeing LTTE cadres might try to take shelter in the area.