Humanitarian operations to continue

Security Forces will continue its humanitarian operations in the North until the LTTE gets defeated and democracy restored , Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

Addressing the media on the weekly security press briefing in Colombo yesterday, Minister Rambukwella said despite the capture of the LTTE's de-facto capital and key political and administrative city, Kilinochchi by the Security Forces , the humanitarian operation will be continued until terrorists are completely defeated.

Rambukwella noted that many did not believe that the Security Forces would liberate the Killinochchi within a short period.

"We did not have a time frame to liberate Kilinochchi but we were certain that it would happen as we were quite certain about our strategies. It is not only a deadly blow to the LTTE but also a psychological blow as well.

Minister Ramukwella said while the whole nation is celebrating this great victory Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had belittled it.

"Wickremesinghe, said that if the Government claims that Killinochchi had been liberated what it ought to do now was to grant relief to the people by reducing the petrol price. He repeatedly used the 'if' as he still had doubts about the Killinochchi liberation," he pointed out.

"The CFA signed between Wickremesinghe and the LTTE brought anarchy to the country.

RJ