Tamils fleeing Tigers praise President

Tamil civilians who have fled LTTE controlled areas after freeing themselves from terrorist clutches have commended the President and the Government for providing them with accommodation, protection and food, health, sanitary and other urgent requirements expeditiously.

Civilians from Kilinochchi who arrived at the Omanthai Security Forces checkpoint have said that LTTE cadres retreating towards Mullativu jungles in the face of Security Forces advance were forcibly taking civilians held hostage along with them.

They managed to escape and arrived in the liberated area with better hopes for their future.

They stated that there would be a mass exodus of people from Mulaitivu to Government controlled areas if the LTTE offered a one hour ultimatum for civilians trapped in the conflict zone to leave for Security Forces controlled areas.

A Presidential Media release said civilians arriving in government controlled areas from Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu are being provided with food and all other facilities at the Menik Farm and Nelukulam camp in Vavuniya. The army has opened a civil coordinating committee to probe into the needs of Tamil civilians from North arriving in Vavuniya. Meanwhile, Vavuniya District Secretary Charles has stated that 80 lorry loads of essential food and other items are being despatched to uncleared areas weekly in response to requests made by District Secretaries in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. These include rice, wheat flour, dhal, medicine, garments, drinking water and even semi-luxury items.

Apart from these, goods are also being despatched to uncleared areas under the UN and World Food programme assistance.

These goods are being distributed among displaced persons in areas such as Vishwamadu, Kalmadu and Dharmapuram.