Troops enter Puthukuduyiruppu West

RANIL WIJAYAPALA

The Security Forces engaged in the final battle against the LTTE , yesterday entered Puthukuduyiruppu West area confining the LTTE to less than 80 square kilometre area whilst all top level Tiger leaders were making desperate attempts to stop the troops advance towards Puthukuduyiruppu, military sources told the Daily News yesterday.

”The 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva entered Puthukuduyiruppu West amidst heavy resistance from the LTTE”, sources added. They have recovered dead bodies of Tigers during the past two days with 10 of them recovered yesterday.

Following these moves the Security Forces have taken full control of the previous ‘No Fire Zone’ declared by the Army after thousands of civilians moved out of the area once Army declared the new safe areas in the coastal belt in the North of Mullaitivu.

”Troops are conducting these offensive operations against the LTTE whilst rescuing the civilians trapped in those areas”, sources added.

The President said the Vanni Tamil civilians are our brothers and sisters and it is our responsibility to be with them and help them when they are in need,” he added.

According to the Mullaitivu district GA the Government had dispatched around 1,801 MTs of essential food items, this is the first time essential food items were transported through the sea into Mullaithivu.

The relief items consist of rice, dhal, sugar, milk powder etc.

These will be handed over to the Mullaithivu Additional GA and it will be distributed with the assistance of the ICRC.

However, the Minister said that certain media reported there are food shortage in the Mullaitivu district.

“There are no food shortage in Mullaitivu. The Government has already dispatched sufficient food items. We have delayed for three weeks to send relief items due to the prevailing security situation,” he added.

Minister Bathiudeen reiterated that strengthening the health sector also was part of the discussion. A medical team deployed from the south is assisting the medical officials in Mullaitivu. “We sent medicine on the request of the medical officials in the Mullaitivu. We also invite the doctors who wish to serve in the conflict area to avail of their service.

The vessel ferrying essential food items on return will bring the sick and the wounded civilians.

He said over 30,000 civilians fleeing from the LTTE who arrived in the safe zone had been resettled at 13 IDP centres in Vavuniya. “The Government is always looking after their grievances and attending to all shortcomings.”

Minister Bathiudeen noted that a mobile school is to be established at the IDP centre to continue education of 1,200 students of the College of Education. There are 35 teachers among the displaced civilians.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Bathiudeen, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, Essential Services Commissioner S. P. Divaratne, High Command of Security personnel and the ICRC representative participated at the discussion held at the President’s Secretariat.