Forces firm onzero casualty - FM

CHAMINDA Perera

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday apprised the Colombo based diplomatic community that the military has taken all precautions to ensure zero casualty of civilians in their exercise of rescuing innocent Tamil citizens who have been held hostage by the LTTE.

The Minister at a meeting with diplomats at the Foreign Ministry said the military is paying a high price in their exercise of rescuing civilians from the clutches of terrorists.

"The International Community should exert more pressure on the LTTE to free the innocent civilians who have been suffering tremendous hardships at the hands of the LTTE, the Foreign Minister said.

"The Government demarcated a new No Fire Zone to avoid civilian causalities. The LTTE is engaged in exploiting the plight of innocent Tamil citizens to win the international sympathy, he added.

"Over 35,840 civilians have arrived in the cleared areas and they have been provided with all basic amenities.

These civilians now settled in welfare villages will soon be resettled in their places of original habitations, the Minister said.

He said the people have extended overwhelming support to the Government's mission aimed at liberating innocent Tamil civilians who have been held hostage by the LTTE at the recently concluded North Western and Central provincial council election.

He said the people have given a clear mandate to the Government to continue this mission until terrorism is completely wiped out from the country.

"The election victory gives an indication that democracy is deeply rooted in the country.

"Independent election observers have concluded that the election was free and fair.

The UNP's Chief Ministerial Candidate S.B. Dissanayake has also stated that people have supported the Government which is dedicated to eliminate terrorism," he said.

The provincial election victory is a clear endorsement of the Government polices particularly in relation to the eradication of terrorism, the Minister said.