Fleeing civilians rescued by Navy

Rafik JALALDEEN

Around 39 civilians fleeing from the LTTE grips were rescued in the seas off Mullaitivu by the Navy on Thursday morning.

Navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said 39 civilians including 13 children seeking safety had been rescued by the Navy in the seas off Mullaitivu around 8.45 am. “They were fleeing the LTTE atrocities on four white flag hoisted dinghies when Naval patrol detected them in the seas off Mullaitivu,” he added.

Rescued civilians were brought to Munai beach and provided with essential needs and refreshment. The sick were provided immediate medical treatment by the Navy medical officers, Commander Dassanayake said.

He said the exodus escaping from LTTE clutches is now on the rise. This is largely due to the confidence they have placed in the Security Forces whose humanitarian operations have helped Tamil civilians to extricate themselves from the LTTE clutches.

The Navy has made special arrangements to assist civilians fleeing from the LTTE grips. The Naval personnel and vessels along with stand-by rescue and medical teams are on special deployment for this humanitarian mission in the North-eastern seas.