President’s Kilinochchi visit :

Morale booster for rescue mission

Ranil Wijayapala

The surprise visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s to Kilinochchi gave a morale boost for the troops who were awaiting to take up the biggest challenge of rescuing the civilians from the Tiger grip successfully, setting an example to the entire world, General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Shavendra Silva said yesterday.

Commenting about the successful hostage rescue operation of the 58 Division after the President’s visit to Kilinochchi Brigadier Shavendra Silva said the President’s visit came at a crucial juncture of the ongoing offensive although it took place coincidently during the period of New Year at a time offensive divisions finished its task of capturing ground and almost captured the total land area except for the No Fire Zone

President’s visit to Kilinochchi was in a way the first visit by a citizen visiting Kilinochchi immediately after the New Year on a traditional and customary way for the Sinhalese. Troops who come from villages were happy to see their President at close quarters which will certainly boost their morale.

Today the Army considers Mahinda Rajapaksa as the person who supported and gave all the encouragement and responsibility for the success of the military during the ongoing offensives.

On the other hand his visit to Kilinochchi came at a time when troops were about to launch one of the most crucial and sensitive operations which the Army was not quite used to but only a professional outfit with tremendous discipline and commitment could handle a rescue operation of hostages,” he added.

During the President’s visit he spelt out the importance of the rescue operation, most importantly the timeframe that it has to be completed.

“When the President spelt out the importance of conducting this offensive as early as possible all commanders and subordinates were overjoyed and happy due to the morale factor in accepting its challenge of rescuing civilians to culminate the ongoing offensive which commenced to liberate the civilians from terrorists.

No doubt that is the simplest reason troops did not want to spend many days but to go for the earliest D day to conduct this offensive in keeping with the President’s intention,” Brigadier Silva added.

Before 72 hours lapsed from the President’s visit to Kilinochchi troops of the 58 Division launched its offensive alone with the support of the Commando and Special Forces into the No Fire Zone to commence the biggest rescue mission in the history of Sri Lanka Army at a time the entire nation was looking for the success but also some interested countries were closely monitoring how the operation is conducted.

The slightest change would have caused lot of damages and a huge impact on the Government if any mistake at any point of time during this offensive happened.

It was the genuine luck of the nation and its people who was anxiously waiting to see the success of this biggest hostage rescue mission which came in their way when 58 Division managed to accomplish its mission by rescuing over 30,000 civilians in the most successful manner that a professional Army would have achieved.

Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Ekanayake told the Daily News that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Kilinochchi was a morale boosting factor for the officers and the soldiers of the Army specially the troops who are deployed in the battlefront.

“The President had the vision of rescuing all the civilians who are trapped in the No Fire Zone by the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Army was tasked to do this rescue mission with zero casualties for the civilians”, Lt. Colonel Liyanage added.

He said it was after the President’s visit that Brigadier Shavendra Silva planned this operation with the support of Special Forces Commandoes and selected three infantry battalions 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, 9 Gemunu Watch and the 10 Gajaba Regiment.

”We were briefed about the operational plan and we discussed it lengthily and at battalion level we conducted rehearsals and it was launched on the 19 th after the operational plan was approved by the Army Commander.