Daya Master, George surrender
Rafik JALALDEEN
|
 |
|
Daya Master
Velayudam Thayanidhi alias
Daya Master, was born on March 3, 1956 Is a former private
English tutor. Later joined the terrorists outfit and is
known to be one of the most senior member of the LTTE.
Was the head of the LTTE
media and propaganda machinery for years until he was sacked
from his position.
Was kept under house arrest
by the LTTE leader for revealing intelligence information of
the outfit. |
|
 |
|
George
George, is a former
postmaster in the Postal Department Known to be one of the
most senior LTTE cadre. A language translator of the outfit
Was once the English translator to Thamiselvam, former LTTE
“political head”. |
Former LTTE media spokesman Daya Master and late Thamil Chelvam’s
interpreter George surrendered to troops in Puthumathalan yesterday
afternoon, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. “Daya
Master and George surrendered along with fleeing civilians from the NFZ.
We expect more senior LTTE cadres to surrender to troops,” he added.
The Government firmly believes that LTTE leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran and his associates are hiding in the No Fire Zone in the
remaining eight km stretch in the NFZ, he said.
Briefing the media yesterday on the current security situation at the
Media Centre for National Security, Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya
Rambukwella said the world was able to witness footage of civilians
being rescued on Monday from the NFZ contradicting LTTE propaganda that
the civilians were not coming on their will.
“All could see through the UAV visuals how the civilians were eager
to reach cleared areas. This is obvious that the LTTE forced civilians
to stay, to use them as a human shield,” he added.
Minister Rambukwella said the International Community has sufficient
proof to recognise the LTTE’s nature and its unmerciful acts of
terrorism and realise the Government’s stance towards the people.
“This is a biggest hostage rescue operation ever embarked by any
country,” he remarked.
He said troops entered the NFZ on Monday and captured one third of
the NFZ yesterday which was demarcated by the government and later
infiltrated by the LTTE cadres. “Troops are continuing the hostage
rescue mission to liberate the remaining trapped civilians. Security
Forces captured one third of the NFZ and are moving towards the south by
filtering civilians from those areas and to liberate the entire leaving
no civilian kept hostage by the Tigers,” he added.
Responding to a question on the whereabout of the LTTE leader,
Minister Rambukwella said We strongly believe that Prabhakaran and his
associates are hiding in the remaining eight km stretch to be liberated
in the NFZ.
“The Government had given time to the most notorious terrorists to
surrender within 12 hours but they did not respond. Therefore, they will
have to face their destiny.”
He said essential food items and medicine to the NFZ have been
dispatched by the Essential Services Commission with the assistance of
the Navy and ICRC.
Asked about the remaining number of trapped civilians in the NFZ,
Rambukwella said it was not the time to count the number but to rescue
civilians.
“We can’t always be accurate with arithmetic and we are concerned
about the figures. Our target is to filter and rescue civilians,” he
pointed out. |
