Time to unite and help civilians

Rafik JALALDEEN

Media Centre for National Security Director Lakshman Hulugalla appealed to organizations, the business community and individuals to come forward to help displaced civilians arriving from the No Fire Zone to the government controlled areas by providing dry rations, instant food items and clean water.

Addressing the media yesterday, he said troops engaged in the largest ever hostage rescue mission are continuing their operation without harming a single civilian. This is a great success. As this humanitarian mission had reached the last phase, more than 103,000 civilians were rescued since Monday.

He asserted that before commencing the biggest hostage rescue mission from the NFZ, around 70,000 trapped civilians sought protection with the Security Forces.

They were all resettled in an IDP welfare centre at the Manic Farm.

“The current rescue mission is the largest ever conducted by the Security Forces. The government is facing difficulties to facilitate and accommodate the large number of trapped civilians arriving from the LTTE clutches at once”, he added.

“It is time to unite and help our brothers and sisters who have been suffering for years under LTTE tyranny and atrocities. They have escaped from the terrorists seeking protection with the Security Forces.

It is our responsibility to help these innocent civilians”, Hulugalla remarked.

He appealed to organizations, aid agencies, members of the business community and individuals to come forward to donate and contribute towards this mission.

The donations can be handed over to the Director of the BMICH Bandula Ekanayake. These essential items will be dispatched from the Ratmalana air base.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a committee headed by Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to carry out this benevolent mission.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said civilians have placed a high level of confidence in the Government and the Security Forces to reach the cleared areas. Therefore, the exodus continues with over 170,000 civilians seeking protection with the Security Forces.

“Preparations and arrangements were made to resettle them at IDP centres. The Security Forces are giving their fullest support to resettle the displaced civilians. They are our people and our brethren, though its our responsibility to help them when they are in need”, he added.Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said the Air Force is fully committed to help the IDPs. “We are dispatching food and other essential items to Anuradhapura once they are collected and received at the Ratmalana air base”, he added. “We are providing air transport to transport items to the displaced civilians. Thousands of essential food parcels and cooked foot items have been air lifted to the IDP centres”, Nanayakkara said.

Actress Geetha Kumarasinghe said Prabhakaran who tried to portray him self as the sole representative of the Tamil people is how suffocating. He is now hiding after taking cover behind 100,000 civilians as human shield. These innocent civilians had undergone immense hardship.

“We all could imagine their sufferings and situation by the footages seen on television. It is time to join hands and help these innocent civilians. Eventhough, if it is a small donation or fund, don’t hesitate to help these helpless children and mothers”.