Tigers confined to three sq. kms

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Cabinet Spokesman Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday there were no discussions held with any party about a ceasefire and that Security Forces are on the verge of rescuing the remaining civilians in the No Fire Zone.

“The 190,000 who are now in the cleared areas (by April 28) have not been injured in any way and are enjoying food, drinking water, shelter, medical facilities, education, telephone facilities and also entertainment (television). This is because Sri Lankan Armed Forces did not use heavy arms and took very good care of them. Earlier the NFZ was around 12 kilometres but it has now reduced to three to four kilometers.

Soon the Forces will rescue the rest of the innocent people from the clutches of the barbaric LTTE leader, the Minister added. Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Yapa said the number of civilians who had arrived had exceeded expectations in the cleared areas. “Only around 15,000 remain to be rescued. Those who are rescued (civilians) are now staying at 15 welfare centres located at the Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat and another four welfare centres at Wengalawadikulam Divisional Secretariat Division.

Four more welfare centres are to be set up at Vavuniya. As soon as the International Organisations give clearance assuring that no land mines are there in the area, all these people will be re-located in their original homes.

According to Minister Yapa, media organisations came forward to assist IDPs and there is a huge response from the public for this task. The Armed Forces stopped using heavy arms not because of any pressure but in order to achieve their military objectives. A well disciplined Armed Force never hurt civilians and the foreign ministers of U.K. and France assured that they do not oppose eradicating terrorism. They do not bomb civilians like in Afghanistan where wedding ceremonies and schools are being bombed.

Responding to journalists Minister Yapa said, India and Sri Lanka are two separate countries and Sri Lanka does not need to worry about the Indian Election. The Media spokesman for the Congress Party made a significant statement recently and he stated that no one living in one country has a right to say that he or she will help to divide another country.

He questioned is it acceptable if one says he or she wants to divide India. There will not be a problem between Sri Lanka and India due to these reasons. There is stable relationship between Sri Lanka and India, there is no difference between the stand by the two countries on dealing with terrorism. The LTTE is banned in India. Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman are wanted for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. “Sri Lanka did not reject the visa for Swedish Foreign Minister and only asked him to visit one week later. The request made because there is a difficulty in providing required helicopters, security and other requirements for many foreign officials at the same time,” Yapa said.