Army Chief to visit battlefront

Army Commander, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka will meet the soldiers in the operational areas as the "first priority" when he resumes duty.

General Fonseka, who is expected to resume duties full time from tomorrow said bombs will not deter his commitment. He said he would continue with army reforms he began before he was wounded in a suicide blast April 25. He said he was aware of the difficulties faced by the soldiers in the face of spiralling violence committed by the LTTE and its civil militia.

"We have equipped the troops to face this new claymore threat and equipment and convoys would gradually be added," he said.

He said a new set of armoured personnel carriers would be added to face mine threat and an accelerated program was under way to build home made "Unicorn" buffles.