A dignified person cannot undermine Thoppigala victory - D. M. Jayaratne

By Anura Maitipe

A dignified person born and bred in Sri Lanka cannot undermine the brave victory achieved by the Armed forces of liberating the last stronghold of the LTTE "Thoppigala" in the Eastern Province, the Minister of Plantation D.M. Jayaratne told the Sunday Observer.

It was regrettable that the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had told a public rally "it was a futile battle fought by the Military forces to capture a jungle area in Thoppigala in the Eastern province ".

Following the loss of Thoppigala, the LTTE spokesman Thamil Selvam made a similar comment to foreign delegates who visited Kilinochchi. He said 'Thoppigala is an uninhabited jungle and has no strategic importance in". The UNP Leader and the LTTE spokesman are trying to undermine the victory of the military forces in Thoppigala, he said.

Thoppigala is a centred location of the Eastern Province surrounded by thousand acres of paddy lands with large number of inhabitants. It is a fertile valley of the Mahaweli river. But to the UNP Leader it is a jungle infested with flies and mosquitoes, he said.

People must not forget the fact it was his uncle former President J.R. Jayewardene who merged the North and Eastern province. Wickremesinghe offered it to the LTTE under the ceasefire agreement, he said.