Normalcy restored, but still on alert - Major Gen. Liyanage

by Shanika Sriyananda in Minneriya

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A year after the liberation of the East, the security forces while having good coordination with civilians are still on the look out for the LTTE terrorists.

The humanitarian mission to liberate the East commenced with the closure of Mavil Aru anicut and the security forces were able to rout the LTTE in a string of battles - Sampoor, Vakarai, Kokkadichcholai and Thoppigala to liberate people who were under the clutches of the LTTE.

Major. Gen. Janmika Liyanage, the Security Forces Commander of the East told the Sunday Observer that normalcy was restored and people are fully engaged in their day-today activities and the security has been strengthened to prevent any infiltration by the LTTE.

“Some LTTE cadres have left the outfit as we liberated the East and now they are leading normal lives with their families. They have to report to the nearest army camp weekly and we are monitoring their movements regularly”, he said adding that they cannot engage or support terrorism again.

He also said that people of the East, who were battered by the LTTE’s terror were not supporting the outfit any more and they have more confidece in the security forces. “ The LTTE tries to maintain links with their relatives in the East but people have lost faith in the LTTE”, he said.

The security tasks carried out together with the STF have improved and all people who enter the area will be thoroughly screened.

Major. Gen. Liyanage, who refused to admit that the East is fully free of LTTE cadres, further added that there would be one or two cadres trying to create some hiccups in the East.

“What I can say is that the number of LTTE cadres is dwindling and they can not survive as they lack basic needs including water. There were a group of 60 LTTE cadres in the jungle but they have been reduced only to a group of 14 LTTE cadres. some of their intelligence cadres are mingling with civilians now. We are keeping a close eye on them”.

According to the SF Commander of the East, the remaining LTTE cadres who are now in Pulmudai engage in robbery and try to have links with the civilians. “ But this is not possible as the troops are there close monitoring all the movements of the civilians. The LTTE tried to pay double the price and get the necessary items for their survival but have failed as the civilians are not supporting them”, he said.

Explaining the resettlement process he said that most of the displaced civilians have been resettled with the conclusion of mine clearing activities by the army and the NGOs.

He said that over 1,000 families from the Trincomalee town have not been resettled there but they would be relocated in Ralkulam and Pallikuipurichchi areas as Trinco town would be declared a High Security Zone shortly.

“We have already concluded clearing mines in these two areas and the temporary houses have already been put up. A program to construct permanent houses will commence soon”, he said.

He said that in some areas people do not want to be resettled as it would directly affect their livelihood like agriculture and fishing.

He added that land is not fertile enough for cultivation in some of these areas and for the fisher folks the fishing grounds are far from their houses. “At the moment we are discussing with them”.

The mines in Iralankulama, which is known as a heavily mined area will be cleared before November this year while plans are under way to complete de-mining process end of this year.

According to the Acting Government Agent Batticaloa Ms.R. Ketheeswaran, over 111,646 people have already been resettled in six divisions and 3,389 people in Chenkaladi and 8076 people have to be resettled in Batticaloa district.

She said that anti personnel mines need to be removed in Chenkaladi and Kiran areas before resettling the civilians.

One major problem in the Batticaloa district to expedite the resettlement program is the dilapidated road on which the heavy material for needed construction cannot be transported. “ We had a meeting with the Secretary of the Ministry of Resettlement this week and he promised to look into the matter soon”, she said.

The authorities are now having discussions with the relevant institutions including NGOs to provide permanent houses for the people.