Landmark feat by Lankan forces

Humanitarian operations with utmost care :

Sri Lanka's Security Forces have conducted humanitarian operations in the North with utmost care for the civilians, Minister of Investment Promotion and Mass Media, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday.

He said the Security Forces have earned a name as the most disciplined Army in the world, making every endeavour to maintain zero civilian casualty rate.

He said Sri Lanka has set a record by becoming the first country to eradicate terrorism and the international community has commended the Lankan forces for the manner in which they beat the terrorists.

"Although we have been confronting the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world, the Security Forces have made every possible attempt to avoid civilian casualties. In contrast, the LTTE forcibly held innocent civilians as a human shield," he said.

He added that the civilians under LTTE terror rule were subjected to numerous harassments and their children were forcibly recruited to serve as child soldiers. "The Tigers ever fired at innocent civilians who were escaping to cleared areas. But some countries and politicians project a different picture - either they have been ill-informed about the true situation here or that they are doing so to woo migrant Tamil votes in their countries," he said.

Minister Yapa said the victorious Security Forces diverse the nation's highest tribute for liberating innocent civilians from the clutches of the LTTE terror and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. "Those true sons of our soil have a great contribution, risking their lives, to unite this country. The entire nation, irrespective of their political affiliations, has been backing the battle against terrorism. That was a big inspiration and it combined effectively with the right political and military leadership," he said. He said some countries and politicians are attempting to project a wrong picture on Sri Lanka.

"Successive Governments have made enough and more efforts to talk on peace. But the LTTE has never been genuine in the negotiating table. They only used periods of peace talks to strengthen their military capabilities," the Minister pointed out.

He said the Government had no option but to confront the Tigers militarily when the LTTE deprived civilians the basic need of Water in Mavil Aru. "Ever since, the Security Forces have been engaged in humanitarian operations in the East and North to liberate people," Minister Yapa continued.

Minister Yapa said the LTTE has been wagging a media war as well to discredit the Security Forces and get sympathy.

"But now, all those elements have been defeated and our soldiers have put a permanent end to LTTE terror.

The Security Forces risked their lives in the No Fire Zone as they did not use heavy weapons to ensure the safety of civilians," he said.

He added that the Government will provide all necessary facilities to the IDPs and the resettlement process would be expedited to give the rescued civilians a better living. "We would not only resettle the liberated civilians and assure a better future but they would also get an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights after nearly three decades," he said.

Minister Yapa said once the resettlement process and the infrastructure development are completed, the Government would go ahead with the Provincial Council and Local Government elections in the North.

"We have successfully done it in the East and the same would be implemented in the North as well.

That would enable the people in the North to make an active contribution to the national economy," he concluded.