Security in Western Province tightened

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

With the arrest of two LTTE female suicide cadre in Vavuniya, security in the Western Province has been strengthened with frequent cordon and search operations and new checkpoints to prevent sleeper LTTE cadre from carrying out attacks.

Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratne told the ‘Sunday Observer’ that though the Security Forces do not have information about such attempts, the security of the main cities is under the microscope as LTTEers now appear in different forms.

“They are doing odd jobs in different parts of the country and waiting till the time comes to activate themselves”, he said.

The Police have arrested the two female LTTE members following information they had received, but one member had committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule. Later, the Police had recovered a stock of explosives comprising two kg of C-4, three suicide jackets, three electric detonators and ammunition from an abandoned land.

The Police Chief said military intelligence personnel were closely monitoring suspected persons and activities, but emphasised the need for more public assistance and vigilance on suspected people and objects in their environs.

“The security of the main cities including Colombo has not been neglected, but we cannot deploy cops or soldiers to each and every place in the country as we are saddled with many other commitments. Therefore, we need support from the public”, he said.

IGP Wickramaratne said that people should be more vigilant about abandoned houses, small boutiques which have been closed for long and bare lands, which were possible ‘breeding grounds’ for sleeper LTTE cadre.

He said that Police had discovered T-56 guns, explosives and suicide jackets from two such abandoned lands in Mount Lavinia and Wattala. “These places had remained abandoned for many years and had gone unnoticed”, he said.

He said the LTTE had buried or hidden hauls of explosives and weapons in some areas to carry out attacks, but the Police had recovered several such stocks of explosives during the last few months; some of these were after tip-offs by the public.

According to the Police Chief, people should also be concerned about houses which see a lot of activity at night, but remain closed during the day.

He advised the public to inform the nearest Police station or the Army checkpoint about suspected people, objects or activities.

Meanwhile, sources from the Army, in-charge of the Western Province, said that additional troops have been deployed to strengthen the security in the Province with spot checks, additional road blocks and cordon and search operations.