Government's Next Step is to develop the Eastern Province

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

The government will initiate long and medium term plans to develop the Eastern province as all its areas are now being liberated form the terrorist threats, the government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media today (Tuesday the 23rd of January).

Speaking at the weekly press briefing held at MCNS in Colombo the Minister told that the government would first take up infrastructure development activities in the area with swift resettlement of displaced civilians.

Operation Liberation
Commenting on the recent offensive undertaken by the security forces to liberate Vakarai and its environs, the Minister pointed out that it was the duty of any legitimate government to rescue its citizen form any threat or harassment.

"LTTE terrorist had created a serious human catastrophe in the East by applying twofold pressures, one to those Sinhalese and Muslim civilians living in the government controlled areas and the other to those innocent civilians trapped in un-liberated areas in Vakarai" he said.

"Thus, the government had to execute its duty towards its people, and that's what the Commander in Chief ordered the Armed Forces to embarked on" he added.

The LTTE terrorists following their defeats at Mavil Aru and Sampur had started attacking at the security forces and civilian settlements in Batticaloa and Trincomalee South using heavy artillery since October last year. A large number of civilians died and many were injured when the terrorists started targeting schools and civilian houses in Somapura, Kallar, Srimangalapura and Mahindapura areas. Over 7.000 people fled their homes due to these attacks.

On the other hand, LTTE terrorists sealed off the Vakarai and its environs and kept on its cowardly attacks under a human shield. The terrorists closed down A-15 road preventing any aid to reach Vakarai and spread anti personnel mines and booby traps all over the civilian settlements taking over 40,000 civilians at hostage. This resulted in a mass exodus where thousands of civilians started risking their lives to flee into government-controlled areas crossing a dangerous terrain. Over 30,000 civilians made this journey since the 1st November 2005 while few were reportedly killed by the LTTE when caught fleeing its human shield.

Speaking further Minster Rambukwella pointed out that it becomes the duty of the Executive President to protect all the citizens of all the ethnicities as soon as he becomes the President.

" The President is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the 19.5 million people in this country' he said .

"We are delight to announce that our security forces have liberated the Eastern province, we have also captured a large stock of weapons form the terrorists including those heavy guns they had used to pound on the civilian settlements" he added.

Hoverer, the Minster underscored that the recent defensive operations undertaken by the government must not be mistaken as a decision to go for an all-out military campaign or permanently stepping aside form the ceasefire agreement.

"No agreement is above the country's constitution. In the constitution, the top most priority is given to the safety of its citizen. So, the government is only doing its duty," he said.

Propaganda on shelling Vakarai Hospital
Recalling the accusation made by the ICRC and the SLMM that SL Army had shelled Vakarai government Hospital, Minister made an open invitation for all media members to visit the lactation and see the reality of the situation by their own eyes.

"Not single bullet has hit the hospital, you will see once you go there" he said.

The Minister explained that he also had some reservation on army's denial of the shelling since the accusations were made by so called reputed organizations.

"It was so unfortunate to see such reputed organizations are abetting false propaganda of a ruthless terror outfit. You will see who had used the hospital for a military purpose when you come across three LTTE camps built around the hospital within 50-100m distance" he said.

The Minster deplored the sinister motive behind these allegations saying that it was to protect the terrorists and their weapons than to civilians or the hospital. He also requested the media people to tell truth to the world on such abominable acts.

LTTE's duplicity towards the Tamil people
Referring to the recent suicide attack at the Merchant ship, 'City of Liverpool" the minister said that no other evidence is needed to perceive the LTTE's interest in Tamil people's welfare.

"It was a unarmed merchant vessel that carried essential food items to Jaffna people, and LTTE terrorists attacked her because they wanted the Jaffna civilians to suffer" he said.

"LTTE agents boycotted the last Geneva peace talks demanding the re-opening of A-9 road, claiming that civilians in Jaffna are starving. If they have such care on the people's welfare why did they want to destroy a ship that carries food items" he inquired.

The Minster also recalled how the president arranged to send 400 Lorries carrying food items on land route to Jaffna, responding to the requests made by some religious and community leaders.

"The attempt was failed as the LTTE refused to give an assurance that the vehicles will not be robbed by them. It is crystal clear what the LTTE wants from Tamil people, It is their sufferings, blood and their agony that draw the life line for the terror tiger" he said.

The Minister explained that the Tamil civilians themselves have perceived this bitter truth more than anybody else.

"Never in the history had Tamil people refuted the LTTE leadership as they do today. They have now realised that the LTTE is neither liberators nor freedom fighters. That is why the LTTE leadership has stepped up violence against the ordinary Tamil people than any other party", he said.

Donor countries' judgment on the LTTE
Minister Rambukwella also revealed the contents of an independent research carried out by the special representatives of the U.S, the U.K, Australia, Canada and the E.U on the present security situation in the North and Eastern provinces in the Island.

"They have asked the LTTE to stop forcible recruitment of civilians of all ages, exploiting aid workers for terror activities, child recruitment and use of civilians as shields if it need any serious considerations form the respective governments" the Minister said.

" They have also urged the LTTE not to disturb all humanitarian activities of the government and to join hands with the government in such activities" he added.

Finally, Minister Rambukwella expressed his gratitude towards those countries for conducting such independent study and revealed the reality of the country's situation to the world.