Operations will cease only after civilians are liberated from LTTE
Ongoing operations in the north will conclude only after the people in the area are liberated from the grip of the LTTE, Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.He pointed out that the LTTE threat to Jaffna ended with the security forces capturing Pooneryn.
He also said that the Jaffna-Pooneryn A-32 road is being renovated at a cost of around 500 million rupees.
Rs. 500 million to upgrade recently liberated land route to north
With the opening of the 81 km long A-32 land route linking the Northern peninsula with the rest of the country, the Government has allocated Rs. 500 million for the upgrading of the road system, Defence Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.He also emphasized that a fully fledged mechanism is in operation regulated by the Government while a separate programme has been introduced to look into the needs of the persons displaced due to terrorist activities in the region.
“About 309 civilians have crossed over to the Government controlled areas seeking the protection of the security forces via the Omanthai entry/exit point and the current development will continue in the upcoming weeks, resulting in more civilians to reach the liberated areas,” he said.
While commending the move of the Government of India to provide 900 metric tons of essential items to the needy in the north, Minister Rambukwella said that Government is pleased about the assistance granted by the Indian Government at a time when Sri Lanka is engaged in an endeavor to eliminate terrorism in the country.
Minister Rambukwella emphasised that it is the due responsibility and wish of the Government to ensure that all the citizens of this country enjoy the benefits of a peaceful environment.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Govt. targets USD 3 billion in foreign exchange
The Government is confident of earning a net annual revenue of three billion US dollars in foreign exchange this year, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotions and Welfare, Keheliya Rambukwelle said in Parliament today (18).“The Government has formulated a National Policy on Foreign Employment in consultation with all relevant parties. Apart from this, several other initiatives have been taken for the welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers.”
Minister Rambukwelle noted that the “National Policy on Foreign Employment” was formulated with taking into consideration all relevant socio-economic aspects of Sri Lanka an in accordance to the directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Accordingly skilled Sri Lankan migrants have received job opportunities in several countries outside the Middle East including in South Korea, Poland, and Japan.
The Government has taken measures to reduce the number of female migrants leaving mostly for Middle Eastern countries as domestic helpers by 15% bringing the rate to 48% from the existing rate of 62% the Minister noted.
The Ministry has taken several fresh initiatives to train and educate Sri Lakans planning to migrate for foreign employment by conducting orientation programmes at the district and regional levels while setting up new centers of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employments, he revealed.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Mankulam captured
The entireMankulam area along the A9 road was captured today further cutting off supplies to the LTTE, Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle confirmed.
Courtesy: Dailymirror
Govt reiterates stand on CFA : LTTE must disarm
The Government’s firm stand on the Ceasefire Agreement is unchanged, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said adding there will not be peace negotiations with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrenders.
Addressing the media yesterday on the weekly security situation at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few days certain elements behind the LTTE proposed a CFA with the LTTE. “This was the normal practice of the LTTE when they were defeated militarily and weakened. They call for peace negotiation to halt the offensive and avoid the Security Forces’ humanitarian mission to liberate uncleared areas.
Our leaders experienced this during the last three decades,” he added. “Whenever the LTTE proposes a CFA, it always ends it with destruction and a calamity to the Government, public and sovereignty of the country,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.
Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government categorically rejects any peace negotiation settlement with the LTTE unless the Tigers lay down arms and surrender to Security Forces. “When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office he immediately extended an invitation for peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President called the LTTE to the negotiation table in Geneva. The CFA was abused by the LTTE in many occasions since then,” the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella said during the CFA the Jet Liner ship carrying unarmed forces on holiday and a Navy medical team had come under LTTE fire.
A vegetable market too was bombed in Jaffna. 17 Commandos were killed in an attack, then an attempt was made to assassinate the Army Commander finally and Mavilaru sluice gate was attacked to disrupt the daily life of people who depend on farming.
Following these abuses of the CFA by the LTTE, the Government had decided to erase terrorism and liberate civilians from the LTTE clutches. “The East was liberated and the democracy had been restored. The Easterners were allowed the franchise and their political rights restored, the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella stressed that the North will be liberated and the humanitarian mission will be continued by the Security Forces. The Government has no any intention to negotiate with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrender. We embarked on an humanitarian mission in the North and troops are successfully marching forward and are now in the victory of Kilinochchi.
The entire North and our brothers and sisters entrapped in the Tigers’ grip will be liberated in near future. Democracy will be restored in the North as in the East,” he added.
Courtesy : Daily News
