Colombo, 26 August,(Asiantribune.com): Aerial bombing of targets within the areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has exposed the vulnerability of Tamil rebel outfit. Sri Lanka Government embolden by its initial success with precision bombing on several targets, continued to pound yesterday the LTTE base located in the east of Iranamadu. Reports reveal that bombings have destroyed several camps there.
Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said yesterday that Air Force planes carried out an air strike on an identified LTTE target in Kilinochchi. "We had information that they had some unauthorized air assets, and as they pose a threat to our Palali air base and to the region, we have conducted an air raid," he said.
Brig. Samarasinghe reported that the air strike hit its target, situated near an airstrip north of Kilinochchi, successfully. The Air Force yesterday also carried out a bombing campaign over other LTTE positions.
Meanwhile MV Mercs Ruhuna, the food ship that sail under the ICRC flag from Colombo on 22nd arrived in Jaffna yesterday, was anchored off the jetty at Point Pedro, on the northern edge of the Jaffna peninsula. It began to ferry ashore around 1,500 tonnes of food for Jaffna residents. Workers began unloading the food yesterday afternoon. They will be distributed among the civilians in the coming days.
According to K.Ganesh, Government Agent of Jaffna, unloaded food items are being first taken to the Government warehouse at Kondavil and from there they will be distributed to the various primary cooperative societies within the Jaffna district for distribution to the people.
Furthermore, according to the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury S.B.Divarathna another 900 metric Tons of wheat flour and other essential food items, medical equipments and drugs will be carried soon from the Colombo port to Jaffna. These items will be distributed at the Killinochchi and Mulaithivu districts by the respective Government agents.
It is reported that another vessel from Trincomalee sailing under the ICRC flag is on its way to Point Pedro to evacuate foreign nationals stranded in Jaffna after the recent spurt of hostility between the Sri Lanka Government Forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels.
According to the Government Agent Jaffna about 161 people, mainly foreign nationals stranded in Jaffna would be allowed to travel on the ship to Trincomalee.
All those passengers are asked to assemble at the Hospital Road in Jaffna and after the security check they will be taken to Point Pedro by CTB buses to board the ship.
"The vessel is expected to reach Jaffna in the evening", said ICRC field coordinator Serge Thierry, one of the three staff members from the organization on board.
Once the ferry returns to Trincomalee, the evacuees will be transferred by bus to Colombo under ICRC escort.
Yesterday, while speaking to the media, Jeff Taft-Dick, country director of the World Food Program told that the displaced people in Sri Lanka have began to increase.
According to the UN Food Agency Fighting between the Tamil rebels outfit and the Government Security Forces has forced at least 204,000 people from their homes in the eastern and northern parts of the country.
The figure rose from about 182,000 to 204,000 in just a week and the numbers are still increasing, said Jeff Taft-Dick. He cited the most recent figures from the U.N.'s refugee agency.
In the meantime, Security Forces have further relaxed the curfew in Jaffna for convenience of the general public. Curfew in force in Vadamarachchy and Valikamam areas has been relaxed from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. and in Thenmaradchchy area from 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Saturday (26).
- Asian Tribune -
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