" Yet another Hospital has been shelled" - another disinformation campaign fabricated by the LTTE for international consumption

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Colombo, 13 May, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lankan Army sources describe it as yet another canard and fabrication the news item prominently carried on some international media on Tuesday that a hospital has been shelled inside the conflict zone by the Sri Lanka Army, killing at least 45 persons, according to LTTE and alleged hospital sources.

Military sources said they had penetrated LTTE defence lines and were advancing along a coastal strip to the south of the area still held by the LTTE, and where a large number of civilians are still held hostage by the outfit.

The military had observed the LTTE cadres laying booby traps to destroy buildings and also carrying out suicide bomb attacks causing considerable injury and damage in the area where they were fast losing control of.

The LTTE pressure groups could be using fictitious images of such damage to bolster their false claims of another field hospital being attacked, Sri Lanka Army sources said.

International news agencies underscore that the UN has condemned as a "bloodbath" a similar report of an alleged attack by Security Forces last Sunday (May 10) killing more than 300 persons and injuring , nearly 1,200.

Just as these figures of killed and injured were attributed to a non-existent doctor Shanmugarajah in the battle zone, the latest report of an attack on a hospital killing 45 has also been attributed to a non-existent doctor or health worker by the biased news agencies sympathetic to the LTTE.

The Ministry of Health has already stated that there is no such doctor called Shanmugarah as mentioned in the earlier (May 10) report in the area.

In the meantime the Press release issued by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights on the question of the credibility of Dr Shanmugarajah revealed as follows:

"No contact with Provincial or National Health authorities since October 2008

"The Secretary to the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Dr. H.A.P. Kahandaliyanage, has questioned the veracity and credibility of statements attributed to a doctor said to be working in the no-fire zone in north-eastern Sri Lanka. He says: “I wish to draw your attention to a statement released by one Dr Shanmugarajah, allegedly a District Medical Officer (DMO) of a hospital in the Mullaitivu District, that has been circulated to foreign media agencies. I am made to understand that in this release it is stated that indicscriminate shelling and firing by the Security Forces of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has resulted in more than 300 civilian agencies."

"The Health Secretary goes on to add that: “The Provincial Director of Health Services in the Northern Province has informed me that though a Dr Shanmugarajah had worked as a Medical Officer in the Mullaitivu District, he has had no contact with the Provincial Health Authorities or the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition since October 2008. Therefore no credibility can be given to statements released by Dr Shanmugarajah in any capacity."

"Cautioning against reliance on the statements made by this person, Dr Kahandaliyanage states: [T]he international community should view this and future statements if released by this alleged DMO, Dr Shanmugarajah with caution, as the Provincial Health Authorities and the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition has had no information as to the existence and whereabouts of this officer since October 2008, and is of the view that such statements are being made with the vested interest of bringing disrepute to the GOSL."

- Asian Tribune -