LTTE lethal cargo cleared during CFA
The recent recoveries by the Security Forces have made
a startling revelation that the LTTE was in possession of
state-of-the-art weaponry and most modern communication equipment that
have been transported to uncleared areas after getting clearance from
Colombo harbour and Customs, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday(March 6).
Addressing the weekly security press briefing at the
Media Centre for National Security the Minister said that those
communication equipment and most modern printing presses have been
channeled to Tiger controlled areas after they got clearance from the
Colombo harbour.
"Investigations have revealed that some people based
in Colombo had worked in connivance with the LTTE to send those most
modern equipment to uncleared areas clearing paths for them to transport
them from Colombo to uncleared areas," the Minister added.
He said names of who had worked in connivance with the
LTTE to bring in those equipment to the country and transport them to
Tiger controlled areas will be divulged to the public very soon.
Minister Rambukwella recalled that there were certain
instances where LTTE acquired those state-of-the-art communication
equipment with some officials getting involved to clear the path for
them to transport them to uncleared areas.
It was after the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement
during the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration that the LTTE acquired
modern communication equipment and transported them to uncleared areas
through the Omanthai Entry-Exit point amidst protests by the Security
Forces.
The 58 Division troops captured some hi-tech equipment
believed to have been imported to the country during the Ceasefire
period after they found a communication centre in Ampalavanpokkanai area
in the North West of Puthukudiyiruppu on February 27.
Television transmitting equipment with satellite
antennas were found inside this communication centre and later it was
found that they were used to transmit TV programs locally and
internationally to tarnish the image of the Security Forces
internationally.
"Investigations are now on to ascertain who had helped
them to acquire them and transport them to the North after getting them
released from the Customs," the Minister added.
Meanwhile, the Government with the support of the
diplomatic community has launched investigations to ascertain as to how
the LTTE acquired those weaponry including 130 mm artillery guns, light
aircraft and other lethal weapons internationally.
Courtesy: Daily News |
