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Reports indicated that violence was on the rise in the safe zones declared by the government, with twenty-five civilians getting killed and fifty-six injured in Puthumathalan, Mulivaaikal, Irraddaivaikal and Valaingaramadam in Mullaittivu1. The Sri Lankan government meanwhile finally seized the remaining territory under LTTE control in Puthukkudyiruppu with almost 250 LTTE cadres, including several senior leaders, getting killed2.
The government on its part has pledged to improve the condition of welfare centers catering to internally displaced persons (IDP’s) to alleviate the plight of people affected by the conflict. According to government estimates, approximately 62,106 IDPs have reached government-controlled area3.
In other developments, Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella announced that a Parliamentary Select Committee has been set up to examine the writings of journalists who have been contributing articles to foreign non governmental organizations to determine if they were writing pro-LTTE articles4.
- 1. “More than 270 Tamil civilians flee rebel territory in northern Sri Lanka” China View , April 3, 2009 , at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/03/content_11125758.htm
- 2. Last LTTE stronghold falls to Army in Sri Lanka”, Colombo Page ,April 3, 2009,at; http://www.colombopage.com/archive_09/April5153804CH.html
- 3. “Vast improvements in Sri Lanka IDP centers”, Colombo Page, April 2, 2009,at: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_09/April2161523CH.html
- 4. “Sri Lanka Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella” , Nidahasa News,: April 3, 2009 ,at: http://news.nidahasa.com/news.php?go=fullnews&newsid=760