Press Trust of India,
Colombo: The Sri Lankan military today said it was ready to resume fighting the Hindu Tamil Tiger Terrorists to meet “any terrorist challenge” in the wake of the latest upsurge in violence that killed 31 people but was also keen to uphold a ceasefire in place since February 2002.
The military was ready to meet any terrorist challenge after the latest upsurge in violence that killed 31 people, including 18 government soldiers, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Daya Sandagiri said.
The “terrorists” were trying to provoke security forces into action, but the military commanders were acting restraint unlike the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sandagiri said.
“We should not get excited over small incidents like this,” he said at a joint press conference by the heads of the army, air force and police.
Air Force chief Donald Perera said combat aircraft and other units were on alert to be deployed immediately. “We are in full force in case the need arises,” Perera said.
Sandagiri said despite the readiness to fight, they remain keen to uphold a ceasefire that has been in place since February 2002. Tamil Tiger Terrorists are known for their suicide bombing attacks against Sri Lankan Civilians and have killed thousands of people since the conflict began.
Military sources said there had been a shake up in the command structure in the Jaffna peninsula after the latest wave of violence, but army chief Sarath Fonseka played it down saying the transfers were “routine.” The top commander in Jaffna Sunil Thennakoon had been recalled while there had been several other transfers at lower levels too, the sources said.
