23 February 2010 03:00 pm
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake revealed that according to intelligence reports, several LTTE suicide bombers had crossed over to Colombo following the war and their whereabouts are still unknown.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mirror Online Prime Minister Wickramanayake said that the authorities were trying to trace these cadres and till such time they are found, the military would be on high alert.
“The matter of suicide bombers is a dangerous problem. If we cannot trace where they are then that means they are going all over. We do not know at what moment they will strike that is if they still have their weapons. Therefore we are on the alert,” the Premier said.
When questioned of a threat of an LTTE uprising, the Prime Minister added that according to the same intelligence sources, some Sri Lankans who were living overseas had been collecting funds but the reason for such a collection was still unknown.
“The same sources indicate that Sri Lankans who are living in foreign lands are getting together to collect funds. So whether these people are trying to group themselves there, I do not know,” Prime Minister Wickramanayake said.
He further said that according to intelligence reports, active LTTE cadres were still amongst the IDPs camps in the north which was one of the reasons why resettlement had been delayed. “Our intelligence indicate that LTTE cadres are still in the camps. This is why we have not been able to completely resettle the IDPs,” the Prime Minister said.
Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya had also earlier in the month warned that the concept of Tamil Eelam had not died out against those harbouring it.
“Even at present those who had connections with terrorists and the Tamil Diaspora overseas are still discussing the possibility of establishing a state of Eelam according to information we received,” Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya had said.
Further stating that the Army has the responsibility to protect the country, Jayasuriya had said that a large number of troops in Northern and Eastern areas were deployed not for offensive duties but for observations or intelligence duties. (Daily Mirror online)