The Hindu Business Line : Troops continue sweep of LTTE-held areas

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Government on Tuesday said though the combat operations in the northern war zone have ended, troops are continuing a sweep to bring about a “total defeat” of the Tamil Tigers in the quarter-century old insurgency.

The Government said these operations were aimed at rescuing the remaining 15,000-20,000 people still held hostage by the LTTE as the United Nations pledged $20 million assistance for providing relief to over 1.7 lakh Tamil civilians who fled the conflict zones.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Sir John Holmes, who was here on a three-day visit, announced $10 million additional assistance besides a similar amount released last week.

“We need to see what does that (the halt in use of heavy weapons) mean on the ground. I hope it means that the intensity of the fighting will be very much reduced. That would give an opportunity for the population to get out safely and indeed there will not be heavy weapons used,” Mr Holmes said, wrapping up his visit.

The defence ministry said that Sri Lankan security forces will continue with their humanitarian operations aimed at rescuing the remaining 15,000 to 20,000 people held hostage by the LTTE, confined to a 5 square kilometre trip of coastal land, despite ye sterday's decision. - PTI

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