World

Triumphant Rajapaksa visits Kilinochchi

by sudharaka | April 16, 2009 at 03:04 am

304 views | 14 Recommendations | 3 comments

History they say, is made of defining moments.

Today (April 16) Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa, Executive President and Commander-in-Chief of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka visited the town of Kilinochchi, situated 330 kilometers (202 miles) north of Colombo, which used to be the "de-facto" capital of the LTTE's utopian state of "Eelam".

Earlier, on 2 January 2009, the Sri Lanka Army entered the town of Kilinochchi, previously perceived to be an impregnable stronghold of the terrorists.

H.E the President and Commander-in-Chief, Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the recently liberated Northern Town of Kilinochchi today (April 16).

The President made this goodwill visit during the traditional Sinhala and Hindu New Year period to meet with the troops stationed there as well as IDPs and other civilians.

This is the first visit by a Head of State to this part of Sri Lanka after the first Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Mahamanya D.S. Senanayake toured the area in early 1950s.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

israeli.agent

at 07:34 on April 16th, 2009

Hmm..After five decades..!

.Agent.

israeli.agent

at 07:41 on April 16th, 2009

London, Apr 16 (PTI) UK and France today asked Sri Lanka to offer another truce to the LTTE to enable Tamil civilians to make a safe exit from the rebel held areas, even as the European nations blamed the Tigers for "forcefully preventing" people from leaving the conflict zone.
"It is clear that the LTTE has been forcefully preventing civilians from leaving the conflict area and we deplore their determination to use civilians as a human shield," said a joint statement issued by the British and French ministers on the Sri Lankan situation.

Both the countries have asked Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to offer another truce to the LTTE so that the trapped Tamil civilians could make a safe exit from the conflict zone.

"We urge President Rajapakse to announce a new pause . Democratic governments are rightly held to higher standards for civilian protection than terrorist organisations. We also urge the LTTE to allow civilians to move to safety," it said.

They also asked the LTTE to lay down arms while stating that the outfit has been preventing civilians from leaving the conflict zone.