SL re-imposes ban on Tamil Tigers
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was banned by the Sri Lankan government late on Wednesday night, reports Sutirtho Patranobis.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was banned by the Sri Lankan government late on Wednesday night.
The ban coincides with the Sri Lankan army (SLA) making steady progress into territories till recently held by the LTTE.
The ban was announced by minister Maitripala Sirisena at a briefing this evening, making Sri Lanka the 31st country to ban the Tamil Tigers. He said the ban was being imposed because civilians were not being allowed to leave areas till controlled by the LTTE.
The ban could also mean that the SLA would step-up its operations against the rebels. The ban on the LTTE was lifted here during the 2002 ceasefire with the government but was not imposed again after the fragile agreement fell through in January 2008.