Come over to cleared areas: Rajapaksa to Tamil civilians

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today appealed to the Tamil civilians, still trapped in the No-fire Zone, to come over to the “cleared areas” and assured that the government will ensure their safety.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today appealed to the Tamil civilians, still trapped in the No-fire Zone, to come over to the “cleared areas” and assured that the government will ensure their safety.

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“I appeal to every one of you to come over to the cleared areas,” Rajapaksa said in a Tamil language appeal, which was airdropped in the small patch of LTTE-controlled area.

“I am aware of the tremendous difficulties faced by the civilians who are unfortunately still being held hostage by the LTTE in the “no-fire zone”, he said, adding “your suffering is prolonged by this action of the Tamil Tigers who are holding you as a human shield for their own safety and security”.

Appealing them to come over to the government-controlled area, the President said “my government will continue to give utmost priority to ensure the safety and welfare of each and every one of you”.

Meanwhile addressing the Lankan working class in his May Day message, Rajapaksa said “we fearlessly stood up to a brand of terrorism that the entire world believed was invincible. As a result we have been able to step boldly into the Year of Freedom”.