As more than 35,000 civilians on Monday made a dramatic breakout from the LTTE-controlled areas in Sri Lanka's embattled north, the army showed an aerial video footage suggesting that the trapped Tamils wanted to abandon the rebel-controlled 'no-fire' zone.
The army video footage shot from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of trapped civilians making a beeline for freedom suggested that the innocent Tamils have no interest in staying in the LTTE-held areas, Air Vice Marshal Kolitha Gunatileke told mediapersons on Monday.
"You can very well see and judge whether these innocent Tamils have any interest in staying in the LTTE-held areas,” Gunatileke said as mediaperson were shown the footages from the Air Force headquarters.
The video showed thousands of people running towards army-controlled areas. "We have been told about two suicide explosions in the no fire zone by the LTTE in which 17 people could have been killed or injured," Gunatileke, the Director of Air Operations said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who preceded the reporters in watching the footage, ordered that the stranded people be given food and all necessary items immediately, a senior official told PTI.
The official said although around 30,000-35000 people could have crossed over from the safe zones, we have filtered and checked 19,000 people "who are now under the protection of the security forces”.
{{/usCountry}}The official said although around 30,000-35000 people could have crossed over from the safe zones, we have filtered and checked 19,000 people "who are now under the protection of the security forces”.
{{/usCountry}}