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Rtd officers told to re-enlist in Lanka

The Lankan government called upon retired officers to re-enlist for six months of voluntary service, even as the deadline given by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to the 40,000 government troops defending the northern part of Jaffna peninsula to surrender is set to expire at 6 pm (local time) Friday.

The Sri Lankan defence ministry, in a statement, appealed to the youths to assist the armed forces, and said retired officers would be posted in non-operational areas, enabling it to shift soldiers on security duty to combat zones.

Life in Colombo and its suburbs is normal and there was no panic buying. The war has also not forced the cancellation of conferences and seminars.

A millennium exhibition and seminar on the Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka was inaugurated on Friday, with sizeable participation from India.

Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff Rohan de Daluwatte met soldiers in Jaffna Thursday. A government spokesperson said the visit had boosted the morale of soldiers.

The minister spent time with forces in Messalai and Chavakachcheri where fighting was on.

Defence and government sources said no formal request has been made to India to evacuate troops.

A situation report released by the information department of the government spoke of sporadic artillery and mortar attacks by terrorists on defences manned by troops in Chavakachcheri.

However, troops retaliated with heavy artillery attacks. They also engaged some Tigers in Nagarkovil and near the Navatkuli bridge, killing at least nine of them. In Vanni, four terrorists were killed when troops attacked a rebel bunker.

UNI

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