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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Air Force Assists in Hostage Rescue Mission

AIR FORCE spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said the Air Force has contributed to the largest hostage rescue mission by using its close surveillance and air transport. 

Addressing the media yesterday at the MCNS , Wing Commander Nanayakkara said that the Air Force has airlifted over 238 sick and wounded civilians from the NFZ to the Anuradhapura hospital in their hostage rescue mission. He said the Air Force supported in the hostage rescue operation by providing close surveillance of LTTE activities and civilian movement in the NFZ, as well as air transport. 

Wing Commander Nanayakkara noted that 20,000 packets of dried food items were being airlifted from Anuradhapura to Killinochchi daily. 

Another 6,000 cooked meal packets were dispatched yesterday by MI-17 helicoptors from Colombo to Killinochchi on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake. 

Navy spokesman Commander Mahesh Karunaratne said around 6,000 civilians escaping the LTTE were rescued by naval troops. 

“Special arrangements have been made to treat and provide essential at two naval points in Point Pedro and Pulmodai upon the arrival of displaced civilians,” he added. 

He observed that naval troops were facing obstacles and difficulties in rescuing civilians who are coming by sea, though LTTE suicide cadres were coming posing as civilians. A special naval vessel has been deployed to identify LTTE suicide cadres”, he added. 

Meanwhile, he said civilians are taking a risk to reach the safe area by taking the sea passage. 

They have to spend at least seven hours to reach the shore.Commander Karunaratne pointed out that throughout the humanitarian mission, the Navy has kept in place special arrangements to assist civilians fleeing the LTTE. 

Naval personnel and vessels along with stand-by rescue and medical teams have been on special deployment for this humanitarian assistance mission in the North-eastern seas. (Courtesy: Daily News)