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Secretary Defence Recalls Yesteryear Battlefield Experiences During Visit to Jaffna Fort


Recalling memories of yesteryear when the Jaffna Fort was under siege as terrorists intensified their onslaught against Security Forces, deployed in and around it, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence on Friday (26) visited Jaffna Fort, spent some time and saw for himself how renovation work was progressing there.

Mr. Rajapaksa, now on a two-day tour to the peninsula, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya during his brief stopover inside the Jaffna Fort recalled how he, as one of the Army Commanding Officers, at that point of time, stood firm and mobilised his troops to defend the Fort despite heavy resistance of the enemy.

Mr. Rajapaksa during his stay at the Fort recalled his battlefield challenges at that time and exchanged views with senior officers present, explaining the series of threats that loomed large while under siege.

The visiting Secretary Defence afterwards made a visit to the Cey-Nor fishing jetty and saw for himself how fishing industry continues unaffected in the area after all relaxations were made by the Security Forces.

As the second leg of the day’s itinerary, the Secretary Defence went to see 40 houses, earlier built by the Army for resettled people in Vettalkerni area. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya in the company of Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna explained to the visiting Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa how the housing project came into being due to initiatives taken by the Army.

Mr. Rajapaksa, contended with the achievement of the Army in the peninsula requested the Army to continue its good humanitarian work for the benefit of Jaffna civilians.