Colombo: Sri Lankan army has recovered
valuable documents and photo albums belonging to slain LTTE
chief Vellupillai Prabakaran during a search operation in the
former rebel bastion of Mullaitivu.
Besides the documents and photo albums, four video
cassettes depicting Prabakaran`s activities were recovered by
the troops engaged in search operations at Ampalawanpokkanai
in Mullaitivu, military spokesman Maj Gen Prasad Samarasinghe
said.
He said troops also found weapons hidden by the LTTE
during the search operation on Saturday last.
Meanwhile, army chief Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya extended
Sinhala and Tamil New Year greetings to troops in the island`s
North and East.
Jayasuriya, at a function here, ceremonially handed over
parcels containing sweetmeats to representatives of security
forces based in Jaffna, East, Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu and
various other remote areas for distribution among troops.
This year`s New Year celebration for the Army comes
almost after three decades of war, particularly after
elimination of LTTE, the army said.
There had been no New Year holidays for the soldiers
during the war with the LTTE, `The Sunday Times` reported.
"Instead of the sound of fire crackers that heralds the
auspicious time of the New Year, what they heard were the
sounds of guns and artillery fire.
"While the rest of the country looked forward to a new
beginning with fresh hope, our war heroes were away from their
families and friends fighting a bitter battle to save the
country from the clutches of terrorism," it said.
However, those days are no more and the long, anxious
wait for the soldiers and their families to be with their kith
and kin to experience the true spirit of the festive season is
over now, the report said.
"This being the first Sinhala and Tamil New Year after
the war ended, there is a sense of contentment in the
soldiers` families for they know their loved ones will be home
this new year," it said.
PTI
