Tamil Eelam dream still raging says Army Chief

Despite the killings of top LTTE leaders, including its chief Velupillai Pirapakaran, and the decimation of the organisation, the concept of Tamil Eelam has not died out amongst those harbouring it, the Sri Lankan Army Chief warned.

“Even at present those who had connections with terrorists and the Tamil Diaspora overseas are still discussing the possibility of establishing a state of Eelam according to information we received,” Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya was quoted by Zee News as saying.

During his separate interactions with troops at Kallady, Thoppigala, Vakarai and Punani in eastern Sri Lanka, Lt Gen Jayasuriya recalled the numerous sacrifices that continue to be made by the Sri Lankan soldiers – “war heroes” as he called them – at the risk of their own "lives, blood, sweat, legs and limbs", the Army said in a statement.

This is despite the fact that the Tigers' military wing was defeated in May last year, Jayasuriya said during his maiden visits to the Brigades in the Eastern Province.

Stating that the Army has the responsibility to protect the country, Jayasuriya said a large number of troops in Northern and Eastern areas were deployed not for offensive duties but for observations or intelligence duties.

"Specially, if any group takes up arms again as terrorists we must be ready to face such a situation," Jayasuriya said.

He said the Army has the duty to help the police maintaining law and order during election time.

"I believe that the Army troops would continue their normal duties better in the North and East establishing security in the area during election times," he said.

Jayasuriya said that for the convenience of the armed forces, the authorities are planning to establish holiday resorts in the areas where they are not available at present.

He said the land has already been allocated in Nilaveli (East) and Yala (South-east) areas for this purpose.

Tamil analysts questioned whether the land for these ‘resorts’ had been properly acquired or had been appropriated by the Army from Tamil civilians.

Jayasuriya said the salaries and perks for the Army had been increased recently, even as Sri Lanka comes under increasing pressure to curtail its debt and better manage its economy.

The Army Chief said special attention would be given to training in 2010 since the newly recruited soldiers during the last two years did not get proper training as they were engaged in active operations against the LTTE.