No shelling by the security forces

Government has vehemently rejected LTTE claims that the security forces are shelling areas in the North with artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers since this morning. The Media Centre for National Security said this is a ploy by tigers to dupe the world.

Its Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said the government believes the tigers are engaged in a calculated attempt to mislead the world by propagating false media reports through tiger sympathetic media groups. It is the ruse of the tigers to undertake such baseless propaganda, when peace talks are about to resume. The security forces have not attacked any area in the North and East and have no intention of carrying out such attacks. However, in a statement, Mr. Hulugalla said the troops will not hesitate to repulse any tiger attacks. In the past few weeks, the LTTE attacked the troops at several places. These were successfully retaliated and repulsed. The statement further said the tigers attempted to infiltrate the Muhamalai area launching heavy attacks from last night. This was a well-planned attack. The troops foiled their attempts to enter Muhamalai. The support of the Air Force had to be sought in retaliating the attacks. The LTTE has cautioned the government that these developments may be a bottleneck for the proposed talks. But, Mr. Hulugalle added that this is not an impediment for the negotiations.