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Despite the on going direct talks between the Colombo government of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the separatist rebel group would continue to strengthen their armed forces. This major policy of the Tamil Tigers was announced by the Trincomalee Commander of the LTTE at a certificate award ceremony to the military training teachers at Senayoor Central College, Muthur in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Paduman, the Trincomalee District Commander of the armed forces of the LTTE reportedly told the awardees of the certificates for training LTTE cadres in the use of heavy weaponry that the separatist group wanted to conduct talks with the government in a position of power and that was the reason why the group was continuing to strengthen its armed forces. A stronger force would increase their bargaining power he said. Intelligence units of the Sri Lanka security forces were continuing to warn the government of the smuggling of weapons and recruitment of personnel by force by the LTTE but the Defense Minister Tilak Marapana and the rest of the government constantly advised the Sri Lanka forces to turn a blind eye to avoid a clash and save the Memorandum of Understanding and the ceasefire with the rebel group. Paduman reportedly told the awardees of the certificates and invited guests at the military ceremony since the Colombo governments in the past had deceived many times the Tamil Tigers without fulfilling their aspirations this time they wanted to be ready for any event. Mr. Sampanthan, the TULF leader, who was present at the award presentation, told BBC’s Sinhala program that this happened because there was lack of trust between both parties. The invitation of the military function that also included the passing out parade of a Tiger guerilla artillery unit said that the mode of their struggle had changed but the times and the determinations were the same. (EOM) (02/09/24 go2lanka.com) |