Shells as souvenirs

Two empty artillery shell cases will be donated to all members of the Army as souvenirs and a mark of gratitude for the sacrifices made by them during the military operations to defeat Tiger guerrillas, the government has decided.

Earlier a Cabinet approval was issued to give these empty brass shells to small industry holders. However this decision was shelved, Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He denied earlier media reports that the Defence Ministry was planning to sell some 41 tons of mortar shell cases as scrap brass to a Singaporean company at Rs. 150 a kilo.