Douglas Devananda’s Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) is in the throes of a major crisis.
An influential section wants to break off and function as a different body. But they are worried about security problems.
They are now making approaches to influential sections of the security establishment to ascertain whether their personal protection would continue when they part ways.
The response has been positive.
With LTTE’s “heroes week” under way, there are reports of increased infiltration into the Jaffna peninsula. Security forces have tightened precautions to prevent them from staging any major attack.
In this backdrop, four unarmed soldiers of the Army’s 54 Division chose to go for a walk last week and lost their way. They were ambushed by eight LTTE women cadres. They were unarmed too. The men ran for cover.
Two soldiers returned to camp last Sunday followed by the remaining two on Monday.
Jaffna farmers are now a disappointed lot. They are unable to sell their produce like vegetables to the Army any more.
The reason?
They have no money and the Treasury has not released the required funds.
As a result, Sri Lanka Air Force is airlifting vegetables.
Needless to say vegetable loads deny to soldiers their seats to return home on leave. That is one aspect. The cost, on the other hand, is enormous.
If the first confession of the surrendee has come just before the Committee stage of the Budget, more are being coached for the stage by those why are flying into a rage over the recent exposures. Talk of dirty tricks ? They can give a lesson to even the CIA.
United Kingdom’s Defence Research Agency is now studying shrapnel from the LTTE missile attack on the MI 24 helicopter gunship. They want to ascertain whether it was a Stinger or a Sam 7.
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