'Tamil civilians asked to cross over to govt controlled areas'

T V Sriram
Colombo, Sept 5 (PTI) As the Lankan forces moved deeper into the rebel Tamil Tigers stronghold of Kilinochchi, the Country's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked civilians in the LTTE controlled areas to cross-over to government controlled areas.

Rajapaksa told the Tamil population that the army would ensure their safe passage. His offer came as his military continued it's push to into the L.T.T.Es headquarters of Kilinochchi and nearby Mullaittivu.

The government forces are encountering stiff
resistance from the Tigers who have deployed all their
resources to guard their nerve centre.

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited civilians in
the North and the East forcibly detained by the L.T.T.E. to
come and reside in cleared areas as a safe passage has already
been ensured by the Security Forces," Media and Information
Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said.

The Minister told reporters that the Government has
taken all possible measures for the well-being and protection
of civilians and that the Security Forces are capable of
eliminating terrorism.

"They are not very far from achieving this goal,"
the Minister said in significant comment apparently implying
that Lankan Army advances was progressing well.

"We will be able to experience a terror- free country
very soon enabling all communities to live together without
any fear," the Minister said. PTI TVS