SL Security Forces told to strictly observe CFA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2003, 12:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Balagalle, SL Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri and Chief of SL AirForce Air Vice Marshall Donald Weerakody met Thursday with Commanders of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Navy (SLN) and Air Force (SLAF) serving in Batticaloa district and directed them to strictly adhere to and observe the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), security sources said.

The Sri Lanka defense chiefs arrived in a military helicopter and held their meeting at the Batticaloa 23-3rd brigade head quarters, security sources said.

General Balagalle thanked Batticaloa Commanders for observing the CFA without any major violations for the past 20 months and admonished them that disciplined conduct of security forces that will win the hearts and minds of the local residents is the best strategy to adopt during the current climate of peace, security sources added.

This is the first visit to Batticaloa by the Defense Chiefs after Sri Lanka's President took over the Ministry of Defense on 4 November.