Rajapakse pays surprise visit to Trincomalee naval base

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 20:16 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid a surprise visit to the SL Naval Base in Trincomalee Wednesday morning and inspected the naval installations and participated in a passing out parade held in the naval base. This was his first visit to Trincomalee after assuming the executive presidency in December last year. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.

Rajapakse arrived in the naval base by Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter.

His visit to Trincomalee came in the wake of announcement by Provincial Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijayawickrema that effort to split the administration of the North East Provincial Council (NEPC) into three, a Special Administration for Trincomalee under him, and two administrations, one for northern province and the other for east, is underway.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Wednesday conducted a house-to-house search operation in areas densely populated by Tamil residents in the heart of Trincomalee town.

Ban on parking bicycles, motor bicycles, cars and other heavy vehicles along main roads in the east port town imposed by SLA and police is already in force.

Police with the assistance of military stopped public buses at every checkpoint in the town. Passengers were ordered to get down and were subjected to severe check.

Related Articles:
12.03.05   Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement