Civilians mark capture of Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 October 1998, 01:00 GMT]
Thousands of people gathered Tuesday afternoon at a special ceremony in Kilinochchi town, conducted to mark the Liberation Tigers' capture the Kilinochchi-Paranthan last month, said sources. The occasion was presided over by one of the LTTE's political section officials, Selvam Mama.

The Consortium for the NGO's in the Kilinochchi District had organised the function said sources. The chairman of the NGO Consortium Pon.Vinayagamoorthy delivered a speech, they added.

Senior LTTE officers, including Commander Geethan and Women's wing Commander Mayoori attended said the sources.

Musicians from Mannar performed for the crowd, they added.

Pulaendran, an official of the LTTE's Education Division handed over a trophy to commemorate the victory at Kilinochchi to LTTE Commandar Vithusha, to be presented to LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, said sources.

Meanwhile, another civilian who went to inspect his house at Jeyanthipuram in the Kilinochchi area stepped on a mine and lost his left leg in the explosion.

The victim, Jeyabalasingam Kajendran of Sivanagar Uruthirapuram, had been displaced by the fighting and had recently been living at Ambalaperumal.

The LTTE has advised civilians not to return to areas of Kilinochchi which are yet to be cleared of mines and booby traps left by retreating Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops.