Departing Vanni SLA commander commends LTTE’s cooperation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 December 2003, 06:01 GMT]
“During the last 13 months of my service in Vavuniya, the Sri Lanka Police and the LTTE’s political cadres, who are working in the SLA-controlled areas, cooperated with me. The problems that arose with respect to the LTTE’s peace-related political activities and other issues were solved with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, and we were able to maintain peace and order in Vavuniya,” said Maj. Gen. Susil Chandrapala, the outgoing Vanni commander of the Sri Lanka Army, during a Police farewell given to him in Vavuniya Monday, sources said.

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Major General Susil Chandrapala says goodbye to Mr. Ezhilan, the district political leader of the LTTE in Vavuniya, on Monday at the LTTE's political office in Vavuniya.

It is the duty of the three armed forces to enforce peace and amity. The police have a significant role to play in this. They also have a huge role in restoring law and order. But it is up to the politicians to solve political problems, ” said Maj. Gen. Chandrapala,

Maj. Gen. Chandrapala has been transferred to the SLA’s Jaffna division from the Vanni. The farewell was accorded to him at the office of the Deputy Inspector of Police for the Vanni region. Superintendent of Police, Mr. Ranjit Kasturiarachi, presided over the event.

The DIG, Mr.M.B.Beddewela, senior SSP Mr. Miskin, Vavuniya headquarters Inspector, Mr. Wijenayake, Col. Senanayake, other senior Police and SLA officials, and Buddhist monks participated at the farewell.

Gen. Chandrapala went onto say, “We should work to ensure peace and amity. Any problems arising in the line of duty can be solved through negotiation and compromise. Everybody should jointly work for peace. Compromise is very important. Nothing should be done to affect peace and the security of the people. The same cooperation I had from you all should be extended to the new Vanni commander. “

Following his farewell by the senior Police officials, Gen. Chandrapala visited the LTTE’s political secretariat in Vavuniya and met with the organization’s political head, Mr. S. Ezhilan, who bade farewell to the SLA commander.

As Gen. Chandrapala thanked the LTTE for its cooperation with the SLA despite their wide differences on many issues, Mr. Ezhilan said that despite a huge gap in their views, the LTTE was ready to extend its cooperation to anyone to solve the people’s problems in Vavuniya. According to sources, he said that he was able to have a good working relationship with Gen. Chandrapala, and gave a farewell memento embossed with the Tiger symbol.

Vavuniya DIG Mr.M.B.Beddewela is seen handing over a memento to Maj. Gen. Chandrapala (L) on behalf of the Police. Mr.Miskin the Senior Superintendent of Police Vavuniya is also seen in the picture.