Army strength in Jaffna 10,000

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya

The statement that there is an army strength of one to five civilians in the Jaffna peninsula was categorically denied by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday at the Army Headquarters.

The Army Commander at a press conference stated that there was a population of half a million in Jaffna while the strength of the army was 10,000. He added that the Army remaining in Jaffna is confined to barracks.

He also stated that the Army will attend to the matters relating to reconciliation, reconstruction etc according to the needs of society.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya further stated that there is a strong relationship between civilians and the Army in Jaffna. He added that at whenever a need or issue arose among the civilians they come direct to the Army for a solution. He added that so far no civilian has demanded of the Army to leave that area and he stated that they would not allow the Army to leave that area as well. He was responding to a question raised by a mediaman.