Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has highlighted that Sri Lanka's armed forces have been taking maximum precautions to avoid civilian casualties in the on-going counter terrorist manoeuvre in the country's north.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa has revealed that Sri Lankan military has been prohibited in using indirect fire at remaining terrorist enclaves to ensure the safety of the civilians held hostage by the LTTE there. Further, he has highlighted that soldiers are taking casualties and risking their lives in order to rescue the civilians from the LTTE clutches.