Referring to a story spread this morning that two LTTE light aircraft were spotted in Anuradhapura, Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said it was a false and mischievous rumour. Around 5 am today, the Air Force was having their usual air practice, so that if any suspicious aircraft appeared in the sky they would have spotted it.

The story that was spread in the early hours today was only a mischievous rumor. No aircraft was spotted in Anuradhapura, said the Minister addressing the media in Colombo, today.

Referring to reports of a child soldier present at the funeral of the late S.P. Thamilselvan, former head of the LTTE’s ‘Political Wing’, the Defence Spokesman said as it is known that the LTTE uses children both as combatants and human shields, it was strange that no agency or organization advocating human rights raised an issue of human rights violation in this instance.

“Not a single worthwhile vibrant voice was raised against this matter. There were mothers, and mothers with infants used even in military operations, but the silence over such activity, was rather shocking and regrettably sad.

“Recently, Alan Rock who visited Sri Lanka said that the Government of Sri Lanka was helping Karuna’s faction to enlist child soldiers. This was detrimental to the sovereignty of a Government which had no connection to such activity.”

Speaking on the security situation, he said the LTTE has been trying to cross the Forward Defence Line at Muhamalai for the last one and half months. More than an attack, it was an attempt at entering Sri Lankan territory held by the Security Forces, the Minister pointed out.