In an 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.

"This is a very clear indication of all the precautions we are taking. We are taking casualties to prevent civilians getting hurt. This is a factor we are very concerned about. Otherwise we could have used so much artillery and just moved in," the Defence Secretary has told.

Speaking about the civilians causality figures released by various sources, the Defence Secretary has explained that the number of civilians trapped in the remaining LTTE hiding areas as well as the civilians casualties have been excessively exaggerated.

He has told that the number of civilians trapped in the war zones is between 50,000- 70,000, as over 30,000 civilians have been rescued during last 10 days alone when the Army reached the former No Fire Zone.

However, he has showed that there is a possibility of civilians getting hurt as the LTTE is continuing to hold them as a human shield and shooting at the civilians whoever try to seek refuge with the armed forces. He has explained that the LTTE and the sympathisers have been exaggerating the civilian casualties in order to create a propaganda edge.

"There may be civilian casualties, but not mass (casualties)," The real figures undoubtedly include a number of dead guerrillas who were dressed as civilians and therefore could not be differentiated from non-combatants".

"In one month, we had 1,000 injured. Considering our firepower and the training standards of our troops, there should be more LTTE casualties. Where are these casualties, these bodies? Can anybody say there are no LTTE casualties?" he has told the Reuters.

When asked about the fate of the terrorist leaders, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa has said that the LTTE leader is hiding in Wanni taking cover from the civilians he keep forcibly as a human shield.

"He is still here, but he must be planning to go out with other leaders. They have not decided things ... whether to go, whether to remain here, whether to commit suicide," Defence Secretary Rajapaksa has told during the interview. Basing his comments on intelligence reports collected from surrendered LTTE fighters, civilians who have escaped fighting and electronic intercepts, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa has further said the people were being used to buy time.

"They will keep these civilians as a shield and then once they escape, they will just be let go,"

Coming to his conclusion about the plans of the LTTE leader, he said that The terror chief would try to seek political asylum after escaping via established human smuggling network.

"They can go to Australia, for example. Who knows Soosai or Pottu Amman there? You just give any name and say the Sri Lankan government burned my house and all those things, and you are there -- you are in Australia," he has said.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence