The Government strongly denied TNA MP Mr. R. Sampanthan statement that the government’s Military operations carried out with harassment to the civilians, said Minister Keheliya Rambukwella Defence Spokesman at a media briefing held at the Media Center for National Security yesterday.

“The government is taking every effort to ensure the safety of the civilians by declaring a safe zone. Hence Mr. R. Sampanthan's allegation that the government has shirked its responsibility and shifted the blame on the LTTE is a distortion of facts which misleads the international community. The statement is irresponsible and unfounded and so is detrimental to a sovereign nation”, he added.

The Sun TV operating from Vavuniya was banned because it does not have a license for telecasting. It is not the location but the absence of a license that led to the ban explained the Defense Spokesman.

According to Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, The uncleared area is now limited to about 100 sq km where the Army’s 53,55 and 58 Divisions and Task Forces 2 and 4 are engaged in operations.

Meanwhile, civilians are trekking towards the new safe zone which is between 20 to 22 Sq. km Aerial observations confirm that large numbers are moving towards the safe zone.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that already 35,756 civilians had entered the cleared area, 3848 in January and 31908 this month. All these civilians are looked after and have been registered and directed to welfare camps where they are provided with basic facilities medicine food etc. 1611 sick refugees have been rescued by the Security Forces and transferred to Vavuniya and Trincomalee hospitals with the support of the ICRC, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.