Chennai Corner

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday night proscribed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the ground that it has been holding civilians human shields in the north where the military is engaged in a war with the Tigers.

A Cabinet meeting presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to ban the LTTE after it failed to respond to his request to allow civilians in the areas under its control to cross over into the government territory.

The ban has been long overdue particularly after the Sri Lankan government unilaterally terminated the Norwegian-brokered 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) stating that the Tigers were observing it more in the breach than in practice.

Meanwhile, the military on Wednesday claimed to have captured Murasumoddai town on the way to Mullathivu amid stiff resistance from the LTTE cadre.

A Defence Ministry statement said the troops continued their offensive march further eastwards after capturing Paranthan and entered Murasumoddai township.

Source: The Hindu