By Madura Ranwala

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), in its report had made a number of recommendations with regard to the institutional, administrative and legislative measures that need to be taken in order to prevent any recurrence of terrorism and to promote national unity and reconciliation among all communities.

Taking cognizance of the recommendations made by the LLRC, the Commander of Army Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya appointed a Board of officers to study the LLRC report and to identitify areas that were relevant to the Army. The Board of officers was also tasked with formulating a viable Action Plan to address the specific areas so identified.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya will hand over the report submitted by the aforesaid Board of Officers to the Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today (24) at the Ministry of Defence.

Addressing the media at army headquarters, the army chief emphasized that Tamil speaking people would have equal opportunities as the Sinhalese. Asked whether the Tamil speaking people would get a fair chance as Sinhalese, he said, “the army never restricted any Tamil speaking individual from entering the army but they did not want to be part of the army due to misunderstanding. Actually, the army now has two or three brigadiers who are Tamil and who joined the army during the conflict. So, there were no such restrictions.”

Pointing out the newly passed out ex-LTTE cadres who joined the army recently, he said that there were no restrictions and army would recruit any Sri Lankan who wished to join the army.COURTESY:THE ISLAND