http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110312_02

Hosting WC possible due to LTTE defeat - Shavendra
Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva says the country would have lost an opportunity to host some of the World Cup cricket matches if the government had failed in its mission to eradicate the LTTE.
The former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of SLA's 58 Division was responding to a query by The Island in the wake of latest Indian media reports of joint plans by Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to mount deadly terror attacks on one or more of the match venues.
The LeT is under investigation for Mumbai massacre in late Nov. 2008, while the US holds David Hadley (US national) for helping LeT to plan the operation.
Maj. Gen. Silva said the collapse of the LTTE on the banks of Nanthikadal lagoon in May, 2009 had created an environment conducive for any international event. The soldier turned diplomat said that the army had ensured an incident-free situation, under which Kumar Sangakkara's team could concentrate on the game.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to schedule matches in Pakistan, one of the contenders for this year's championship, citing security fears, paving the way for India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to share matches among them.
Maj. Gen. Silva said that the LTTE had lost its conventional fighting capability along with its sea and air assets and no longer posed a threat.
Another military official said that during the last SAARC summit in July 2008, India went to the extent of deploying warships off Colombo due to the perceived threat posed by the LTTE, particularly its air wing. Sources said that in the previous year, Australia and West Indies declined to play their World Cup cricket matches in Sri Lanka fearing possible LTTE attacks.
Maj. Gen. Silva said that the bottom line was that Sri Lanka's bid to host some of the matches solely depended on the eradication of the LTTE. Responding to a query, the Gajaba veteran said that since the conclusion of war all countries had lifted travel restrictions imposed on Sri Lanka and also did away with damaging war risk insurance slapped on shipping lines operating services to and from Colombo harbor.
Maj. Gen. Silva said that even those Tamil Diaspora elements who lashed out at the government during military operations today visit their homes in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Courtesy : The Island