http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110711_03

UNICEF report proves lie of exaggerated repetitions of '40,000 conspiracy'

Blowing of the hype of exaggerated repetitions on '40,000 civilian deaths' during the final stages of the Sri Lankan humanitarian campaign in 2009, UNICEF on July, 2011 in its latest analysis report prepared of missing persons accounts the numbers as 2,564 individuals. The report also reinforces the Government's policy on zero civilian casualties endured during the end of the conflict resulting in the world's largest rescue mission.
In its independent report prepared in collaboration with the Northern Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care and Government Agent of Vavuniya, UNICEF reveals that 676 children- of which a staggering 64% that holds LTTE terrorists culpable of forcible recruitment of underage to war.
UNICEF says it launched the project, Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) in Dec. 2009 over 9 districts in response to a spate of tracing requests received since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. It believes in spite of difficulties in tracking down those listed missing; more children could be found and re-united with their families.
To date 78 children were matched and referred to probation for tracing, verification and reunification, UNICEF further reported.
Earlier, Gordon Weiss the Former UN Spokesperson in Sri Lanka in his infamous Channle-4 presence was head over heel alleging security forces as responsible for deaths of 'over 40,000 civilians herded by LTTE in a narrow land stretch'. In response the UN, however, is on record stating that it has distanced itself from Gordon Weiss. Stunned by the UN response, Weiss during a book launch in Melbourne Australia last week, revised his vague figures as 10,000 stirring much controversy.
On 15th February 2006, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Sri Lanka Joanna VanGerpen in a communiqu‚ released stated that, "Over 5,300 child soldiers have been enlisted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) since a truce went into effect".
Full text of the UNICEF's report: 'Overview of ongoing government efforts to trace and reunify children in Northern Sri Lanka".