http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201108/20110801humanitarian_operation_was_comprehensively_just_defeat_of_the_ltte.htm

Monday, August 01 , 2011 - 11.00 GMT
Defeat of the LTTE
‘Humanitarian Operation was comprehensively just’ ‘Utmost care to keep collateral damage at minimum’

Sri Lanka engaged in a military strategy against the LTTE as a last resort, after enduring decades of violence and terrorism committed against its citizens and the state. The LTTE attacks are illustrative of the sheer scale of intensity on civilians, political leaders, political leaders, political opponents and vital infrastructure, stated ‘Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis: July 2006–May 2009’, a report published by Ministry of Defence today (August 1).
Among the highlights of the report are :
Successive governments of Sri Lanka were willing and eager to negotiate with the LTTE for the sake of achieving peace… the LTTE never intended to settle for anything less than a military victory to achieve its aims of a separate state.
Security Forces took utmost care prior to, during and after the operation to keep collateral damage at a minimum, having regard to the Zero Civilian Causality Policy of the Government.
Sri Lanka used military force at the point when it was necessary to defend its citizens and state from the LTTE.
Military victory required a large-scale, coordinated effort, combining the strength of all three armed forces, a high level of discipline and the use of multiple tactics, adapted for different terrains and contexts.
The report states that despite the enormity of the losses suffered and tribulations endured by Sri Lanka and its people because of LTTE attacks and threats of attacks, successive governments of Sri Lanka were willing and eager to negotiate with the LTTE for the sake of achieving peace. It emphasizes the fact that the LTTE never intended to settle for anything less than a military victory to achieve its aims of a separate state.“Having exhausted all alternatives, Sri Lanka used military force at the point when it was necessary to defend its citizens and state from the LTTE. The amount of force used was determined based on a consideration of the strength, resources and sophistication of the LTTE,” the report says.It provides details about LTTE’s human resources, weapons, funding sources and other resources, and explains why defeating the LTTE could not be achieved with a minimal operation or single act. It says, “military victory required a large-scale, coordinated effort, combining the strength of all three armed forces, a high level of discipline and the use of multiple tactics, adapted for different terrains and contexts”.It states that recognizing the amount of force necessary for a Humanitarian Operation of this magnitude, Security Forces were equally aware of the possible adverse consequences of such force–namely, civilian causalities. “As a result, Security Forces took utmost care prior to, during and after the operation to keep collateral damage at a minimum, having regard to the Zero Civilian Causality Policy of the Government. This is documented by the precautions taken before the operation, the specific guidelines issued and the tactics employed in the Humanitarian Operation”.According to the report, Security Forces have adapted their tactics and the level of force in different environments and at different states of the Operation. “The threat of the LTTE remained until the last hour, and certain success required continued, focused and disciplined force to meet the new challenge created by the LTTE: the thousands of civilians trapped by, and exposed to imminent harm and violence at the hands of a desperate LTTE, had to be skillfully extricated from a precarious situation”, it says. “Security forces successfully met this challenge by using the right amount of force, and minimizing the resulting losses.”“The result for the civilians, and for Sri Lanka, has been overwhelmingly positive. Thousands of lives that would have been lost had terrorism continued and war remained in Sri Lanka, have been saved. The quality of life of all Sri Lankans as well as Sri Lanka’s prospects in the world economy have markedly improved. The positive consequences of the Humanitarian Operation described in this report are representative and not exhaustive; the benefits of defeating terrorism are immeasurable”, the report reveals.In sums up with the conclusion that “from the initial rationale for undertaking an operation utilizing military force, to the amount of force used during the operation, to the eventual result, this report has shown how, in all respects, the Humanitarian Operation was just”. Speaking at the release of this report, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa noted that the rump of the LTTE together with some factions of the Tamil Diaspora aligned with “Western interests” is still working to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka. Rejecting the recent allegations raised by the Channel 4 video documentary as “malign and absurd”, he stressed that the Government has taken the utmost care not only in regard to citizens victimized by the LTTE but also those who were directly connected with the LTTE. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L.Peiris emphasized the need to demarcate between political agenda and genuine concerns with humanitarian norms. He requested the international community to be objective and dispel the mist of prejudice in its treatment of the post-conflict Sri Lankan situation.Present at the release of the report were members of the diplomatic corps, the media, representatives of the clergy and NGOs.