Delay in military operation would have led to 'Eelam': Lanka

I / Colombo May 7, 2009, 16:14 IST

A separate 'Tamil Eelam' could have been a possibility had not the government launched military operations against the LTTE in 2006, when the rebel outfit was strong, a top Sri Lankan defence official said today.     

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the powerful Defence Secretary and brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that had not the security forces started the "Wanni humanitarian operations" against the LTTE on time, "they (the Tigers) would have already set up the Eelam state."     

The LTTE was militarily strong and ruling a territory when Rajapaksa came to power in 2005, he said. However, thanks to the ongoing operation, the possibility of the country being split into two separate states has been prevented, Gotabhaya told the state-owned Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation.     

The President was firm in his decision to eliminate terrorism from the country, he said adding, "suitable persons" were appointed to relevant posts in the defence sector to see a successful end to the terrorist problem.     

Gotabhaya also urged the public not to fall prey to "false propaganda campaigns" of various elements but rely on the security forces.