Colombo: Fresh footage available from Sri Lanka now shows how the LTTE is allegedly trying to block the movement of civilians trying to escape from the no-fire zone north of the country.
The pictures clearly show how LTTE cadres shooting at the civilians who have grouped on the beach and trying to get to government controlled area. The footage also shows how thousand of civilians are completely gheraoed by the militant cadres and are being held at gunpoint.
The crisis is a big political issue in Tamil Nadu big enough for the Congress government at the Centre to send the National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary to Sri Lanka on Friday to press for cessation of hostilities.
LTTE chief Prabhakaran continues to remain untraced in Sri Lanka's conflict zone but the government has already shifted it attention to post-conflict situation even as there's relief among common people that war is finally over.
The conflict in Sri Lanka is near its very end but the government has a bigger battle on hand how to handle a huge humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in the country's north. Over one lakh people are without shelter, proper food or medical care.
"There are two things to focus on, eliminate LTTE as a terror org and two, need to resettle such large number of people," said Palitha Kohona, Foreign Secretary, Sri Lanka.
But ordinary Sri Lankans are not bothered about details, most are simply happy that the war has ended.
"End of war good for us," said Sri Lankan citizen.
"Before terrorism, Singhalese, Tamil and Muslims lived together," said another Lankan citizen.
That may take some time but Sri Lanka is on the verge of a turning point in its troubled history.
The Lankan Army continues to look for elusive Prabhakaran and his top leadership but in capital Colombo, the focus has already shifted to the relief and rehabilitation of the Tamil civilians who have escaped the conflict.