Indian Army Chief visits Northern Sri Lanka

The visiting Indian Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh Friday toured the conflict-affected Northern Province of Sri Lanka to observe the security arrangements and the current developments in the region. The Indian Army Chief visited Vavuniya this morning where he was welcomed by the Commander in Chief of Wanni Major General Boniface Perera at the Security Service Headquarters in Wanni. Major General Perera has apprised the Indian military chief on the re-building of infrastructure, reconciliation, resettlement, rehabilitation, humanitarian assistance, etc, taking place in Wanni in parallel with the government's development projects. He has also explained the issues many of the war-affected civilians are faced with to the Indian top officer. General Singh has commended the work the security forces are providing in the Province and has said that the entire world should be appraised of the progress in the North and East and the service provided to the community by the Sri Lankan Government. General Singh has also visited the Punthottam LTTE Rehabilitation Centre to observe the progress of the reintegration process of the former Tiger combatants and praised the vocational skills and creations of the rehabilitated former LTTE cadres. The visiting officer has later visited Anuradhapura to pay homage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and called on the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana the Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Thera.