By Xinhua,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan government on Monday warned the public to be vigilant against a perceived major attack by Tamil Tiger rebels.
Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told reporters that intelligence sections have warned of a major attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the next 48 hours.
“We have received information and it is our duty to protect state institutions,” Abeywardena told reporters.
However, trade union leaders dismissed the warning as a political ploy to disrupt the scheduled one day token strike later this week.
The main left party the JVP or the People’s Liberation Front backed by the main opposition United National Party has given notice of the strike for July 10 to protest high cost of living and other pressing issues.
The government maintained that the trade unions must not organize strikes at a critical time when the government has reached a decisive stage of its military battle against Tamil Tiger rebels.
The police also claimed that public cooperation is needed to protect civilian security in view of threats coming from LTTE rebels.
The police said that the rebels may try to disrupt life in the south in view of provincial elections in the North Central Province and the south eastern Sabaragamuva Provinces scheduled to be held on Aug. 23.
Having taking control of the whole Eastern Province from the LTTE in July 2007, the troops are currently battling the LTTE in the north with the aim of totally crushing the organization.
The LTTE has been fighting against the government since the mid-1980s to establish an independent homeland for the country’s minority Tamils, which led to the death of more than 70,000 people.