July 31, Colombo: A top defence delegation led by Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today toured Mannar and Vavuniya in the restive northern region.

Military sources said the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and senior Army officers “extended their warm greetings and plaudits to advancing ground troops in the Mannar sector for their string of military successes in the most recent past.”

“The top-level defence official and military chiefs as first leg of the tour was also meant to promote the morale of the ground troops fighting the most ruthless terror outfit in the world further, and map out future strategies to continue their forward march, in order to salvage besieged Tamil civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts while bringing peace to the north of Sri Lanka, military reported.