May 14, Colombo : Sri Lanka Army spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara today revealed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have started to conscript children in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts who failed the GCE ordinary level examinations in 2007.

Citing military intelligence sources, he said the Tigers have banned all children in areas still under its control from sitting for the examination for a second time. He disclosed these facts at the weekly media briefing held at the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) in Colombo this morning.

Brigadier Nanayakkara also revealed that 358 civilians from the LTTE-held Wanni had sought protection from the Sri Lankan security forces since January 1, 2008. He reported that 368 Tiger cadres had been killed and another 438 wounded in counter terror offensives conducted since May 1. Commenting on the security forces’ casualties, he said 41 soldiers had been killed and another 155 suffered injuries during these operations. Further, 17 civilians had been killed and 39 others were wounded in terror attacks during this time, he added.