Apr 16, Colombo: Marking the first ever visit to the former rebel capital by a head of the state for almost three decades, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa toured the recently liberated northern town of Kilinochchi today.

Accompanied by his military commanders and the Defence Secretary, the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan security forces, met soldiers, stationed in the former rebel city and inquired their welfare and other facilities. "The President's intension was to share thoughts and feelings with heroic soldiers striving hard to protect the sovereignty of the nation, and to encourage civilians who fled from the LTTE hoping for a new lease of life," the Defense Ministry said.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Donald Perera, Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Police Chief Jayantha Wickramarathna, Director General Civil Defence Force Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara were also present at the occasion. Kilinochchi was captured by the security forces on January 02 this year as a part of the current military operations to eliminate terrorism from the country.

The President visited the LTTE's Peace Secretariat as well as the Kilinochchi Hospital during his two-hour visit to the former rebel citadel. On his return to Colombo, the President had his lunch at the Wanni Army Headquarters and addressed the troops there.

Picture courtesy of Sri Lanka Army web site, newly designed by LankaPage.com in gratitude to the gallant soldiers of Sri Lanka