Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday told of the media that civilians trapped in LTTE held areas would be helped to reach government administered regions in the Vanni. The Defence Secretary said the SLAF would shortly drop leaflets urging the people to evacuate areas where security forces were battling the LTTE.

He said the geography of Vanni, a jungle covered terrain is the key factor in the way of the IDPs path to safety. They are faced with no other option but to retreat along with the LTTE when the government troops move forward.

Food and shelter were being provided for people in liberated areas. Measures are also being taken to ensure that the internally displaced persons living in LTTE held areas too were given food and medicines with assistance of NGOs serving in those areas.

Fielding questions, he said the fighting was slow as the government troops were bent on ensuring that there was no loss of civilian lives. Our aim is to win the area with "zero civilian casualties." The troops are taking care not to cause damage to any buildings in the Vanni – "which is very important in the long run." The defence secretary pointed out that even websites that were anti government such as the Tamil Net had taken note of this fact, he said.