Ports and Shipping Ministry Secretary M. N. Junaid said an official statement on the Letter of Comfort would be issued at an appropriate time. Troops, LTTE brace for Wanni showdown By Christopher Kamalendran G overnment troops and the LTTE were yesterday reported to be bracing for a decisive battle in Vavuniya with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran ordering his commanders to prepare for a showdown. With all indication that the battle was about to start, the LTTE chief reportedly conferred with his senior military commanders in the Wanni region and told them to move in cadres from the eastern province for the battle. The LTTE is reported to have already started moving in its cadres from the eastern province to build up its strength to prevent the advance of government troops who seek to establish a road link between Vavuniya and Jaffna through Kilinochchi to enable the much-needed supplies to reach the peninsula without delay. The security forces have acquired at least three government schools in the Vavuniya district.
More schools are to be taken over to station troops who are being moved into the area.
He claimed that troops were planning to occupy the schools for an imminent offensive and thereby deprived the students of their education. The MP said it was only last month that schools were reopened after they were occupied by refugees for more than six months. Divisional Education Director R. Pulendran was on his way to Colombo to lodge a protest with the Education Ministry about the closure of the schools. With both sides set for a major offensive, a massive refugee exodus has been triggered. Civilians at Vavuniya said they did not want to be caught in the crossfire, if a military offensive was launched, and were leaving the area in advance.