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'Mly operations

against Tamils to

be intensified'

COLOMBO: Military operations against Tamil Tiger guerrillas in northern Sri Lanka will be intensified shortly, Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte told parliament on Tuesday.

But he said he was unable to reveal details of planned offensives for security reasons.

Military officials have said they were planning a major offensive against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in the eastern half of the Jaffna peninsula, the guerrilla's northern stronghold.

Last week, the military said it was asking civilians to stay away from rebel camps as these were likely to come under artillery or air attack without notice.

The announcement, as well as a remark by Ratwatte that he would end the ethnic war before the traditional new year on April 14, have been interpreted as heralding an onslaught against the Tigers.

The military has poured troops into northern bases, residents have said.

Tamil Tiger guerrillas were withdrawing arms dumps and moving civilian supporters from the Jaffna peninsula ahead of the imminent army offensive, residents said on Monday.

But the rebels' clandestine radio, Voice of Tigers, said on Friday it believed the military had postponed the offensive due to heavy casualties in the past few months.

The government on Monday extended a state of emergency nationwide because of what it said were Tamil rebel plans to stage attacks, especially during coming local polls.

But Ratwatte, speaking during the monthly debate to renew the emergency, said it was extended islandwide because of the need to detain rebel suspects outside the north and east, where the LTTE is fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils.

The state of emergency, in effect in Colombo and the north and east for one year, gives the police and armed forces wide powers of arrest and detention and allows the president to make regulations, including the cancellation of local polls.

The rebels have stepped up attacks in recent months and on January 31 blew up the Central Bank, killing almost 100 people.-Reuter