Situation calm in Galle

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: The Police curfew clamped in the Galle city in aftermath of the LTTE attack on the Galle Naval Base as a security measure, was lifted at 3.45 p.m. yesterday and reinforced at 7.00 p.m.

"Soon after the attack, ground troops, STF, Army and Navy personnel were deployed to maintain law and order in Galle," SSP Galle Keerthi de Silva said. Two persons arrested by police were being questioned, police said.

The injured were rushed to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital with the Security Forces' help.

The Galle main road and Galle and Matara Road were sealed while the Forces conducted search operations.

Only vehicles carrying airport bound passengers and those on emergency mission were allowed to pass, SSP de Silva said.

"We also turned back school buses, closed schools and evacuated students with the Security Forces' help," he said.

According to the SSP, the situation was brought under control and a joint cordon and search operation was conducted by the Security Forces in the Galle city and its suburbs.