Stewart Bell, National PostPublished: Monday, May 04, 2009
The National Post's Stewart Bell was the first Canadian reporter to reach Kilinochchi, once the rebel stronghold of Sri Lanka, since the fall of the Tamil Tigers. This is his report from the front lines of the Tigers' last redoubt.
The road across the salt water lagoon to Putumathalan was lined with soldiers preparing to end a civil war that began so long ago that most of them weren't even born.
Two weeks ago, this sandy quay on the Indian Ocean was in the hands of the Tamil Tigers, but the rebels lost it in a matter of hours, leaving a trail of bullet casings, shot-up vehicles and fallen cadres.
Canada ups aid to Sri Lanka by $3M
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Canada is sending another $3-million in foreign aid to Sri Lanka to help the country meet the humanitarian needs of ethnic Tamils displaced by civil war.
Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation, said in an exclusive interview the money would help pay for food, water, shelter and hygiene kits for 200,000 Tamils living at temporary camps.
"We committed $4.5-million in February and I'm here to meet with the NGO [non-governmental organization] community that we've working with for many years here. They've asked for more assistance so I will be announcing $3-million this evening," she said.
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