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Sri Lankan army distribute uniforms to Jaffna school children

The Sri Lankan military's 553 brigade distributed uniforms and equipment to Tamil school children at the J/Uduthurai Hindu Primary School in Thalavady on February 6.

The brigade's commander, Colonel Vijith Subhasinghe and Lieutenant Colonel Upul Satharasinghe were present at the ceremony, the Ministry of Defence said.

Meanwhile however, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, told delegates gathered at a conference in Washington this week that "involvement of the military in civilian activities has ceased". See more of his speech here.

The military's ongoing involvement in Tamil affairs almost 6 years after the end of the armed conflict has been widely condemned with numerous calls for the new president, Maithripala Sirisena to demilitarise the North-East.

Related articles:

Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival (14 Feb 2015)

Sri Lankan army recruits Tamil youth as military tradesmen (31 Jan 2015)

Sri Lankan military must be removed from North, Wigneswaran tells UK minister (29 Jan 2015)

Sri Lankan military taking livelihoods of Tamils says North's chief minister (27 Jan 2015)

Sri Lanka military hands out chickens in Kilinochchi (14 Jan 2015)

Military recruits Tamil youths to work in army farm (14 Jan 2015)

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