September 25, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 17, 1423

BATTICALOA, Sept 24: The Sri Lankan military escorted over 250 hardcore guerillas belonging to the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the eastern Batticaloa region to the LTTE-controlled Killinochchi on Tuesday in what was hailed as being akin to blasphemy.

The LTTE men were heading to Killinochchi to organize the celebration of the LTTE’s “heroines day” in the entire north and east on Oct 1 for the first time with the blessing of the government.

A spokesman for the army said the troops gave protection to the guerillas on a request by the LTTE hierarchy following fears of attacks by Sinhalese extremists.

The LTTE observes heroines’ day to commemorate the death of its first female fighter, Malathi. She died at the hands of the Lankan forces in 1987.

Sources in the LTTE said the group had informed the government that it would hold marches and hoist its flag on the occasion.