The Sri Lankan government is putting the entire country on a war footing to battle Tamil rebels following a series of military setbacks in the northern Jaffna peninsula.
The National Security Act, which took effect on Wednesday, bans all activities designed to encourage terrorism and disrupt the normal activities of the people. The government could also seize property and vehicles, stop sale and distribution of newspapers seen contravening national scurity interests and shut down printing presses.
Rebels have captured several key army camps and advanced to within 40 kilometers of the main northern town of Jaffna, their former stronghold, which they lost to government troops in 1995.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga says the government will take tough new measures to combat the rebels, while continuing unabated efforts to solve the ethnic problem.
The Sri Lankan government is putting the entire country on a war footing to battle Tamil rebels following a series of military setbacks in the northern Jaffna peninsula.
