Never withdraw troops from the north despite demands by Europe and other countries: President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will not withdraw troops from the north despite demands by Europe and other countries.

Speaking at an election rally in Ruwanwella this evening, the President said that there have also been demands to reduce the number of troops by 50 percent, but he and his Government have refused to do so. He said that the army still has a role to play adding that one reason why some want the army out of the north is to divide the country.