Army finds LTTE Multi-Barrel at Thoppigala

Troops conducting search operations in the Thoppigala jungle have found a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) of the LTTE terrorists in the Omunugala area a short while ago, today ( July 18).

The MBRL is one of the important items of heavy armour of the LTTE terrorists, and had been used against both troops and civilians.

According to Defence sources in the East, the troops had dug up the MBRL which was found dumped at a location close Omunugala, West of Narakamula. This is part of the heavy armour the LTTE had abandoned when it fled the Thoppigala jungle as troops moved in for the final assault on Baron's Cap.

The LTTE terrorists had damaged some of heavy armour and vehicles they left behind as they fled Thoppigala. It is believed that some more heavy guns of the terrorists could be lying hidden in the jungle terrain of Thoppigala. More search operations will be under way to recover these.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070718_06
and
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6576

JHU to demand Rs. 2.5 bn from Ranil

The Jathika Hela Urumaya is planning to claim Rs. 2.5 billion as damages from Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for what the party saw as defamation of its five Parliament members.

Dismissing Mr. Wickremesinghe’s recent accusation that JHU leaders had sold their luxury vehicle permits to outsiders, the party’s Legal Advisor Udaya Gammanpila said MPs could not sell vehicle permits given to them for five years.

He said none of the JHU members used the luxury vehicles imported. Thus, JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, Ven. Omalpe Sobhita Thera, Ven. Kotapola Amarakitti Thera, Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera and Minister Champika Ranawaka would send letters of demand claiming Rs 500 million each.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/18/front/07.asp

AFP DISTORTS: IT'S THE COMMANDO FLAG, NOT THE TIGER FLAG

On 16th July 2007 the AFP on its website news report has made a serious distortion in its caption given to the photograph, appearing with the news of the capture of Thoppigala.

The caption, in question, mentioned that the troops are holding the LTTE Flag, along with the National Flag. Whereas the troops are proudly hoisting the National Flag and the Sri Lanka army Commando Regiment Flag, (not the LTTE Flag.)

This is a clear case deliberate distortion of facts, done with a view to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka Army and to belittle the significance of the capture of Thoppigala, which is the culmination of the humanitarian mission of the liberation of the Eastern Province from the clutches of Tiger terrorism.

Photo and news extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6637