LTTE chief’s days are numbered: air force chief

Sri Lankan Air Force chief, Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilleke has said the days of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabakaran are “numbered” and his force would “go all out to get rid” of him soon.

In an interview to the state run English weekly Sunday Observer, he said it was not a difficult task for the Air Force to get at Prabakaran as he was confined to a very limited area in Wanni.

“I do not think it is that difficult for us to get at him now. We will find him somehow soon. We need a great deal of patience,” he said. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told journalists days after the November 2 raid on Kilinochchi in which the LTTE political wing chief Thamilchelvam was killed, that the Air Force would hunt down senior leaders of the LTTE.

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http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/12/stories/2007111254151400.htm

Suspected LTTE men attack fishermen

Suspected LTTE rebels attacked Indian fishermen inside the country's territorial waters off Rameswaram coast and forcefully took away diesel from their boats early this morning, police officials said.

According to officials, the suspected militants carrying country-made weapons, approached around 20 fishermen fishing near Irana Thivu and Natchikuda in five boats, and demanded diesel.

Some of the fishermen who gave diesel stocked in their boats without showing any resistance, were paid by the armed men.

However, militants forcefully took away the diesel from fishermen who refused to give. In this attempt, they also injured one fisherman, Arokiam, by hitting him with a beer bottle.

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http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID

Marvan Atapattu gets his captain and coach's backing

Mahela Jayawardene joined Trevor Bayliss, Sri Lanka's coach, in support of Marvan Atapattu as the veteran opener faced an uncertain cricket future following an outburst in which he branded national selectors as 'a set up muppets headed by a joker'.

Atapattu's fate, whether he remains a member of the current Sri Lankan team in Australia, hinges on what action Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) takes over the remarks. The outburst came at the end of the third day's play of the first Test at Brisbane and has become the key topic of discussion in cricket circles ever since.

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http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/319475.html