Air strikes pound LTTE satellite, communication center and meeting place

Sri Lankan Air Force jet fighters pounded a LTTE satellite communications and coordinating center in Dharmapuram area, North East of Kilinochchi today (26) at 7.20 a.m.

The air strike was carried out after confirmation of information and intelligence gathered that the center was also as a clandestine meeting place for LTTE leaders.

Air Force pilots affirm that the air strike was a success.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=8836

LTTE loses 19,887 cadres in 25 years

The LTTE has lost 19,887 cadres including S.P. Thamilselvan in the past twenty-five years according to the list of dead cadres released last week. The list is released by the organisation annually in November, according to reports from Killinochchi.

The list of dead cadres released during the outfit's so-called 'Martyrs' week' in November coincides with the birthday of LTTE leader V. Prabakaran on November 26.

This year's list of dead cadres of the LTTE indicates that from November 27, 1982 to November 20, 2007, 19,887 LTTE cadres were killed in clashes with the Security Forces, reports said.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/11/25/sec01.asp

LTTE suffering heavy losses, says Colombo

At least 57 cadres of the LTTE and three soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army were killed in fierce fighting along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the north in the last three days, the military claimed on Saturday.

A report by the Defence Ministry maintained that the LTTE continues to suffer “heavy losses”’ as the security forces’ hold in the northern region is getting stronger.

“Despite the absence of a major counter terror offensive in the part of the security forces, the terrorists have been getting soaring death and casualty figures in scattered and intermittent clashes occurred along the Wanni and Northern Forward Defence Lines”, it said.

The Ministry said that over 57 LTTE cadres were killed and at least another 16 were injured in sporadic clashes in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar from Thursday morning to Saturday afternoon.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/25/stories/2007112556391400.htm

President leaves for Iran tonight

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take wing to Tehran late tonight, for a high-level four-day state visit during which he will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, defying what diplomatic sources say were heavy ‘representations’ from the US to defer the visit.

The relatively miniature Presidential delegation, which will include Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, leaves the Ugandan Capital of Kampala at midnight tonight, where Rajapaksa was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Four media personnel are also scheduled to leave for Tehran with President Rajapaksa’s delegation.

The US Government recently imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran after it refused to suspend its controversial nuclear programme and is reported to have brought heavy pressure on Colombo about cancelling the visit. However, the US denies the claim, while authoritative diplomatic sources told The Nation that the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Ministry had managed to allay US fears ahead of the President’s visit.

Read more,
http://www.nation.lk/2007/11/25/news17.htm

Wimal Weerawansa's special statement in parliment regarding UNICEF - 12/11/2007