Sri Lanka rebel chief could be dead in 6 months - army

Sri Lanka's army chief said the leader of the country's Tamil Tiger rebels could be dead within six months and the military's aim is to kill 10 rebels a day, a newspaper report said on Sunday.

Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was quoted by the state-run weekend paper Sunday Observer as saying the security forces have occupied Tamil Tiger forward defence lines and surrounded the northern rebel held Wanni rebel base.

"The LTTE could not prevent losing their remaining 3,000 cadres and there is no assurance that the LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran would survive for the next six months as the Sri Lanka Air Force plans to attack all the LTTE bases," Fonseka said.

The full name for the rebels is Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"Our daily target is to kill at least 10 LTTE terrorists and for the last few months over 500 LTTE ... have been killed by the armed forces," Fonseka said.

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http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-31173820071230

India a major factor in Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa

India is 'a major factor' in any resolution of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict and Sri Lankans must realise this, says Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Asked about India's role in finding a solution to the dragging conflict, Rajapaksa told the state-run Sunday Observer: 'India is a major factor and we have recognised it from the very beginning.

'Lots of people talk about the international community but we believe that India is the major factor in our problem.

'We have to realise the importance of India because it is becoming a superpower,' he added.

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http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20071230/88808.htm

33 terrorists killed, 38 wounded: SLA overruns LTTE stronghold- Mannar

Latest reports state, at least 33 terrorists were killed and 38 wounded yesterday (December 29) when security forces made decisive in-routes towards non-liberated Parappakandal area.

"Troops advanced into Parappakandal West in the non-liberated areas of Mannar, 800 metres forward and took control over a total area of one square kilometre at the moment," Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara was cited speaking to media.

According to military, six soldiers who sustained injuries during the confrontations were admitted to general hospital at Mannar, for further medical attention.

Meanwhile, reports on pro-LTTE news portals monotonously lamented that only three LTTE terrorists were killed in their consecutive defeat within a week at Wanni defences. Earlier, security forces overran Uyilankulama and Thampanai LTTE defences on 22nd December, added defence sources.

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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071230_02

Berghof chief asked to leave

Hot on the heels of SriLankan Airlines CEO Peter Hill being sent packing, the head of the controversial Swiss and German funded NGO, the Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies, had been asked to leave Sri Lanka by tomorrow, an immigration official said. He said Berghof director Norbert Ropers had been given about 20 days notice that his visa would not be renewed on security grounds.

Recently, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had made some critical statements against Berghof Foundation, the German based NGO, that came into the country to promote "good governance". The Sunday Times contacted the Defence Ministry several times to ask why Dr. Ropers was being asked to leave the country, but no clear answer was given.

Lakshman Hulugalla, chief of the Media Centre for National Security was contacted by us on Friday and he promised to explain the position yesterday but did not do so. Like the Foundation he headed, Dr. Ropers also had courted controversy. In May this year he was pulled up by the Parliamentary Select Committee probing activities of NGOs for failing to appear before the Committee despite having received three letters to do so.

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http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071230/News/news0001.html