LTTE’s 18 Base falls and troops advancing in MANNAR

today(30) morning advancing troops commenced in the North West of GIANT TANK, MANNAR captured the LTTE’s 18 – Base in VEPPANKULAM area and brought the entire area under control.

Due to the confrontations LTTE has recorded many casualties and reported at least forty LTTE carders have perished including a LTTE leader.

Six valiant soldiers were reported injured in the battle field and they were rushed to the hospitals.

Also the Air force MI- 24 fighter jets carried out air strikes on two LTTE gun positions in KARUKKAKULAM and CHALAMPAIKULAM areas.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12136

Troops Advance Further into Tiger Strongholds

FIERCE OFFENSIVES still continuing in areas northwest of GIANT TANK in MANNAR sector at the time this report was pasted Wednesday (30) at about 2.30 p.m. (local time), have been pushing Tiger terrorists further into the northern jungles after intensifying pressure on them.

Resisting troops advancing into PARAYAKULAM, KARUKKAKULAM and KATTANKULAM areas in the area which were regarded as LTTE strongholds led to heavy fighting between the enemy and the troops. So far eleven terrorists have fallen dead in the fire directed by the troops who were effectively assisted by artillery and heavy guns.

Terrorists with their twenty over injured fellow-soldiers were heard retreating further into the interior in un-cleared areas vacating their bunkers and trenches.
Army offensives commenced around 5.15 a.m. Wednesday (30) after the first light.

Up to now four Army soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment with their injuries sustained in the confrontations.

The operation was still in progress.

Extracted from,
http://army.lk/morenews.php?id=12817

Artillery attack by LTTE, Army retaliate

LTTE terrorists have been launched sporadic artillery attack at TISSAPURA, PADAVIYA area since 9.30 a.m. in the morning today (30) from un-cleared areas. A 66 year old civilian was injured in the attack. He was admitted to SRIPURA hospital.

The Army troops are engaged in successful retaliation.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12134

Wimal and Nandana join hands against Somawansa

JVP dissident group leader Wimal Weerawansa said he plans to form a new political movement if the party leadership fails to approach them for talks before 1st of May.

"We are waiting for a green light from the JVP to patch up the problem. But the behavior of the party never shows a green light. Even yesterday some of the JVP supporters have threaten the dissidents. If it will fail he will form a new political party with the support of the National patriotic Movement," he said.

Already the dissidents have started discussions with Ex-JVP front liner and former Presidential candidate Nandana Gunathilaka to get his support.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10836

Sri Lanka supports Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy

Sri Lanka said Tuesday that it supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy by Iran within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's two-day state visit to Sri Lanka, "the two sides confirmed the full and non-discriminatory implementation of Article IV of the NPT on peaceful nuclear co-operation."

They also stressed the importance of global nuclear disarmament, particularly the need for the nuclear powers to destroy their nuclear weapons, based on the decisions of the relevant international meetings.

The two countries "recognized the inalienable rights and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people at the highest level, and will continue to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people."

The two countries also expressed the hope that the differences among the different groups in Palestine will be resolved amicably.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/30/content_8076902.htm

Mervin in car accident

It has been reported that Minister of Labour Dr. Mervin Silva has been involved in a car accident at Dehiaththakandiya a few moments ago.

The Chairman of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha has died in the accident and Dr. Mervin Silva has been injured in the accident say reports reaching us.
Dr. Mervin Silva is being brought to Colombo at the moment.

Read more,
http://www.lankatruth.com/
Photos,
http://www.lankadeepa.lk/2008/05/01/front_news/tem.html

Three arrested in Britain over Tamil Tiger probe: police

Three men were arrested in London and Wales Tuesday as part of a long-term police investigation into the Tamil Tigers guerrillas in Sri Lanka, Scotland Yard said.

The trio were arrested following dawn raids on homes and business addresses in Newtown in Wales, in Mitcham, southwest London as well as raids elsewhere in Surrey.

Two men aged 39 and 46 were arrested at separate addresses in Newtown. A third, aged 33, was held in Mitcham. All three men were arrested on suspicion of the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

"It is not linked to Al-Qaeda-type activity or inspired terrorism. It is in relation to support, procurement and fundraising for a proscribed organisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers)," a police spokesman said of the arrests.

"This is part of a long-term investigation into alleged funding and procurement activity in support of terrorism overseas and two people have already been charged in connection with this investigation," he added.

Read more,
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQZP1kwk5u23VQ2V4WJijiLyspAA

Sri Lanka, Iran sign six agreements

The visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa witnessed the signing of six agreements between the two countries and vowed to push the relations to a new level, officials said on Tuesday.

The officials from the Sri Lankan presidential secretariat said among the major agreements were financial assistance for the expansion of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery and the Uma Oya project, Iran's development assistance to Sri Lanka, and the establishment of a political consultation mechanism.

Addressing journalists after bilateral talks and the agreements signing ceremony, Ahmadinejad pointed out that comprehensive cooperation between the two countries would provide security for both.

"We are seeking justice and fair play in the world. Sri Lanka and Iran have agreed to cooperate in all spheres for the mutual benefit of each other," said the Iranian president.

He said there had been a constructive dialogue for the betterment and economic prosperity of the two countries whose cooperation has been increasing, and has the capacity to increase further.

Rajapaksa thanked his Iranian counterpart for the economic aid.

Read more,
http://finance.indiainfo.com/2008/04/29/0804291127_iran_lanka.html

LTTE used youth as `cannon fodder`: Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka has slammed the LTTE on the question of recruiting child soldiers, saying the rebel group had used the nation's youth as "pawns and cannon fodder" in its "brutal operations" against the state.

"Sri Lanka has, for the past three decades, been faced with a threat by the most brutal terrorist organisation in the world -- a terror outfit that does not hesitate to use our youth as pawns and cannon fodder in its brutal operations to attack the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country", Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President, who was addressing the seventh meeting of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers here yesterday, said the government realised the danger warfare posed to children and youth.

the Lasting consequences of the brain-washing of child soldiers is such that even in adult life, many of them remain committed to violence and terror, he said.

Read more,
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=439581&sid=SAS

Turning tables on terrorism

We, the ordinary Sri Lankans, knew without an iota of doubt who assassinated Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and why they did so. But a small minority of individuals - certain discredited politicians and biased journalists among them - in the immediate aftermath of the attack which was carried out by a suicide bomber (the suicide bomber is the hallmark of LTTE terror) tried to obfuscate the real state of affairs by diverting public attention elsewhere.

While the majority grieved over the death of Mr Fernandopulle and fourteen others with him in a terrorist suicide bombing at the start of a sports event at Welisara that fateful morning on Sunday 6th April, these malicious people seemed to gloat over the mayhem (with a self-congratulatory sense of being vindicated no doubt).

In order to play down the gruesome carnage they depicted it as yet another incident in what they claim to be a pattern of tit for tat violence between the Government and the LTTE; and by refusing to unequivocally blame the terrorist organization for the crime they insinuated that the government could have some complicity in it.

Browsing different websites on the Internet only a few hours after the bus bombing at Piliyandala today (25th April) I saw hints of the same sort of response from covert champions of terror shedding crocodile tears.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/28/opinion2.html

Iranian president arrives in Colombo

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Monday evening arrived in Colombo on a two-day official visit.

He was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. The Navy accorded a Guard of Honour by offering 21 gun salute to the visiting President.

Behnam Behrooz, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sri Lanka was also present at the airport to receive the visiting president.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, the president would hold talks with his counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri and Foreign Minister Bogollagama.

Read more,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0804287728174308.htm
photo,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0804287728174308.htm

Soldiers guarding Madhu church fear LTTE mines

Soldiers guarding the historic church of Madhu, which was liberated by Sri Lankan army recently, still fear attacks from LTTE militants, who have reportedly planted mines around the vandalised complex.

The Sri Lankan army, which took a media team from Colombo, did not allow the journalists to stay for long in the Church as they feared attack from the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The media team was asked by a brigade commander to cut short the queries and leave the place to avoid any problems.

"They (the LTTE) must have got aware of the presence of this meeting. We should not take any chances. Let us leave the place," the official said.

Though the LTTE fighters have abandoned the place and have moved way ahead, the military says it is taking no chance due to the guerrilla instinct of the tiger rebels.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804281655.htm

Save innocent civilians from LTTE - Anandasangaree

I strongly condemn the explosion in a C.T.B bus at Piliyandala that took the lives of 26 innocent civilians and left over 60 seriously injured. This is undoubtedly another savage act of the blood thirsty LTTE, TULF leader V. Anandasangaree stated yesterday.

Is it with these barbarians that the International Community wants the Government to start talks with? In all seriousness I wish to pose a question to the International Community as to what it intends to do with the people who had fled their traditional places of residence for fear of the LTTE and are living with the Sinhalese and the Muslims peacefully in the South, he said a news release.

Also I wish to know what the fate is going be of those in the Eastern Province, just liberated and of those who fled the country out of fear for the LTTE and wanting to return when peace is restored.

Read more,
http://www.mulpituwa.com/?viewnews=12921

Sri Lanka ready to welcome Iranian president

The Sri Lankan government said Monday that it is ready to welcome Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamadinejad who will arrive at Colombo for a two-day official visit Monday afternoon and unveil several Iran-funded projects.

Sri Lanka's Department of Government Information said in a statement that Ahamadinejad will be welcomed at the airport by SriLankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, followed by meetings with President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

On Tuesday, the Iranian president will inaugurate the Iranian funded 450-million-U.S. dollar Uma Oya irrigation project in Wellawaya in central Sri Lanka which will add 100 megawatts of power to the national grid.

The other major project due to be inaugurated on Tuesday by the Iranian president is the expansion of the Sapugaskanda refinery near Colombo which will make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in aviation fuel and bitumen.

The project envisages increasing the daily output capacity of 50,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels of refined oil.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/28/content_8066465.htm

Air Force fighter jets target building close to Iranamadu LTTE runway

Air Force fighter jet aircraft targeted a building close to the IRANAMADU LTTE runway in the morning today (28) at 9.45.

Air Force Pilots confirm that the target was engaged successfully.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12083

Vigilant civilians avert terrorists attack - Galgamuwa

A cowardly bloodbath planned by LTTE terrorists was foiled as vigilant civilians in the Galgamuwa town, found a bomb inside a crowded bus stand this morning. According to the police sources in the area two T-81mm mortar bombs were found trapped with a timer around 6 am. The timer had been fixed to explode the bombs around 7.30 am when some 7000 schoolchildren throng into the area, said the sources.

According to the police, "the bombs were wrapped in a brown paper sheets and placed inside a cardboard box as to show it as a gift pack. Unless for the vigilant civilians and for the efficient police officers in the area, hundreds of civilians including schoolchildren would have been killed, the sources added.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. The outfit's most favoured target in it s cowardly attacks has been civilians, particularly the women and children. The outfit has murdered tens and thousands of innocent civilians in village massacres, bus bombings, train bombings, and suicide bomb attacks.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080428_01

WFP to cut down food to Sri Lanka, say reports

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it is forced to cut down its rations to about one million Sri Lankans who are currently being fed in the North and East, as prices of essential grain are hitting record levels around the world.

WFP Country Director Mohamed Saleheen told local media that it would “suspend their food-for-work programme to about 175,000 people in the war-affected regions from May 1 and reduce rations of others from 1,900 kilocalories to 1,665 kilocalories per day per person.”

However he said that they would continue to assist the priority targets such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, the economically displaced, pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under five, and school feeding, which he termed as “absolutely imperative”.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April27125242JV.html

LTTE drops 3 bombs in Welioya: no damages caused

Despite heightened ground confrontations between troops and LTTE at the Wanni battle theatre, it was reported that 3 bombs were dropped by LTTE today (April 27) at the military forward defence lines in Welioya at around 1.45 a.m.

According to military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, no damages were caused to own troops in the aerial bombing.

"During the wee hours the SLAF air defence network radars detected 2 light aircraft of LTTE which were airborne and heading towards Welioya. In accordance with standard operating procedures, SLAF interceptor aircraft were made airborne in the direction of the intruding enemy craft. However, enroute to the area it was observed that the LTTE air craft were fleeing and heading back", air force sources were quoted as saying in a press release issued.

Earlier, on Saturday LTTE suffered heavy beating by SLA infantrymen when troops successfully thwarted two pronged LTTE offensive attempts to breach the military defences at Welioya.

Read more,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080427_01

Iran-funded project in Sri Lanka to become operational

Iran-funded multi-purpose Uma Oya Project will commence on Tuesday when the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially inaugurate the mega development project in Sri Lanka.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in the island on Monday, April 28, 2008 on a two day official visit. During his visit President Ahmadinejad will hold talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on issues of bilateral interests, official news website of Sri Lanka reported.

After completion the Uma Oya project will add 100 megawatts of power to the national grid. This will be the longest ever hydro-tunnel built in the country. The dam which would be constructed across the Uma Oya in Puhulpolla, Welimada, in the Uva Province, will irrigate the Kirindi Oya reservoir in Wellawaya.

The project will also provide potable water, irrigate and facilitate agriculture and other industries in the Uva and southern provinces. The project will generate both direct and indirect new job opportunities to the region and open doors for new development programs.

It will also irrigate 5,000 acres of paddy fields in Handapanagala in Wellassa, 2,000 acres in Kuda Oya, and also develop Athiliweva and Maagal Oya.

Several bilateral agreements will be signed during the Iranian president's visit.

Extracted from,
http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/menu-234/0804264491172834.htm

Government handed over Madhu Church to trustees

Sri Lanka Army opened Madhu Church for its trustees in this evening. Area Army commander and senior officials along with the trustees of the Madhu church attended this simple ceremony, our reports said.

The government said liberation of the Madhu Church precincts from the terrorists marks a watershed in the Northern war theatre. The troops trod with utmost caution in the sacred area, honoring a No Fire Zone arrangement, which the LTTE unfortunately violated. The soldiers ensured that no harm was caused to the Sacred Shrine, renowned throughout Asia.

The Army faced a formidable task vis-a-vis Madhu. The LTTE had heavily mined the area. The slightest propaganda by the troops and any damage to the Church would have sent the LTTE misinformation network into hyper drive. It is to their credit that they managed this feat without literally falling into the traps laid by the LTTE, physically and metaphorically.

Extracted from,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10764
photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/26/z_new350.jpg

'Lanka bus explosion LTTE's revenge killing'

Sri Lankan army on Saturday said the deadly explosion in a passenger bus near here on Friday which claimed 26 lives was a "revenge killing" by LTTE which lost more than 160 fighters in clashes at Jaffna.

"The LTTE seems to have resorted to such a cowardly act by undertaking bomb explosion in a bus targeting innocent civilians due to huge casualties it suffered during Wednesday's clashes in Jaffna. It seems to be revenge killing," a senior defence official said.

While the army lost 70 soldiers with five still missing in the attack on Muhamalai and Kilali in Jaffna, the death toll of the LTTE in the fighting is estimated at 160, according to the official.

With the death of two more people today, the death toll from the bomb that ripped through a bus at Pliyandala about 17 kms south of Colombo rose to 26. Around 62 people were injured in the attack.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the packed bus, saying the militants had once again resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy setbacks on the battlefield.

Rajapaksa said the attack clearly showed the LTTE was not ready to abandon violence and destruction even though the Government had repeatedly pledged its commitment to peace.

He asked the people to raise vigilance in order to help troops to foil "terrorists" destructive plans.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804261521.htm
Photo,
AP

piliyandala bus bomb -photos

photos from,
AP , http://www.lankadeepa.lk/2008/04/25/front_news/04.htm and http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080425_02

LTTE terrorists commit bloodbath against civilians; many killed and wounded - Piliyandala

LTTE terrorists have carried out a cowardly bomb attack targeting innocent civilians who were returning home after office hours at Pliyandala this evening. According to the available information the bomb has been exploded inside a Ceylon Transport Board bus parked at Piliyandala, public bus stand.

Several civilians have been killed and many injured in the explosion. The injured are being rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital .

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit notorious for crimes against innocent civilians. In its pursuit for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils, the outfit has killed and maimed over tens and innocent people in routine bus bombing , train bombing, village massacres and etc.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080425_02

Claymore mine defused

Today around 4.10 p.m. (25) on civil information to the Wolfendal street, Police road block, police searched a suspicious parcel and recovered a 11 kg claymore mine.Conceled in the parcel.

Later Special Task Force Bomb Disposal team defoced the claymore mine.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12028

Army liberates sacred Madhu shrine from terror clutches

Sri Lanka army has liberated the sacred Madhu shrine by beating off the occupying LTTE terrorists today morning (April 25). The soldiers of 8 Sri Lanka Light Infantry reached the shrine as the terrorists beat a retreat unable to withstand the army advance.

The centuries old Catholic shrine is held sacred and respected by all Sri Lankans irrespective of religion and ethnicity. Thousands of pilgrims used to visit the shrine, especially during the church feast in August, before the terrorists took control of the area in 1999.

As LTTE terrorists unleashed their "Final War" in 2006, the church became a sanctuary for thousands of civilians who wanted to avoid their children being conscripted by the terror outfit. Later, LTTE agents acting under religious fa‡ades, evicted these civilians and unashamedly made many of them to fall prey to the terrorists.

Gradually, the terrorists almost turned the shrine into a terror base by positioning its heavy guns around the church and using it as a barrack for its cadres. Though this desecration has been carried out for last few months the fact was kept secret from the general public until the sacred statue of Our Lady of Madhu was shifted two weeks ago.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080424_07

Madhu church captured

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) formations deployed in the Mannar district captured the Madhu Church today evening. The holy shrine and the surrounding area are now under the complete control of the army.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters who had camped inside the no-war-zone departed the area in face of the army advance. It was initially feared that the tigers would blow the church before the army captured it. According to our sources the church has not been seriously damaged in the countless artillery duels which took place in the past several months.

Read more,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/04/madhu-church-captured.html,

http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/04/breaking-news-army-captures-madhu.html and

http://www.lakbima.lk/articles/news1.htm

Sri Lanka not worried about possible Indian intervention

The Sri Lankan government said Thursday it was not worried about the resolution passed by an Indian state to intervene in Sri Lanka's escalating conflict between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman was reacting to a resolution adopted by the Indian state of Tamil Naducalling on the Indian central government to play a proactive role in Sri Lanka.

Rambukwella told reporters that Sri Lanka understands the political compulsions in neighboring India in getting drawn into action with regard to the conflict in the island, "but the Indian government stands supportive of our campaign to eliminate terrorism," Rambukwella said.

India's Tamil Nadu state assembly headed by its Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi adopted the resolution on Wednesday.

"India should arrange for talks between the two parties and help arrive at a political solution," the resolution said.

Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state across Sri Lanka's northern border, is home to over 50 million Tamils with ties to Sri Lankan Tamil community.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/24/content_8044537.htm

SLAF bombards Black Tiger training facility- Mankulama

Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets made precision air sorties this morning (Apr 24) at what was identified as a 'black tiger' training facility, located at Pannikkankulama, North West Mankulama junction, in Mullaittiuvu district.

Speaking to defence.lk Air Force Spokesperson Andrew Wijesooriya said, the target was engaged by SLAF fighters at around 6.20a.m. According to defence sources, the air raids were conducted on reliably obtained information of intensified terrorist activities in the area.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080424_04

Heavy casualties in Muhamalai battle

Both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) have suffered heavy casualties in the fighting that raged along Muhamalai and Kilali defence lines since yesterday (23rd) dawn.

Nearly 120 SLA soldiers have either been killed or gone missing in the operation that lasted for 10 hours. 370 soldiers are reported to be wounded. Around 250 of the wounded are in P1 (Seriously wounded) and P2 (Less seriously wounded) categories. In addition to these casualties, 4 main battle tanks (excluding the T-55 that was lost on the 22nd) of the army have also sustained damage. LTTE casualties stand at 52 killed and an unknown number injured.

SLA soldiers who valiantly battled it out on a terrain which the enemy had the advantage, even managed to storm the first LTTE defence line on two fronts. The LTTE, employing a similar tactic it used back in 2006, withdrew to secondary lines and brought a large volume of artillery fire on the troops consolidating newly captured positions. It was this rain of artillery shells that caused most of SLA casualties.

Extracted from,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/04/

LTTE offensive attempt thrashed: 52 LTTE killed, many injured - Jaffna

Jaffna theatre of battle heated up since early this morning (April 23), as Sri Lanka army 55 and 53 divisions put- on stiff resistance to an LTTE embarked fresh offensives at the Army forwards defences on the Muhamalai and Kilaly frontiers. According to the defence sources in Jaffna heavy fighting broke out between troops and LTTE since 2 am this morning, as troops mounted retaliatory attacks at the offensive LTTE formations.

According to latest information LTTE suffered severe beating and were pushed some 500m back from its initial positions. Seizing the opportunity SLA broke the LTTE's first line of defence in the Muhamalai front, and are now engaged in consolidating the defence lines, security sources said.

So far, 15 soldiers have laid their lives while 74 suffered injuries and some of them have been air lifted to Colombo national hospital. Meanwhile, monitored radio communications and ground sources have confirmed that 52 LTTE terrorists have been killed and many injured in the latest skirmishes in Jaffna, Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080423_03

Once again, LTTE with Qatar, Libya & Eritrea against Ethiopia & Sri Lanka

Funny how we never realize the inside international politics until some major event happens, like the Ethiopian closure of diplomatic ties with the Qatari royal government. A few months ago, no one knew (at least i didn't) if the Norway-LTTE-Eritrea link existed until Ethiopia told six Norwegian diplomats to leave the country.

A brief research allowed us back then to see Eritrea's role and Norway's symapthy for separatist movements that isolated Norway's pro-LTTE policy from the rest of the European Union (EU). Norway's sympathy for OLF and ONLF (and its Eritrean financers) got it kicked out of Africa's capital - Addis Ababa. Now yesterday's top news brings us to another interesting connection. That is between , the LTTE and Libya, Qatar, Eritrea against Ethiopia & Sri Lanka.

This time, it takes us back 8 years to the Eritrea vs Ethiopia border war. When Ethiopia used its coffee income and hardwon money to buy weapons and tanks from China and other countries.

Guess what? Eritrea was getting everything FREE from Libya and Qatar ! Apparently, both Eritrea and Ethiopia also bought military stuff from Russia. But again, the difference is Eritrea gets its funds with no sweats from Qatar and Libya. Eritrea also forces its Diaspora to pay large amount of tax...while Ethiopian government asked for Ethiopian Diaspora volunteers.
Read more,
http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=4519

Priyanka –Nalini Meet May Provide LTTE Advantage on Local Support Issue

Priyanka – Nalini recently held meet has strained in Murugan and Nalini marital relations.

The scheduled permitted meeting under prisons rules was fixed between husband wife facing death sentence in Rajiv Gandhi assassination April 19, could be made possible because refusal of both to meet each other.

It is to remember here that jail authorities have allowed both to meet once in every fortnight and in last meeting after much publicized Priyanka – Nalini meeting on March 19, both were seen in full fight mood with heated word exchanges.

Nalini has declined even to meet Murugan’s London based brother Arputham Kuildasan and mother Perarivalan on April 15.

Read more,
http://abclive.in/abclive_national/priyanka_nalini-ltte.html

Sri Lankan military battle tank destroyed in north: LTTE

The Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday claimed to have destroyed a main battle tank of the Sri Lankan Army during a clash with advancing government troops close to their forward defences in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

'A Sri Lankan Army tank was fully destroyed at Muhamalai Forward Defence Line (FDL) Tuesday morning around 7.30 a.m. when Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) anti-tank unit confronted the army soldiers who attempted to break the Tiger FDL,' pro-LTTE Tamilnet website reported, quoting LTTE sources.

'The Sri Lankan Army has sustained heavy casualties in Muhamalai,' the Tigers said, giving no details of their own casualty figures.

The LTTE's fresh claim comes in the wake of escalating clashes between the advancing government troops and the fighting formations of the LTTE in the northern Wanni, Jaffna and northwestern Mannar region, leaving thousands of combatants killed and wounded over the past year.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, however, denied the latest claims by the rebels and said that 'the military have never used battle tanks in these areas'.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080422/113017.htm

Bhagwati panel exit won't affect Commission's work: Lanka govt

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said the exit of the International Group of Eminent Persons appointed to monitor a Commission looking into human rights abuses in Sri Lanka would not affect the functioning of the panel.

"The departure of IIGEP does not in any way adversely affect the ability of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to carry forward its inquires and investigations in keeping with international standards," the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters.

However, the IIGEP head and former Chief Justice of India, P N Bhagwati told reporters that the CoI had been slow to respond to the panel's recommendations.

"We don't see a point of carrying on our role further," Bhagwati said.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804222074.htm

Nedumaran holding multiple Indian passports

According to sources close to former LTTE international finance head Emdon Seevaratnam, the seventy five year old pro LTTE activist in Tamil Nadu Pala Nedumaran is in possession of multiple Indian passports. He had applied to the British High Commission in Chennai with one passport for entry clearance to the UK which was refused on the grounds of his involvement with the proscribed LTTE. A refusal stamp had been duly placed in the passport preventing him entry to the country.

Pala Nedumaran had used another Indian passport to apply for visa to enter France at the same time. The French Embassy in Delhi without assessing his bona fides granted him the Schengen visa. Schengen visa facilitates the traveller to freely visit any European Union countries without further visa’s or entry clearance from the visiting EU country within the duration of the visa given by one Schengen country.

Having visited France and participated in political activities of the LTTE, the controversial leader arrived at the Heathrow Airport with the Schengen visa. Pala Nedumaran is on the Immigration alert system due to his involvement with the LTTE and when he reached the Immigration desk at the airport the computer alerted about him. He was said be taken in for questioning and held for three hours.

Read more,
http://www.srilankawatch.com/index.php?

Catholic Bishops ask LTTE to vacate Madhu precincts

The Security Forces have not engaged in any offensive within the area of the sacred Madhu shrine but the LTTE had taken control of the Madhu church and removed the statue of Our Lady of Madhu into an uncleared area.

The Security Forces’ operations map to liberate the Wanni front does not include the sacred Madhu area considering the security of the Madhu Shrine, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He was responding to a statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBC) requesting the Forces not to enter into the sacred area of the Madhu shrine.

The CBC in a press release appealed to the LTTE to adhere strictly and observe International Law regarding sacred places of worship and asked the outfit occupying the sacred precincts to vacate the premises forthwith.

“We, the Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka are concerned about the grave situation prevailing in the Madhu sanctuary and in its sacred area, where the LTTE and the Security Forces are engaged presently in military operations and demand that both parties adhere strictly and observe the International Law regarding the sacred places of worship,” the statement said.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/22/sec02.asp

"Father Keeli" was with ex Sea Tiger leader at the time of explosion

Army Spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara blamed the LTTE for the murder of Rev Fr Karunaratnam, a Catholic priest and Chairperson of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR), in a claymore attack, on the Mallavi– avunikkulam Road, in Killinochchi.

Brig. Nanayakkara speaking to news.lk today (21) stated that the murder has occurred in an uncleared area which is 30 km ahead of the battle fronts and in LTTE-controlled territory and rejected allegations by the LTTE that the deep penetration units of the Sri Lanka Army were responsible for the murder since the Army does not send cadres to the area where the murder took place.

He further stated that the security intelligence revealed that the murdered Father Karunaratnam was suspected to have been an LTTE sympathizer and opined that it was a deliberate and even predictable move by the LTTE to bring the security forces into disrepute and win international sympathy for their murderous cause.

It has been revealed that the murdered priest was working as the chief for the LTTE Peace Secretariat and he was well known as 'Father Keeli'.

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?

Famous LTTE’s “Lima Base – 3” Falls on Troops

MAKING FURTHER STRIDES in the war for liberation of the masses under terrorist grip, troops of the Sri Lanka Army in another pre-dawn attack on Monday (21) on the so-called LTTE’s “Lima Base – 3”, East of KATTANKULAM, MANNAR eliminated seven terrorists and brought a stretch of about 1300 meters under troop control.

The troops’ sudden roll on to the LTTE’s stronghold at about 4.35 a.m. took the enemy by surprise and panicking terrorists went on directing fire on advancing troops.

Four valiant soldiers received wounds in the enemy fire.

The fall of the LTTE’s famous “Lima Base – 3” in MANNAR comes in the wake of a string of military setbacks to the LTTE in the area where at least 13 Tiger terrorists died on Sunday (20) during clashes with the troops in KATTANKULAM, VEDDAYAPIRU, VEDDAYAMPURAMKULAM, ADAMPAN and MALIKATTIDAL areas.

Those clashes included sniping and heavy machine gun firing. Troops also recovered 91 anti personnel mines and 3 booby traps from those areas while conducting de-mining work.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=12559

SLAF destroys 3 LTTE sea tiger boats - Mullaittivu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed at three sea tiger boats in the Alampil area in Mullaittivu this morning, April 21.

The Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya, said that the air sorties were launched around 9.30 am based on information on suspicious LTTE boat movement provided by the Navy units patrolling in the area.

Two heavily armed fast boats located in Alampil beach were destroyed due the bombardment carried out by the SLAF fighters after verifying the navy's information observing dynamic pictures taken through a surveillance aircraft.

Meanwhile, another LTTE fast boat detected off Alampil seas was destroyed by the SLAF fighters during this mission. A huge explosion was also observed following the bombardment, spokesperson further added.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080421_04

New Joint Operation Commander appointed for Sri Lanka's Central Province

Sri Lanka Army has appointed a Joint Operation Commander for the Central Province to coordinate the security related activities in the area with immediate effect. All security forces including police will be placed under his command.

Major General Lawrence Fernando, took over his duties of the new post yesterday and visited the Temple of Tooth and Chief prelates of Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters today.

Sir Lanka is to host SAARC summit next year in Kandy, where leaders of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan are to visit. Government is concerned over the rise in terror activity lately seen in the Kandy area.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April2133308JR.html

Fr. Karunaratnam and the blame-game

The Sri Lanka army flatly denies the killing of Rev. Fr. M.X. Karunaratnam today. The location of his death is on the Mallavi-Vavunikulam road in Mullaithivu District, which is 30kms from the SLA FDL.

The LTTE has on previous such assassinations claimed that the SLA makes random attacks on its targets in LTTE areas. On Sunday, 06 January 2008, 01:20 GMT, Tamilnet.com claimed that "Col. Charles, Head of Liberation Tigers Military Intelligence, was killed Saturday evening in a random Claymore attack by Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit in Pa'l'lamadu in Mannaar, LTTE sources in Vanni said."

Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam's killing does not, in any way, seem random. His vehicle had broken down midway his journey and had been towed when the roadside bomb (IED) went off around 12.30pm. This clearly indicates the assassins were aware of his journey, planned it then delayed it until his vehicle was towed to the location of the ambush.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/04/fr-karunaratnam-and-blame-game.html

EU pressuring Sri Lanka to relent on campaign against LTTE

Sri Lanka’s ongoing military campaign against the LTTE faces stronger objections from the European Union (EU), rather than India, though both are being heavily lobbied by elements sympathetic to the Tamil Tiger rebels, says a top official in the Sri Lankan foreign ministry.

“India is too big a power to yield to pressures from a small terrorist group, but the European Union is seeing the Tamils as underdogs persecuted by the Sinhalese majority. There are statements from EU governments and groups calling for talks and an end to the military operations,” the official told this website’s newspaper on condition of anonymity.

“The EU is overlooking the fact that a majority of the Tamils in the island (54 percent) are living in south Sri Lanka, in perfect harmony with the Sinhalese, instead of fleeing to their so-called homeland in the north and east,” he said here on Saturday.

Read more,
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Does Priyanka's meeting with Nalini send a subtle message to LTTE?

Ms Priyanka Vadra's sensational meeting with Nalini, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has unwittingly brought to the fore, yet another dimension with larger political implications.

Political circles feel that the hush-hush meeting that took place on March 19 at the Vellore central prison, where Nalini is lodged, was meant to send a subtle message to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The meeting was a symbolic event for the Tamil Tigers to ponder over shedding their residual hatred, they might have towards the Gandhi family, both political and legal circles feel.

Nalini, the ninth accused in the case and the only living person, who had accompanied the squad, which had assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the night of May 21, 1991, had been sentenced to death.

Read more,
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp

Sri Lankan Army sharpshooter to take part in Beijing Olympics

A Sri Lankan Army sharpshooter, who has been a veteran in several battles with Tamil Tiger rebels, has been selected to compete in the Beijing Olympics in August, a local newspaper said on Sunday.

Sunday Island, one of the major English newspapers in Sri Lanka, said Staff Sgt. E. M. Senananayake of the Sinha Regiment excelled in the Free-Style (Open) Pistol Shooting competition at the 11th Asian Shooting Tournament in Kuwait last year.

Senananayke will compete with the world's best marksmen in his favorite events at the Olympics.

A veteran in army operations in the north and east, Senanayake who joined the Army in 1990 and underwent training at the Minneriya Infantry Training Cent was posted to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment in 1990.

Unlike many other sportsmen and women who had joined services for benefits, S enanayake had faced the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in the battlefield in the north and proved his capabilities as a soldier before he was recognized for his sharp shooting abilities.

Extracted from,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/

More foreign jobs for LTTE surrendees

The Foreign Employment and Promotion Ministry has broadened its vocational training programs in the Northern and Eastern Districts from May 1 to grant more foreign employment opportunities to LTTE surrendees.

It has been reported that over 60 LTTE cadres have so far surrendered to three rehabilitation centres, set up by the Security Forces in Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.

The centres are operated with the assistance of the ICRC, UNICEF and other local government agencies.

Training programs such as sewing for female LTTE surrendees and motor mechanism, carpentry, plumbing and wiring for male surrendees will be conducted by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) under the guidance of the Presidential Secretariat.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/20/new03.asp

Why Priyanka’s Vellore visit is not personal

Trying to gain public sympathy over private grief is a temptation too strong to resist for many political families. Today’s young voters, who are sought to be wooed by the yuvraj in the dynasty-controlled Congress party, need to know of the time in November 1984 when Doordarshan, then the sole TV channel in India, was cynically exploited to serve as the most effective election campaigner for Rajiv Gandhi.

DD almost completely blacked out the massacre of 3,000 innocent Sikhs in Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, but its non-stop beaming of the image of a grieving young man, until then unsullied by any political controversy, beside the body of his assassinated mother, was enough to create a sympathy wave so powerful that Rajiv, a greenhorn in politics, won more seats for the Congress in the Lok Sabha than even his mother or grandfather.

As L.K. Advani has described in his recently released autobiography, My Country, My Life, it was not a Lok Sabha election but a ‘Shok Sabha’ election, whose outcome was so abnormal that the BJP could win only two seats. How Rajiv frittered away the huge mandate, and how one of the biggest blunders of his premiership — sending the IPKF to Sri Lanka to fight the LTTE — ultimately claimed his own life, is, of course, another matter.

Rajiv’s daughter Priyanka Vadra recently visited Nalini Sriharan, now serving a life-term in Vellore Central Prison for her role in his assassination in May 1991. “Meeting with Nalini was my way of coming to peace with the violence and loss that I have experienced,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

As the daughter of India’s former prime minister who became the victim of a terrorist act, she and the other members of her family naturally had the sympathy of the nation. And if it indeed was “a purely personal visit”, as Priyanka has claimed, it can even be viewed as an admirable act of human bonding that transcends a terrible tragedy, a reminder that time is the greatest healer in all tragedies.

Read more,
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/299101.html

Why Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated? Reveals Pro-LTTE Weekly

Creating a niche in Sri Lanka’s politics by presenting himself as a leader of a minority community and mixing his religion , Roman Catholicism with politics with ambitions to become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as a close confidante of the President is one of the main reasons former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated says, a pro-LTTE weekly printed in Canada and distributed all over Europe.

TheParaparappu, the pro-LTTE political and Tamil language weekly distributed widely among expatriate Tamil communities in Canada, Britain, Switzerland, Australia, France, Nederland, Norway, Demark and Germany says in its cover story that undoubtedly he was the closest man to the President and was keeping his eyes on the chair of the Prime Minister.

Ethnically belonging to a Tamil group who mingles well with the Sinhalese, Fernandopulle a church going Roman Catholic excelled in his public relations with Buddhist temples in his electorate so well that at least one temple is named after him. A report said, before the LTTE suicide blast that killed him, “ he had his breakfast at the near by Buddhist temple after visiting the chief monk Venerable Alubovila Dhammarathana. Subsequently he also visited the Fernandopulle Asapuwa, named after him.”

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10647

Weerawansa gets security boost

Controversy rigged former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) strongman Wimal Weerawansa, who is now residing in an undisclosed location, has been given a security boost by the government.

Reports claimed that Weerawansa had shifted houses owing to security concerns.
“Only his close confidants are aware of his exact location now,” sources said.
“Weerawansa, his wife and their children have all shifted to a safer place,” the sources said.

Weerawansa was reportedly residing in Nugegoda before moving to the secret relocation, although his Parliamentary records state that he was re siding in Malabe.
Several other JVP Parliamentarians, now in the Weerawansa camp have also been given a security boost, it is learnt.

Extracted from,
http://www.nation.lk/2008/04/20/news12.htm

Sri Lanka Marxist party says government is behind the internal rift of JVP

Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government was behind the conspiracy in creating an internal rift in the party.

JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva had told media that “It is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government who is behind this. They wanted to put the JVP in their pocket for their own benefit.”

Quoting Mr. Silva, media reports said that however, instead of joining the government for a few ministerial portfolios, the JVP presented a set of policies consisting of 20 proposals.

Through the ousted party member Wimal Weerawansa, the government attempted to drive the JVP according to their own preferences, in a way that would not pose a threat to them. After using Wimal to know of the JVP’s plans, they sought to act accordingly, he said.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April19151013JV.html

Agreement reached on power plant site in Sri Lanka

India has finally agreed to locate the 500 MW coal-based thermal plant of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Sampur town in Trincomalee district.

The town was wrested by the Sri Lanka military from the LTTE in September 2006,

According to reliable sources, the decision was conveyed by New Delhi to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. Though India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement in December 2006, there was no unanimity between the two sides on the exact location of the plant.

Sri Lanka identified Sampur as a possible location, though an NTPC team preferred a site near the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) oil complex, close to Trincomalee harbour.

The move locate the power plant at Sampur triggered a controversy with the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance raising political and environmental objections.

Read more,
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042055430800.htm

Air Force bombs LTTE boats - Mullaithivu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed an LTTE boat formation comprised of three heavily armed fast boats located in the South of Mullaithvu lagoon this evening (April 19). According to the Air Force sources, the bombing mission was undertaken around 5.30 pm, on information provided by Navy units patrolling in the area.

Bombing was carried out after verifying navy's information through Unarmed Air Vehicles (UAV), said the sources . The air raid was successful; the sources added citing the pilots.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080419_05

LTTE Claymore explodes targeting route clearing , no damages - Thambalagamuwa

Police personnel in route clearing petrol in general area Thambalagamuwa have narrowly escaped from an LTTE claymore explosion took place this morning (19 Apr).

The police personnel were returning after completing a duty in a vulnerable area where an electricity transformer located in Thambalabamuwa along Pokurani - Kinniya road, when the terrorists activated the claymore around 6.15 am, sources said.

The claymore had been triggered by laying wires for 60 m sources further said.

Search operations in the area now in progress.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080419_01

Pro-LTTE MDMK Leader Gopalswamyand UNP's Dr Jayalath Jayewardene held meetings with LTTE leaders in London

Fresh from their honeymoon with Minister Eric Solheim, Tamil Nadu's pro-LTTE maverick politician V. Gopalswamy, (VAIKO) leader of the MDMK party along with UNP's Dr Jayalath Jayewardene arrived in the UK on 15th April and held several meetings with LTTE leaders and their fund raising sympathizers based in London.

Foreign sources have informed Asian Tribune that both MDMK Leader Gopalswamy and UNP's Dr Jayalath Jayewardene were picked up from London Heathrow airport upon their arrival from Norway by Mr. Thilagaraja of the LTTE's (UK) branch otherwise known as the British Tamil Forum (BTF).

It is said that the parties attended several meeting organized by the British Tamil Forum (BTF) and met with senior LTTE leaders based in London. Both Gopalswamy and Dr Jayalath Jayewardene were looked after well otherwise by representatives of the LTTE for lobbying on behalf of the LTTE in Norway which was funded by the British Tamil Forum (BTF).

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10625

Sri Lanka Electroteks to start broadband, voice in May

Sri Lanka's Electroteks, a communications firm, says it will launch a wireless broadband service in May which will have voice telephony services at half the existing tariffs.

Electroteks chief B A C Abeywardene says the service will use CDMA (code division multiple access) based technology to provide up to 1Mbps speeds and voice calls priced around 1.50 rupees a minute, which is about half the current tariffs.

At the moment however interconnect settlement rates between operators are slightly higher at around 1.90 rupees a unit with taxes, he said.

"But interconnect charges broadly balance out, so we will not have to pay out a lot of money," Abeywardene told LBO.

"Price competition on telecom services is getting tougher and the operator that can run the most cost-efficient network will win in the end."

Electroteks has been a pioneer wireless communications firm which has a range of licenses dating back to 1983. It has also fabricated and sometimes exported communications equipments.

Read more,
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1395030754

'Prabhakaran not keen on peaceful solution to Lanka strife'

LTTE breakaway faction Tamil Makkal Vidhuthalai Pullikal has accused Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran of not being keen on a peaceful solution to the 25-year-old ethnic strife in Sri Lanka.

"Prabhakaran only believes in an armed solution to the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka and is not interested in any peaceful means to resolve the crisis," said Pillayan, the TMVP leader and a leading contender for the Chief Ministers post in Eastern Provincial council where elections are to be held next month.

The TMVP split from LTTE towards the end of 2004 following differences between Prabhakaran and his senior colleague Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, better known as Colonel Karuna.

Pillayan alleged in an interview on Thursday that Prabhakaran would rather rule a small portion of Sri Lanka on his own terms rather than coming forward for ending the clashes, which had left about 70,000 people dead in the island nation.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Two Sri Lankan youths held

Two Sri Lankan youths and an Indian national were arrested for attempting to smuggle '14-tractor front-wheel tyres' to Sri Lanka, police said on Friday.

These tyres are generally used for army jeeps,they said.

A car used for smuggling the tyres at the Check-post near Ramanathapuram was also seized, police said.

Police said Nandharuban and Shivakumar (both from Sri Lanka) and driver Alagar were remanded to judicial custody today.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200804181441.htm

'Rangoon Kakulu' rice to enter to Sri Lanka's local market from May

Sri Lanka Trade Ministry said that 10,000 metric tons of rice imported from Myanmar will be issued to the local market from the first week of May.

According to the sources the one-kilo of rice named 'Rangoon Kakulu' will be sold at a price between 50 to 55 rupees.

Sri Lanka government decided to import 100,000 metric tons of rice from Myanmar as the sky rocketing rice prices started to become a political football. Government complained that the trade mafia engineered the high prices while traders highlighted the adverse weather conditions as the reason for the lack of rice supply. According to the Ministry 10,000 MT of rice are to arrive in Colombo at the end of this month.

The imported rice stocks from Myanmar will be sold through cooperative societies, the Ministry further added.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April18164509JR.html

India Oil wants to market aviation fuel in Sri Lanka

Having stabilised operations to retail transport fuels in Sri Lanka, the Lanka Indian Oil Corp, a subsidiary of India's state-run oil company, will ask for Colombo's permission to market aviation fuel.

"We are applying to the government to participate in the aviation fuel marketing and we are ready to develop infrastructure facilities for it," the managing director of Lanka Indian Oil Corp, K Ramakrishnan, said.

He said that Lanka IOC had offered to build its storage facilities and supply aviation fuel at the Katunayake international airport near here or the new airport at Weerawila, some 300 km away.

At the moment, the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp (CPC) has a monopoly in marketing aviation fuel in this island nation.

Read more,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/

UNOCHA & several INGOs to recue LTTE from impending defeat

Several UNOCHA (United Nations Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs) representatives have been asked to team up with a few INGOs infiltrated by LTTE agents to carry out a smear campaign against Sri Lanka and its Security Forces.

According to information received by ‘Lankatruth’ LTTE terrorists in two recent meetings with UNOCHA representatives in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa have asked the UN Body to undertake false propaganda against Sri Lanka and its Security Forces stating several INGOs would support such a project.

The LTTE leaders had a meeting with UN officials on 7th April in Kilinochchi and another such meeting in Batticaloa assuring the support of Care (UK), Oxfam (UK), Norwegian Peoples Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Forut (EU), MSF (EU), Save the Children (USA & Canada) and World Vision (USA & Canada) for the UNOHA to carry out the ‘project.’

Read more,
http://www.lankatruth.com/index.php?

Iranian President's first Asian tour begins in Sri Lanka

The Islamic Republic of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to make a two day State visit to Sri Lanka on April 28 on a special invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

This is a first Asian tour of the Iranian President. National and international political analysts say Ahmadinejad's selection of Sri Lanka for his first Asian tour is a victory gained by President Rajapaksa as a political leader in Asia.

Proposed grants of financial support had also been appreciated by the political critics. Arrangements have been made for the laying of the foundation stones by President Ahamedinejad and President Rajapaksa for the Uma Oya hydro power project at Wellawaya.

Iran has come forward to grant the total financial support of US $ 450 million for a mega multi-purpose hydro power project. The Uma Oya project has been estimated to produce 100 MW of electricity and supply water to irrigate agricultural and industrial sectors.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/18/news14.asp

'Our Lady of Madu' spirited away to bring govt into disrepute internationally – Defence Spokesman

Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that shifting the holy shrine of 'Our Lady Madhu' to an LTTE controlled area at a time when the Security Forces are engaged in a humanitarian mission to liberate the area from the clutches of terrorism, poses a great threat.

Minister Rambukwella added that the LTTE's decision to move the holy shrine might have been prompted by factors such as diverting the attention of the international community from the ongoing military operations against the LTTE terrorists and deliberately creating a negative image of the Government and the good work done by the security personnel.

The Minister made these comments at a media briefing held in Colombo today (17). While categorically denying the fact that security forces attacked the Madhu Church, Minister Rambukwella said 'Madhu Church never attacked by and was never a target of the security forces,'

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?

Sri Lanka ready to talk with rebels but no contact with facilitators

The Sri Lankan government said Thursday that it will be ready for talks with the Tamil Tigers if they eschewed terrorism but has not made any formal contact with the Norwegian peace facilitators on resuming the process of stalled negotiations.

"Our doors are always open to start talks provided they give up terrorism," Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman and the minister of Foreign Employment told reporters.

Rambukwella was responding to media speculation that his ministerial colleague Rajitha Senaratne had talks with Norwegian Minister of International Development Erik Solheim in Oslo.

"His talks may have been private discussions but the government has not made any official contact (with the Norwegian government)," Rambukwella said.

Senaratne, the minister of Engineering Services recently met Solheim, who was previously the Norwegian special peace envoy on the process of negotiations between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/18/content_7999063.htm

China to fund five projects in Sri Lanka, says Minister

Minister of Export Development and International Trade of Sri Lanka, Prof GL Peiris today revealed that the Chinese government has confirmed its earlier agreement to fund five projects in the country.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, the Minister told that the Chinese government has given its confirmation to provide 455 million US dollars for the construction of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant during the recent official visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to China.

According to the Minister, China has agreed to provide 20 million US dollars to build a drama and cultural centre, and another 307 million for the Hambanthota harbour project. Also, he said China has agreed to provide 100 railway carriages for the improvement of local railway service.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April17173710JV.html

LTTE's key logistic complex and engineering yard attacked - Visuamadu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets attacked LTTE's key logistic complex and engineering yard in general area Visuamadu, 15 km north west of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaithivu district, this morning (Apr 17). According to the air force sources, the bombing mission was carried out between 6.25 am - 6.35 am.

The targeted base has been used as the key logistic hub for heavy engineering and construction work by LTTE terrorists, said defence intelligence sources. The terror base has a large vehicle yard and several hardware stores, from where the outfit allocates resources for heavy construction work particularly those done for the safety of its leaders such as construction of fortified bunkers and tunnels, the sources added.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080417_01

Lorry with Explosives Nabbed at Roadblock

A ROUTINE SEARCH conducted on vehicles at a roadblock in PETHAVADIYA, KALPITIYA area found a lorry carrying explosives to an undisclosed party.

The explosives in the lorry contained six hundred and sixty-three bags of gelignite, each containing one hundred and fifty sticks and seven rolls of 35 ft-long detonator codes.

The search was conducted at about 10.00 p.m. on Wednesday (16).

Two men in the lorry were taken in for questioning with regard to the recovery.

The KALPITIYA Police are conducting investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=12427

LTTE terror supporter base gone down in UK

Same handful of street campaigners of the LTTE was seen demonstrating in front of the Solvakian Embassy in London on 15 April 2008. Prominent of those were Kandiah Rajamanoharan and London Baba Suresh. The LTTE relies on the support of these activists that they too wait for an opportunity as there is no one to compete with them in the expatriate Tamil community.

The street campaign group has shrunk to the residue of these two senior street campaigners. Cllr Daya Idaikadar, Cllr Madame Mann, Cllr Yogan Yoganathan and Dancing Queen Miss S Angayatkanni have given up the cheap street campaign for some time now.

It is now claimed that the demonstration in front of the Slovakian Embassy was a disastrous failure for the campaigners and they have exposed the declining support base of the LTTE in the UK.

Extracted from,
http://www.srilankawatch.com/index.php?

Iran to invest in expansion project of Sri Lankan oil refinery

Sri Lankan Oil Minister said Wednesday in an interview with Japan's Kyodo news agency Iran has decided to increase its investment in expansion project of an oil refinery there up to one billion US dollars.

According to IRNA office in Tokyo, A. H. M. Fowzi added in his interview with Kyodo, "Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has allocated this amount to the purpose, which would cover 70% of the require investment for the refinery's expansion, in form of a ten year loan, with a five year exemption period from payment of the loan's installments."
Fowzi added, "Iran had earlier, too, provided the oil we need in Sri Lanka free from interest for four months."

According to this report, Iran is the largest provider of crude oil for Sri Lanka

Read more,
http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-22/0804179422010501.htm

Tamil Nadu back as LTTE's safe haven?

Battered in the north-eastern war theatre in Sri Lanka, hounded at sea by a resurgent Navy, and having lost several logistic vessels in sea battles, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) seems to be falling back for supplies on its oldest haven - the porous coastline of Tamil Nadu and its vast hinterland.

Dozens of incidents of smuggling and over 100 arrests in the last couple of years stand testimony to the Tigers' network in the state, even though there is insufficient evidence to indicate collusion by the state machinery.

The LTTE maintains a wide network of committed sympathisers and mercenary supporters to ensure regular supplies of fuel, medicines and war-related materials to carry on their armed campaign in the island nation.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/

5 held for smuggling steel pipes to LTTE

Five persons were arrested today for allegedly attempting to smuggle steel pipes to the LTTE in Sri Lanka, police said.

The pipes, meant for borewells, were seized at Meemesal coastal village in Pudukottai District by the Tamil Nadu "Q" Branch Police, dealing with extremist organisations.

The Police, who were on a patrol, seized the pipes worth Rs five lakh

Extracted from,
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?

POLICE MOVE ON TAMIL GROUP -CANADA

Counterterrorism police in Quebec and Ontario effectively shut down a non-profit organization for Canadian Tamils this weekend due to allegations it has been raising money to finance terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.

The RCMP was expected to announce details of its unprecedented actions as early as today, but several sources said police had moved in to enforce a Federal Court restraining order against the World Tamil Movement.

The WTM's offices in Montreal and Toronto have been under police investigation for six years, and were raided by police in 2006. While no charges have yet resulted, the decision to seek a restraining order suggests Ottawa is aggressively pursuing the group.

The restraining order pertains to real estate in Montreal and other assets in Toronto.

The recent events are focused mostly on Montreal. Police sealed off the Montreal WTM office on Friday, said Steven Slimovitch, the group's lawyer. He said his clients were barred from entering the premises, disrupting community programs.

Read more,
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=443481

VAIKO MEETS ERIC SOLHEIM AND BEGS OF HIM TO GIVE LIFE BACK TO THE ABROGATED CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

India’s maverick politician Vaiko has begged of Norway’s most controversial peace negotiator and International Development Minister Eric Solheim who has been charged by non-tiger Tamil groups as a pro-LTTE man, to give life to a dead cease fire agreement that has been violated thousands of times by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) itself.

LTTE news sources revealed that the two controversial men met recently at Oslo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vaiko requested Solheim to help revive the Norway brokered abrogated Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed between Ranil Wickramasinghe government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

A close personal friend of the late Tamil Tiger “peace negotiator” Anton Balasingham, Soheim has been publicly attacked as a “White Tiger”, and enjoys very little credibility in Sri Lanka. He has been criticized by anti-LTTE Tamil groups and pro-Sinhala groups in the country as a non acceptable man.

Pro LTTE news sources said, Vaiko expressed his “gratitude on behalf of the Tamils in India to the Royal Norwegian Government for its engagement as facilitator to the CFA ..” when the two controversial politicians met each other in Oslo in Norway few days ago.

Read more,
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items08/140408-1.html

SriLankan Airlines unfolds 'Attraction Pack' for travelers

Fly Srilankan Airlines to any South Indian destination and taste the age old tradition of warm hospitality of 'Paradise Island' on board. The Srilankan Airlines, Central Asia's Airline of the Year for four years now, has more attractions for Indian travelers from US major cities.

This was revealed in an Agents Presentation held recently in at Holiday Inn in Skokie, a Chicago suburb.Dillan Ariyawansa, Srilankan Airlines Vice President, Sales & Marketing-USA and Ajith De Alwis, Sales Manager had organized a Srilankan's Midwest Consolidators and Travel Agents meet for the presentation. Ajith inaugurated the event and spoke about Srilankan comforts and facilities offered on board for travelers.

Srilankan operates daily flight from European gateways - London, Frankfurt and Paris to Colombo transferring passengers to South Indian destinations - Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy, Calicut, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. To West India, Srilankan operates flights to Mumbai and Goa, and in North it operates to New Delhi.All Indian destinations are non-stop from Colombo with very convenient connections from European gateways.

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http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/2529/

Surrendered LTTE militants want to leave country

The LTTE militants and sympathisers who have surrendered are putting pressure on the Sri Lankan government to arrange for overseas jobs for them, fearing assassination at the hands of the Tamil Tigers for having deserted the outfit.

"We always fear for our life by the LTTE though we have been put up in well guarded buildings," the former LTTE activists told a group of journalists here recently.

One of them even threatened to commit suicide if he was not sent out of the camp soon for a job abroad.

"My family is managing by selling our remaining ornaments. We cannot last long. I have seven dependents. If I am not given an overseas job along with a air ticket you may find me hanging," a former Tiger rebel said.

According to officials some of them were in a mentally disturbed state, after having worked under tough and hostile conditions for the Tigers.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804131551.htm

Lanka eyes countries other than India for importing rice

With ballooning inflation in India and the government banning export of non-basmati rice, Sri Lankan importers are now looking for other options to bridge the island country's demand-supply gap for the grain.

"Despite the positive developments regarding importing rice from India, our traders have been told by their Indian counterparts that they have not yet received the clearance for rice exports," the spokesman for a leading importing body said here.

The Sri Lankan government is now working to get one lakh metric tonnes of rice from Myanmar with 30,000 tonnes of the consignment expected to arrive here next month, Old Moor Street Traders Association, President, K Palaniandy, said.

Read more,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International_Business/

Sri Lankan rebel's defense line captured by gov't troops

A rebel's defense line in the north western district of Mannar was captured by the Sri Lankan government troops in a battle with the Tamil Tigers, a military spokesman said on Sunday.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman said the troops launched a 4-pronged offensive at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forward defense line at Mannar on Saturday.

"We attacked them from 4 different positions north of Yodawewa (giant tank) and Adampan. The LTTE fled the area as we kept on firing them", Nanayakkara said.

He said that 36 rebels were killed and 56 others were injured in Mannar and another clash in the northern Vavuniya on Sunday. The Army lost 6 soldiers and 25 others were injured.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7968004.htm

Norwegian Government Funding for LTTE Film - My Daughter the Terrorist

The 50 minute documentary Min Datter Terroristen (my Daughter the Terrorist) attempts to glorify the motivations of two Black Tiger women. The documentary follows the training and indoctrination of Dharsika and Puhalchudar (possibly not the real names) for a suicide mission against the Sri Lankan state.

The main emphasis of the documentary is to give some pseudo-justification to the act of suicide terrorism by the LTTE. Sections of the documentary are narrated by Maria (actor playing the role of Mother).

The documentary has been produced/co-directed by two Norwegian nationals Mr.Morten Daae and Ms. Beate Arnestad. Interestingly, Ms Arnestad states that she used a false name Ms Smith when she traveled to Sri Lanka to make the film. Ms. Arnestad has blatantly breached Sri Lankan immigration regulations and also media guidelines for visiting journalists as prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The camera crew was led by Norwegian Frank Alvegg. The Production Company is Snitt Film Production based in Oslo , Norway .

The international rights for the documentary is managed by TV2 World ( Denmark ), Rugaardsvej 25, 5100 Odense , Denmark . As at December 2006, the broadcasting rights to the documentary have been purchased by Radio-Canada Television ( Canada ), TV2 ( Denmark ), Al-Arabia (Satellite Television covering the Middle East), NHK-BS1 ( Japan ) and TV2 ( Norway ).

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10537

Pro-LTTE movie screened in US

Sri Lankan Ambassador in the United States Bernard Goonetilleke has lodged a strong protest over the screening of the film My Daughter The Terrorist at a premier US film festival recently.

The film, a documentary on the lives and faiths of two female Black Tigers produced by Norwegian filmmaker Beate Arnestad, was featured in a documentary film festival in Durham, North Carolina on April 4.

Over 100 documentaries were screened during the four day film festival held from April 3 to 6.
Ambassador Goonetilleke has lodged Sri Lanka’s strong protest over the screening of the film in a letter addressed to both the US State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Extracted from,
http://www.nation.lk/2008/04/13/news3.htm

JVP split could bring greater Indian involvement in Sri Lanka: Expert

The split in the anti-Indian political party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), may pave the way for greater Indian involvement in finding a solution to the vexed ethnic question in Sri Lanka, says Sri Lankan researcher Anupama M. Ranawana.

Writing in the latest issue of Groundviews Ranawana points out that the majority Sinhalese community have been very wary and disapproving of Western mediation, but have consistently welcomed Indian initiatives.

“The situation has become more conducive to Indian involvement in the wake of the fractious split in the JVP, which has always been a strong critic of India, ” the author, who is attached to Colombo’s Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), says.

With 11 of the 37 MPs of the JVP taking a moderate stance, the party’s anti-Indian plank is bound to be weakened. The JVP has consistently opposed India’s efforts to encourage the Rajapaksa government to devolve power to the minority Tamils. With the JVP’s voice weakened, the Sri Lankan public will take kindly to an Indian face on a foreign mediator, says Ranawana.

Read more,
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Story behind the Army's new rockets

Some international organizations have charged that the Sri Lanka Army bought 10,000 missiles from Slovakia against European Union laws. This is completely false. The procurement and storage of these weapons occurred outside of Slovakia, in a non EU country.

The weapons procured were 122mm Rockets for the Army's RM-70 (RaketoMet 1970) Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers bought at $180 a piece. They are military surplus and are not missiles in the sense that they are unguided rockets.

The country formerly known as Czechoslovakia split into two countries in 1993. One country is now known as the Czech Republic while the other is known as Slovakia.

With the breakdown of the Warsaw Pact, armies of the former Communist Block were downsized. These countries had to conform to NATO regulations in order to join the European Union, hence they commenced what is called a 'Liquidation program'.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/

Vatican informed of LTTE presence in Madhu church

The Mannar diocese has expressed concern over the heavy LTTE presence in the Madhu church sanctuary and the church premises and brought to the notice of the Vatican the overall situation in the sacred area, Vicar General of the Mannar diocese Rev. Fr. Victor Sosai said.

Commenting on the present situation in the Madhu church premises Rev. Victor Sosai told the Sunday Observer since the statue of Our Lady of Madhu was removed for safety to St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Thevanpiddy in the Mannar region, the church zone was more like a battle zone with the heavy presence of LTTE cadres.

“The Mannar diocese has even informed the LTTE hierarchy in Killinochchi over the presence of LTTE cadres with heavy weapons in the church premises.

However, there was hardly any sign of armed cadres leaving the premises. Almost all the important buildings including the meditation centre which is currently being built with around sixty rooms with assistance from the Vatican and Germany has also been occupied by the cadres.

The Mannar diocese has also asked the Security Forces to keep away from the church region as much as possible.

“We do not want a chaotic situation in the sacred area with a big human disaster. The response from the Armed Forces so far is positive,” Rev. Victor Sosai said.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/13/sec01.asp

India intensifies air and sea surveillances along southern coast

India has intensified air and sea surveillance along its southern coastline to prevent infiltration of LTTE cadres into Indian territorial waters as well as smuggling activities.

Indian Media reports said that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken this decision at a high-level Special Coastal Meeting held in Tamil Nadu following increase in smuggling activities to Sri Lanka from the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu.

It was decided to intensify surveillance in 21 unmanned islands between Sri Lanka and India to prevent the activities of anti-social elements and also over the 591 coastal villages and hamlets in Tamil Nadu, reports added. According to the reports India will take necessary steps to prevent Indian fishermen from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters resulting in the firing by the Lankan navy.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April11162338JV.html

No Pakistani Change in helping against LTTE

Despite recent changes in the Pakistani government following elections there will be no changes of policy in the country’s attitude towards Sri Lanka’s problem of terrorism said Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf.

He asserted to his Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sanya in Hainang island that Pakistan will stand by its South Asian friend, Sri Lanka in its struggle to eradicate terrorism.
Pervez told Rajapaksa, “There will be absolutely no change in our attitude towards Sri Lanka.”

President Rajapaks is in China for the second time in 14 months at the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to participate in the Boao Forum to which the Pakistani President also came to participate.
The new Pakistani Foreign Minister Sha Mahmud and and Defense Minister Ahamad Mukthar joined the Pakistani President in his discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Pakistan President during the course of the discussions said there is an immediate need to expand the scope of the Free Trade Agreement between both countries. The two countries have doubled their trade within one year since the inception of the trade agreement.

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15115

JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe alleges Govt. backing dissident group

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) dissident faction led by its parliamentary group chief, Wimal Weerawansa, has mooted the formation of a Deshapremi Peramuna (Patriotic Front) and pledged to work under that banner. They have vowed to take this action if their disputes with the party leadership are not amicably settled.

The decision by Mr. Weerawansa and ten dissident MPs to form such a front, with the backing of a number of civil society organisations and trade unions was taken at a meeting the dissident group held on Thursday at the Patriotic National Front office in Borella.

Political observers point out that the fact that like the PNM, the new political group also is being formed with a similar name suggests a link between the two. This development came as the crisis within the JVP worsened. Police have begun investigations into several incidents involving the forcible removal of vehicles belonging to JVP dissident MPs with one JVP MP and another JVP cadre being remanded.

The JVP’s Trincomalee district MP Jayantha Wijesekera who had allegedly gone into the Parliament car park along with another man on Wednesday afternoon, and removed two vehicles belonging to two JVP dissident MPs, surrendered to the Police on Friday.

Read more,
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080413/News/news001.html