Air force targets secret rendezvous place of LTTE kingpins - Visuamadu

Air Force fighter jets engaged a secret rendezvous place of LTTE kingpins located in the West of Visuamadu Kulam in Mullaittiuvu around 9.20, this morning (April 2).

According to Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya, the fighter pilots have confirmed the target was accurately hit. However, the he said that it is too early to assess the damage to the terrorists in the air raid.

Meanwhile, defence officials said that the target is of strategic value, as its whereabouts was only known to those in the inner circles of the LTTE chief. The sources said that the target consist of a rendezvous place and a secret passage frequently used by LTTE kingpins including their leader himself.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080402_02

LTTE directs mortars towards Madhu Church

Catholic priests at Madhu Church confirmed yesterday that LTTE had directed mortar fire to the Church premises twice yesterday, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

"No casualties were reported from the incidents", the Brigadier added.

"The catholic priests confirmed that LTTE mortar fell on to the
Mission House on Wednesday around 5.30 p.m," the Brigadier added.

"The intention of the LTTE is to evict the priests at the Madhu Church
and cause damage to the sacred Madhu Church premises to tarnish the
image of the Security Forces," the Brigadier added.

The LTTE has continuously used the 'No Fire Zone' in Madhu as a cover
to direct mortar fire at the advancing troops now consolidating their
position in the south and north of Madhu.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task

Tamil Nadu party seeks ban on Lankan film 'Prabhakaran'

A Tamil Nadu party Tuesday filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a ban on the Tamil film 'Prabhakaran' made in Sri Lanka, saying it 'denigrated' Tamil people.

VCK party leader Thol Thirumavalavan, after filing the petition, told reporters, 'Though named after Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the film denigrates the entire Tamil race.'

'I have filed a plea seeking the court's direction to order the state government to ban this film like it proscribed Hollywood blockbuster 'Da Vinci Code',' the VCK leader added.

The petition may be heard Wednesday.

The LTTE has been banned in India following its role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

The opposition in Tamil Nadu has accused the state government of being soft on the LTTE and allowing its apologists a free run in the state, a charge denied by the ruling DMK.

Extracted from,
http://www.indiaenews.com/politics/20080402/108190.htm

Sri Lanka waiting for trade deal with China

Sri Lanka is looking to increase trade with China through a regional trade deal. The Commerce Department says the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement, or the APTA, is a window into the massive Chinese market.

The department is now getting ready to hold talk with local businesses, to improve on existing concessions from China, according to Internet. China has already expressed interest in expanding trade with Sri Lanka.

“China is a huge market. This year, we will import nearly one trillion dollars worth from the rest of the world. So there are many, many opportunities for Sri Lanka to trade with China,” Zhu Hong, from the Department of International Trade, China, speaking at a seminar on the APTA organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.

Read more,
http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200803313827/