"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'.

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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