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.

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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/