Non Sinhala Heroes Of “The Sinhala Army”
11 years ago
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
LTTE: Reaching Across the Strait
The international pressure which has clogged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) attempt to replenish its depleted military equipments has undermined the rebel’s capacities to thwart the military offensive by the Sri Lankan Government troops. With their capacities progressively diminished, the LTTE has suffered severe losses. These developments are now impacting on India’s southern States, especially Tamil Nadu, as the LTTE attempts to source its war materials from these Indian Sates.
According to reports emanating from various sources, regular seizures of huge quantities of explosives and other war like materials meant for the LTTE have occurred in Tamil Nadu since the resumption of the war in Sri Lanka in January 2006. The recoveries also include large volumes of ball bearings that are used as shrapnel (significantly, the sale of ballbearings is restricted and closely monitored in Sri Lanka), aluminium bars, both ordinary and electronic detonators, boat building equipment, walkie-talkies, batteries and petroleum Chemicals, including sulphuric acid, high-speed outboard engines for boats, cycle spares, tyres for cycles and motorcycles, power generators, medical supplies and surgical equipment have also been recovered in transit or in caches awaiting transportation.
Most of these recoveries have been reported from the coastal District of Ramnad, which overlooks the Mannar District in Sri Lanka. Police sources also disclose that the LTTE has attempted to build a huge vessel in Kerala and tried to procure mortars from Tamil Nadu.
Read the full article here,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/index.htm
According to reports emanating from various sources, regular seizures of huge quantities of explosives and other war like materials meant for the LTTE have occurred in Tamil Nadu since the resumption of the war in Sri Lanka in January 2006. The recoveries also include large volumes of ball bearings that are used as shrapnel (significantly, the sale of ballbearings is restricted and closely monitored in Sri Lanka), aluminium bars, both ordinary and electronic detonators, boat building equipment, walkie-talkies, batteries and petroleum Chemicals, including sulphuric acid, high-speed outboard engines for boats, cycle spares, tyres for cycles and motorcycles, power generators, medical supplies and surgical equipment have also been recovered in transit or in caches awaiting transportation.
Most of these recoveries have been reported from the coastal District of Ramnad, which overlooks the Mannar District in Sri Lanka. Police sources also disclose that the LTTE has attempted to build a huge vessel in Kerala and tried to procure mortars from Tamil Nadu.
Read the full article here,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/index.htm
Jets pound suspected LTTE base amid fighting
Amid reports of sporadic clashes between the advancing government troops and Tamil Tiger guerrillas, Sri Lanka's air force bombed a suspected rebel training base Tuesday, officials said.
'The air force launched two successive air raids targeting LTTE logistic facility in Paranthan (in the north). The first attack was launched around 10.15 a.m while the other around 1.30 p.m.,' the defence ministry said.
Details of the damages caused were not immediately known.
According to the ministry, two soldiers were killed and another was wounded at Arasadikulam in Vavuniya Tuesday when the troops confronted with a group of cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
'The army foot patrol was along the Arasadikulam-Gandhinagar route when a group of terrorists directed small arms fire killing two soldiers instantly. Soldiers mounted counter attacks at the terrorists forcing the group to flee the area,' the ministry said.
In a separate report, the defence ministry said at least 18 Tamil Tigers and two soldiers were slain and over 30 wounded in sporadic clashes Monday in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Weli-Oya battle theatres.
'The security force personnel engaged in counter terrorist offensive operations are inching further towards LTTE areas, inflicting damages to the enemy,' it said.
Extracted from,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080708/130668.htm
'The air force launched two successive air raids targeting LTTE logistic facility in Paranthan (in the north). The first attack was launched around 10.15 a.m while the other around 1.30 p.m.,' the defence ministry said.
Details of the damages caused were not immediately known.
According to the ministry, two soldiers were killed and another was wounded at Arasadikulam in Vavuniya Tuesday when the troops confronted with a group of cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
'The army foot patrol was along the Arasadikulam-Gandhinagar route when a group of terrorists directed small arms fire killing two soldiers instantly. Soldiers mounted counter attacks at the terrorists forcing the group to flee the area,' the ministry said.
In a separate report, the defence ministry said at least 18 Tamil Tigers and two soldiers were slain and over 30 wounded in sporadic clashes Monday in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Weli-Oya battle theatres.
'The security force personnel engaged in counter terrorist offensive operations are inching further towards LTTE areas, inflicting damages to the enemy,' it said.
Extracted from,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080708/130668.htm
Govt. challenges Janaka to reveal his stand on the war
Reiterating President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pledge to defeat the LTTE militarily, the government yesterday challenged retired Major General Janaka Perera, the UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the North Central Province to reveal his stand on the ongoing war against terrorism.
SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and SLFP Treasurer Dallas Alahapperuma said the retired Army Chief of Staff and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe were sharply divided over the security strategy.
Agriculture Development Minister Sirisena said the UNP leader had repeatedly said the war against the LTTE couldn’t be won. "We’ll prove him wrong," he said, assuring the government’s commitment to a negotiated settlement to the conflict. But he ruled out the possibility of a fresh round of talks which would be advantageous to the LTTE.
Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene dismissed assertion that New Delhi had demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing offensive. The recent visit by a high level Indian delegation which comprised Foreign and Defence secretaries and the National Security Advisor was depicted as an Indian demand to call off the military action.
Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/09/news1.html
SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and SLFP Treasurer Dallas Alahapperuma said the retired Army Chief of Staff and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe were sharply divided over the security strategy.
Agriculture Development Minister Sirisena said the UNP leader had repeatedly said the war against the LTTE couldn’t be won. "We’ll prove him wrong," he said, assuring the government’s commitment to a negotiated settlement to the conflict. But he ruled out the possibility of a fresh round of talks which would be advantageous to the LTTE.
Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene dismissed assertion that New Delhi had demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing offensive. The recent visit by a high level Indian delegation which comprised Foreign and Defence secretaries and the National Security Advisor was depicted as an Indian demand to call off the military action.
Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/09/news1.html
The Muttur Massacre - a quest for the whole truth
In the first week of August 2006, 17 workers of the French Aid Agency Action Contre La Faim were killed in Muttur in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. A number of questions concerning the incident still remain unanswered. Though it is vital to try to find out who was responsible for the killings, and why, there are other questions too as to the fuller reasons for the deaths of so many helpless youngsters. Sadly hardly any attention has been paid by those responsible to questions such as
a) why they went into Muttur, which was in a state of unrest at the time
b) why they remained there when all other aid workers were withdrawing
c) why they continued in their office despite government officials and religious leaders begging them to take shelter elsewhere.
Answers to these questions may explain the virulence with which the Agency has been criticizing the government of Sri Lanka and its officials ever since the incident. They may also explain why such attacks are replete with factual inaccuracies, innuendo and self-contradiction.
They may also explain why, having asked for a public inquiry, and remained in Sri Lanka for eighteen months after the incident, the Agency decided suddenly to withdraw when they were being cross-examined by a Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Government to look into the incident. This was followed by further criticism from a safe distance, following on a report of the Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights, an organization that had independently sought the truth about the incident. This report points the finger of blame for the killings on a Muslim homeguard and two policemen.
Read the full article here,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080707_07
a) why they went into Muttur, which was in a state of unrest at the time
b) why they remained there when all other aid workers were withdrawing
c) why they continued in their office despite government officials and religious leaders begging them to take shelter elsewhere.
Answers to these questions may explain the virulence with which the Agency has been criticizing the government of Sri Lanka and its officials ever since the incident. They may also explain why such attacks are replete with factual inaccuracies, innuendo and self-contradiction.
They may also explain why, having asked for a public inquiry, and remained in Sri Lanka for eighteen months after the incident, the Agency decided suddenly to withdraw when they were being cross-examined by a Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Government to look into the incident. This was followed by further criticism from a safe distance, following on a report of the Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights, an organization that had independently sought the truth about the incident. This report points the finger of blame for the killings on a Muslim homeguard and two policemen.
Read the full article here,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080707_07
UNP, JVP in dire straits - Minister Sirisena
When considering the prevailing political atmosphere of the country and the behaviour of the party members it is clear that UNP and the JVP are in a helpless stage, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Minister Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.
Addressing a UPFA news briefing held yesterday, Minister Sirisena said it was unfortunate that the present UNP leadership criticised the ongoing security operations to eradicate terrorism.
“While on foreign tours the Opposition Leader says that our Forces can never win the war or defeat the LTTE. Unlike the then great UNP leaders such as D.S. Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake the present UNP leadership is pessimistic and tarnishes the image of the country,” the Minister said.
More than 7,000 UNP and JVP party members have deserted their parties and taken the membership of United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) since they were fed up with their earlier parties.
There wasn’t any UNP Parliamentarian, head of the party or even a lawyer who participated on the occasion of submitting nomination lists but only the candidates. “It seemed clearly that even the party members are let down by the leadership and moreover it indicated that they would lose the election,” the Minister added.
Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/09/pol01.asp
Addressing a UPFA news briefing held yesterday, Minister Sirisena said it was unfortunate that the present UNP leadership criticised the ongoing security operations to eradicate terrorism.
“While on foreign tours the Opposition Leader says that our Forces can never win the war or defeat the LTTE. Unlike the then great UNP leaders such as D.S. Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake the present UNP leadership is pessimistic and tarnishes the image of the country,” the Minister said.
More than 7,000 UNP and JVP party members have deserted their parties and taken the membership of United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) since they were fed up with their earlier parties.
There wasn’t any UNP Parliamentarian, head of the party or even a lawyer who participated on the occasion of submitting nomination lists but only the candidates. “It seemed clearly that even the party members are let down by the leadership and moreover it indicated that they would lose the election,” the Minister added.
Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/09/pol01.asp
Ajantha Mendis’ Asia Cup heroics rewarded with promotion
Sri Lanka’s latest bowling find, ‘Mystery Man’ Ajantha Mendis has been promoted as a Commissioned Officer following his magnificent performance against India in the Asia Cricket Cup Final in Karachi and in accordance with a directive from the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Second Lieutenant Mendis spun a deadly spell of 6 for 13 off just 8 overs helping Sri Lanka to her first Asia Cup triumph on foreign soil.
Mendis, the only serviceman in the national cricket team, has earned the sobriquet ‘Mystery Man’ for the incredible variety of deliveries at his disposal which completely mesmerized normally competent players of spin bowling.
Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup for a record fourth time, beating India by 100 runs.
Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php
Second Lieutenant Mendis spun a deadly spell of 6 for 13 off just 8 overs helping Sri Lanka to her first Asia Cup triumph on foreign soil.
Mendis, the only serviceman in the national cricket team, has earned the sobriquet ‘Mystery Man’ for the incredible variety of deliveries at his disposal which completely mesmerized normally competent players of spin bowling.
Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup for a record fourth time, beating India by 100 runs.
Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php
Sri Lankan 100m finalist seeking scholarship!
It took 18-year-old Shehan Abeypitiyage of Sri Lanka a good 10 minutes and a hint from an IAAF official to understand that he had just written a page of his country’s athletics history, albeit its World Junior history.Indeed, Sri Lanka has had its share of medals at Olympic Games and World Championships but never had a representative of this Asian island managed to qualify for a final at the IAAF World Junior Championships.
With his semi final run of 10.59, Abeypitiyage grabbed the last qualifying place for tomorrow’s 100m final, a feat which has made him, his mother and his country very proud.
Is it true?
“Really? I’m in the final? You’re not telling me a lie?” was Abeypitiyage’s first reaction when told that his fourth place would be good enough to get through to the next round. “Let me wait for the official results on the screen just to be sure,” the Colombo-native said cautiously.
Read more,
http://www.iaaf.org/WJC08/news/kind=100/newsid=45832.html
Photo,
http://www.iaaf.org/mm/photo/competitions/competition/81859435_3694_full-prt.jpg
Profile of Shehan Abeypitiyage,
http://www.theworlds.org/athletes/biographies/country=SRI/athcode=236408/index.html
BCCI announces squad for Sri Lanka Test series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, July 8 announced the 16-member squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka.
Leg-spinner Anil Kumble will lead the Indian team, while Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.The BCCI has rested One Day International (ODI) captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Yuvraj Singh and S. Sreesanth have also been left out of the 16-member squad. Earlier, on Monday Dhoni had pulled out of the series, citing exhaustion due to too much cricket. Besides Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag, the 16-member squad for the Test series includes Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
India's first Test against Sri Lanka begins on July 23 in Colombo.
Extracted from,
http://news.oneindia.in/2008/07/08
Leg-spinner Anil Kumble will lead the Indian team, while Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.The BCCI has rested One Day International (ODI) captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Yuvraj Singh and S. Sreesanth have also been left out of the 16-member squad. Earlier, on Monday Dhoni had pulled out of the series, citing exhaustion due to too much cricket. Besides Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag, the 16-member squad for the Test series includes Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
India's first Test against Sri Lanka begins on July 23 in Colombo.
Extracted from,
http://news.oneindia.in/2008/07/08
Sri Lanka agree to tour England
Sri Lanka will take Zimbabwe's place on a tour of England in 2009.
Zimbabwe's visit was cancelled after the England and Wales Cricket Board cut cricketing ties with them because of the political unrest in the country.
The ECB has moved quickly to fill the void for two Test matches and three one-day internationals during April and May 2009.
"We are delighted that Sri Lanka will tour in the early part of next summer," said ECB chief executive David Collier.
"The strong and close relationship that we built up during our recent winter tours to Sri Lanka allowed the ECB, at short notice, to be able to approach Sri Lanka and confirm their availability for the international matches in the early part of next summer."
Read more,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/7495407.stm
Zimbabwe's visit was cancelled after the England and Wales Cricket Board cut cricketing ties with them because of the political unrest in the country.
The ECB has moved quickly to fill the void for two Test matches and three one-day internationals during April and May 2009.
"We are delighted that Sri Lanka will tour in the early part of next summer," said ECB chief executive David Collier.
"The strong and close relationship that we built up during our recent winter tours to Sri Lanka allowed the ECB, at short notice, to be able to approach Sri Lanka and confirm their availability for the international matches in the early part of next summer."
Read more,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/7495407.stm
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