Cheap Kills

The LTTE is losing the support of expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils. Even in India, where the Tamils originally came from, more and more LTTE operatives are being hunted down and arrested. In the last two years, India has arrested 55 LTTE operatives. In the last week, key members of a gunrunning operation were arrested. In Europe, there are now public demonstrations against the LTTE, something that would have been impossible a few years ago, because LTTE enforcers were present to punish those Tamils who were "unpatriotic."

The casualties have been low this year (a few hundred dead and wounded a week), but consistently in favor of the army (about ten LTTE dead for each government one). Every week, the LTTE loses ground. Three years ago, the LTTE controlled over fifteen percent of Sri Lanka, now they have only about six percent (4,000 square kilometers). The Tamil population in this area numbers about 200,000 (a little over one percent of the national population).

The government continues to allow food and other supplies to pass into LTTE controlled territory, as it always has, and the LTTE tries to force civilians to move with them when the army advances into LTTE territory.

Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080810.aspx

Chintana Vidanage in action this morning

CHINA: Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games gold medallist Chinthana Vidanage will be seen in action in the weight lifting competition on day four of the XX1Xth Olympic Games here today.

Vidanage, who created Sri Lanka history with back to back medals at the South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, will have a tough task when he competes under Group C in men’s 69 kg category of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games weightlifting competition at Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium (BUAA) Gymnasium here at 10 a.m. today. The Lankan weightlifter looked determined on the eve of his pet event. “I have been training hard, putting a lot of effort to prepare for the Olympics.

But I know Olympics is a big event and the things are highly competitive here. It is not going to be easy but I am focused on my event to do my best,” Vidanage said after a light work out.

Sri Lanka shooter Edirisinghe M. Senanayake, placed 48th in the men’s 10m air pistol event on Saturday, is making preparations for his pet event - the men’s 50m pistol. Senanayake is due to have his final training session today before he fires at the men’s 50m air pistol qualification round at the Beijing Shooting Range commencing tomorrow from 6.30 a.m.

Tomorrow will be a D-day for Sri Lanka as boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake will take on Latin American silver medallist Robeniison Vieira of Brazil in the first round of the men’s 51kg flyweight event at the Workers’ Gymnasium here.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/11/news30.asp
Photo,
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news%5C2006%5C3%5C6054_image_headline.html

Mendis sets record as India slump

Spin sensation Ajantha Mendis broke a 62-year-old record to help Sri Lanka close in on a series win over India.

India lead the hosts by just 14 runs after being reduced to 161-5 in their second innings on day three of the third and final Test in Colombo.

Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara was finally out for 144 in Sri Lanka's 396.

Mendis's two wickets, which included Sachin Tendulkar, took his series total to 25 and broke Alec Bedser's record for the most wickets in a debut series.

"It is a phenomenal achievement. He came in when Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) needed support and he rose to the occasion well," said Sangakkara.

"He has gone beyond our expectations and the important thing for him is to keep learning."

Read more,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7552523.stm

Assassinating Rajiv Gandhi was a big blunder by a short-sighted LTTE

The newly elected chief minister of Sri Lanka’s eastern provincial council was a child soldier in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), only 15 years old, when former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in May 1991. In his first interview with an Indian newspaper, S. Santira Kanthan, alias Pillayan, calls the assassination a big mistake on the part of LTTE. Edited excerpts:

What made you join the LTTE and what do you think about it now?
I joined the LTTE in 1991 when I was 15 years old and I thought that through the armed struggle, we could achieve the rights of the Tamil people.

One time the LTTE was very strong, the people believed that it was the only hope for the Tamils, but now they are struggling. That is why the people ended up voting for us.

Why did you leave the LTTE?

In 2004, differences between the northern and eastern provinces became accentuated. I am very attached to the Eastern Province people because I was born there and I know how they were discriminated by the LTTE. I knew that it would be difficult to get Tamil Eeelam (independent homeland for which the Tamil rebels are battling) because the LTTE started killing their own Tamil people. The killing of Rajiv Gandhi was a big blunder which we will never be able to rectify. We lost the dream of Tamil Eelam and left the LTTE and thought better to start a political party through which we can get the aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people (fulfilled).

Where were you when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated?
I was in the LTTE training camp.

Read more,
http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/10234519/Assassinating-Rajiv-Gandhi-was.html