LTTE terrorists launch abortive air raid at Trincomalee navy camp

LTTE terrorist have carried out an abortive air raid attempt at the naval base Trincomalee short while ago. According to the available information, the terror aircraft have dropped two improvised bombs.

More information will follow.

Source,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080826_04

Nachchikuda Sea Tiger Base is hit hard

Source,
SLRC

Govt. doubts LTTE has chemical weapons, but certain it is on last legs

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday said that as far as the Government is concerned there are no chemical weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in the country.

Expressing his doubts on whether the LTTE has chemical weapons, he said he was certain of one thing, and that was, that the LTTE is on its last legs. "Our security forces have cornered them in their holes in a stretch of wilderness in the North of the country. We expect to be soon rid of this menace, weapons and all, but life must go on and people must always be alert," the Prime Minister said inaugurating Regional meeting of Asian Parliamentarians to discuss the National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Colombo where he was the Chief Guest.

"There is no harm in talking about such things, to be aware, and to guard against possible evil intentions harboured by others now, or in the future," he said.

As described by the CIA, LTTE is the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world. "We have to be prepared and alert."

He stressed the need for all countries in the region to cooperate in combating the menace of terrorism as it is a scourge that afflicts and threatens all of us.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/08/26/news1.html

Besieged civilians rise against terror in Wanni

A new form of terror-created “humanitarian catastrophe,” unfolding in the Wanni, as valiant members of the Armed Forces are making rapid strides on west of A-9 road and elsewhere in Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi districts, appears to have gone unnoticed to terror sympathisers, both here and abroad.

Many harrowing tales, emanating from hundreds of Wanni based “captives” speak louder and clearer, as those forcefully ejected innocent civilians are virtually held incommunicado facing Hobson’s Choice.

Tiger terrorist concentrations, now in a state of utter disorganisation and panic with more and more hurriedly picked terrorist reinforcements being sent to Thunukkai and Nachchikuda areas, pulling out most from Puthukkudiyiruppu and Kilinochchi uncleared areas, including those used by Tigers as “Tiger police traffic” men and women, have begun to mobilise Wanni civilians to be used as “human shields” since their manpower resources are fast thinning out.

On the diktats of Tiger area leaders, hundreds of civilians resident in areas such as Nedunkerny, Chemmalai, Alampil, Nayaru between Puliyankulam and Mankulam and also the public in Vallaipadu, Jayapuram and Kiranchi areas were reportedly fleeing towards Oddusudan and Puthukkudiyiruppu areas and Akkarayan areas respectively, though many of those trapped civilians insisted on entering cleared areas under the Government control.

Tigers are reportedly busy simultaneously enlisting civilians as well as LTTE prisoners, convicted for minor offences for fresh deployments, as other LTTE deserters who were kept detained after arrests, are also being moved to Welioya area after issuing “do or die” threats on them.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/26/sec03.asp

Land Stretch Adjoining Tannimurippukulam Tank Captured

TROOPS OF THE 59 Division in WELIOYA, making further milestones in their forward march brought another eight hundred meter (800m) long stretch of land under their control from the TANNIMURIPPUKULAM tank bund, about 9.5 km to the north East of NADUNKERNI Monday (25) afternoon.

In their valiant march, troops attacked Tiger positions and smashed them on their way before the land strip was captured. At least eight terrorists were confirmed killed and eleven more badly wounded, ground sources said.

Troops following the overrunning, recovered two terrorist dead bodies and one T-56 weapon from the captured area.

Troops are now in the process of removing booby traps while dominating the area.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15508

“Sri Lankan Navy won’t fire on Indian fishermen”

Sri Lanka has assured India that there will be no firing by the Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen hereafter, M.K. Narayanan, National Security Adviser, said on Monday.

In the event of arrest of the fishermen, they would be released in the “shortest possible time.” They would be given “humanitarian treatment as far as possible,” and there would be no “maltreatment” of the Indian fishermen, Mr. Narayanan told journalists, emerging from a 40-minute-long meeting with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and senior officials of the State government at the Secretariat.

Describing as “positive understanding” the outcome of discussions at bilateral meetings between India and Sri Lanka early this month prior to the summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, Mr. Narayanan said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa went into great detail on each of the points raised by the Chief Minister in his letter to Dr. Singh and personal discussions with him.

On the basis of the discussions, a “tentative understanding” was reached, he said.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082650050100.htm