Food Poisoning Makes Soldiers Admit to Hospital

ONE HUNDRED and twenty-two soldiers attached to HENANIGALA Army camp in DEHIATTAKANDIYA were admitted to DEHIATTAKANDIYA hospital this morning (28) following a history of food Poisoning.

Reports said soldiers after consumption of their breakfast with fish have developed vomiting and fainting due to reasons still to be investigated.

All 122 soldiers in hospital are reportedly out of danger but the medical experts maintain it would take some time for full recovery. A sample of the food is to be referred to the government analyst and the Medical Research Institute in Colombo 8 for further investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15574

Nachchikuda Sea Tiger Base is hit hard

Source,
SLRC

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

Army takes commanding position west of A-9 bags Tunukkai, eyes Mallavi, Mankulam under threat

The LTTE yesterday abandoned Tunukkai on the Vanni front as the army brought the strategically important area west of the A9 road under its control.

The withdrawal came after three weeks of fierce fighting between the 57 Division and LTTE units spearheaded by the elite Charles Anthony ‘Brigade.’ The SLAF over the past few weeks engaged a range of LTTE targets in the area to facilitate the ground assault. The elite Special Forces troops assigned to the 57 Command had played a pivotal role in the fightng, the military said. The military acknowledged that the battle for Tunukkai had the toughest confrontation faced by the 57 Division commanded by Major General Jagath Dias in the recent past.

After failing to breakthrough LTTE positions south of Tunukkai, the army on Thursday had pushed towards the town from their positions west and north of the town situated halfway along the Mankulam-Vellankulam road.

The 57 Division had secured Madhu, Palampiddi, Mundumurippu, Periyamadhu, Naddakandal, Chiradikkulam and Kalvilan areas before its latest success..

Army headquarters said that ground operations on the western front had reached a critical stage with troops taking a commanding position against LTTE fortifications along the A9 road between Omanthai and Mankulam.

Senior military officials said the Task Force I on the Kilinochchi front, 57 Division on the Mullaitivu front and Task Force II advancing northwards on the right flank of the 57 Division and west of the A9, had taken the upper hand in the overall campaign in the Vanni west.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/08/23/news2.html

Tunukkai, Uyilankulam & South of Akkarayankulam Tank Fall under Valiant Troops after 25 Years

THE MUCH-TALKED TERRORIST stronghold, TUNUKKAI, about 20 km west of MANKULAM, one more central connecting village, UYILANKULAM, and also the southern edge of the AKKARAYANKULAM tank, about 12 km to the southwest of KILINOCHCHI town centre were finally brought under government troops as dawn fell on Friday (22) bringing a humiliating defeat for the terror outfit that has been ranked as the most ruthless, the Army Headquarters announced.

This is the first time in the history of the so-called “Eelam War” Sri Lankan troops dominated these areas striking a major blow to the LTTE terrorist outfit which has murdered thousands of innocent civilians, politicians, democrats, intellectuals, statesmen, members of the Armed Forces and the Police.

Agriculturally-rich TUNUKKAI, one of the nerve centres of Tiger outfit was serving as a major administrative hub responsible for coordination of all Sea Tiger attacks, deployment of LTTE terrorists, distribution of armaments, planning of clandestine operations, abduction and evacuation of civilians from different venues, etc for the past few years. This terrorist stronghold became busily operational after the recent fall of notoriously famous Sea Tiger base, VIDATTALTTIVU which was earlier regarded as a “no-entry zone” by Tigers.

UYILANKULAM, another farming village that lies between the southern edge of the AKKARAYANKULAM tank was also dominated by Tigers. It functioned as a secret transit location for their operations, since it is situated quite close to their administrative financial hub, KILINOCHCHI and other important locations.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15455
Map,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080822_04
Video,
SLRC

Suicide Jacket materials found in Colombo – Bomb found in Kandy

Accessories used to assemble suicide jackets were found hidden in the premises of a Catholic church in Olcott Mawatha in Pettah, by the security forces this morning, (22), Ministry of Defence said.

The recovery was made on information provided by a civilian around 8.50 am. The materials included detonators, switches and a few other items that had been concealed inside the St. Phillip Nerish Church in Pettah, in Colombo.

These items also included five remote antennas.

Meanwhile Kandy Police conducting a search operation on a tip off have uncovered a bomb weighing around 1 kg from the Balagolla area, a suburb in Kandy.

The bomb, containing gelignite sticks and C-4 high explosive, had been hidden in a sand mound near a privately owned residence in the Balagolla area, sources said.

The Army bomb disposal team later defused the bomb, sources added.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?
Photos,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15454

Troops enter strategic Thunukkai town

Video Source,
SLRC

Army troops attached to the 57 Division yesterday entered the strategically important Thunukkai town, an alternative hideout of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in the Western flank of the Mullaitivu district, west of the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 road and are continuing search operation to flush out Tiger cadres, military sources told the Daily News last night.

"The fall of Thunukkai is imminent by Friday afternoon as troops are flushing out Tiger cadres," Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said. Meanwhile, military sources said that intermittent clashes erupted yesterday too with the LTTE, as troops entered this strategically important town to gain full control of it.

Sources said troops were poised for more clashes as LTTE was offering stiff resistance towards the advancing troops as they are on the verge of losing one of their strongholds in the Wanni.

Thunukkai is on the Mankulam-Vellankulam Road which connects the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 Road to the North Western coast. The capture of Thunukkai will mark a huge milestone in the Security Forces' efforts to liberate the entire North from LTTE clutches as it would be a giant leap towards reaching the Tiger heartland Kilinochchi.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/22/news02.asp

Security Forces breach outer LTTE defences of Nachchikuda

Latest reports arriving from the Nachchikuda battlefront indicates that that troops of Task Force 01, fighting their way into the enemy territory on the Mannar- Poonaryn road (A-32) on the Kilinochchi southern front have reached the outer defences of Nachchikudha amid heavy resistance from the LTTE terrorists.

Troops have succeeded in taking control of a 1 km stretch of the earth hump made by the LTTE, located in the Vannerikkulam area, east of Nachchikudha, Ministry of Defence said on its website a while ago.

Fierce fighting throughout the day had resulted in 12 terrorists being killed and 15 wounded, according to intercepted LTTE radio transmissions.

Four soldiers were reported injured in the battle.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6784&Itemid=44

Wanni operation 20 th August 2008

Source,
SLRC

Lankan Prez declares war will continue until last Tiger is killed

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that the military campaign against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will continue 'until the last rebel is killed or every inch of land is captured'.

President Rajapaksa made these remarks while addressing an election rally of his United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at Ruwanwella in Sabaragamuwa province.

'We liberated the eastern province and will liberate the north too very shortly. There is no turning back under any circumstances or influence now, until every inch of land is recaptured and each and every terrorist is killed or captured,' the state-run Daily News quoted the president as saying at the rally.

Pointing out that it was by no means an easy task and that the troops have to face 'daunting challenges and obstacles as they proceed', the president however, expressed hope that 'they would end up victoriously'.

Remarks by President Rajapaksa, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has come at a time when advancing troops are locked in fierce fighting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry said in a report Tuesday that the LTTE launched heavy artillery attacks, targeting troops manning the defences at Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas in Jaffna peninsula, leaving three soldiers dead and two wounded Monday.

'The troops responded with artillery and rocket fire and brought the situation under control. Three soldiers were killed in the attack,' the ministry said Tuesday.

Read more,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0808204370180037.htm

LTTE fighting (a losing battle) for Kilinochchi

Despite fierce resistance, the LTTE's last bastion in the Northwestern coast at Nachchikudah may fall in the coming days. LTTE took steps to reinforce Nachchikudah with fighters from the Jaffna FDL. They have also dug a large trench from Nachchikudah to the interior of Karachchi situated in Kilinochchi District (to the northeast).

The trench war is seen primarily in Mannar and the Northern FDL where tank and Mechanized Infantry Units are lurking. However, it should be a matter of time before the trench is infiltrated by 58 troops specially trained for the task.

Special Forces and 3 Commando Regiment troops have started ambushing reinforcements from Kilinochchi to Nachchikuda, Tunukkai and Mallavi. The route from Kilinochchi to Nachchikuda/Uylankulam, Tunukkai and Mallavi is being infiltrated by Special Forces and 3 Commando elite teams on a regular basis. This is in addition to regular troop operations.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/ltte-fighting-for-kilinochchi.html

Ariyalai Paddy-Fields in HSZ Released for Cultivation

THE SRI LANKA ARMY, honouring the commitments given to public authorities in Jaffna, has released a total of 103 acres of cultivable paddy-fields under the High Security Zone (HSZ) in the eastern Ariyalai area between railway tracks and A-9 road, on the instructions of Jaffna Commander Major General G.A Chandrasiri.

A total of 73 farmers registered in the Eastern Ariyalai Farmers’ Society began their tilling work in the newly released paddy-fields on Sunday (17) after they were conducted to the area by civil coordinating officers of the 51 Division. Those farmers are to receive a special identity card in view of security concerns.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15369

The Devil You Know

So far this year, the LTTE has lost nearly 6,000 dead, while the army has lost nearly 600 soldiers. In the last two years, since the ceasefire collapsed, the LTTE has had over 9,000 of its fighters killed, while the army has lost nearly 1,800 dead. In that time, LTTE controlled territory has shrunk from 15,000 square kilometers, to 4,000.

The LTTE personnel and territorial losses are accelerating because the LTTE can no longer maintain a "front line" of bunkers. The army is thus able to move deep into LTTE controlled territory, taking towns and major bases the LTTE depend on to recruit troops and extract supplies, especially food. Over the last few months, over 100,000, mostly Tamil, civilians up north have fled their homes and are being housed in refugee camps. The LTTE population losses mean fewer recruits, and less armed resistance to the army.

The air force and navy have crippled LTTE smuggling efforts, but not eliminated them. Tamil fishermen from India are still willing to risk arrest or injury to move weapons, medicine and diesel fuel to LTTE controlled beaches in northern Sri Lanka. The fee paid for these trips has been going up from about $1,000 to over $2,000. But the blockade has eliminated the use of cargo ships for these supply runs. So instead of getting hundreds of tons of supplies at time, the LTTE has to be satisfied with a few tons.

Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080818.aspx

Govt ready to shelter civilians fleeing Wanni battle

As fighting intensifies and the security forces move forward in the Wanni to capture the LTTE’s heartland, the government said it was fully geared to provide facilities for an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 civilians trapped in uncleared areas.

Despite food and medicine going into the hands of the LTTE, the government will continue to supply essential food items for civilians in the Wanni.

Government Agents of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar have been instructed by the Senior Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa and Minister of Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe to prepare an assessment to expedite the humanitarian assistance for those who flee uncleared areas.

Over 12,000 civilians who fled uncleared areas during the past two months have been provided with all basic facilities.

The Wanni Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasooriya said that arrangements had been made to provide facilities for civilians fleeing uncleared areas and the sites to set up new IDP centres had been already earmarked.

“We have instructed the GAs to inform civilians that the security forces are moving into the Wanni and asked them to abandon the uncleared areas as facilities have been arranged to welcome them”, he said.

He said that there would not be a food crisis in the Wanni as the government sent all essential food items through GAs, NGOs and INGOs.

“The GAs have confirmed that there is no scarcity of food whatsoever in these areas”, he said.

Maj. Gen. Jayasooriya said that civilians who come to government controlled areas would initially be sheltered in schools and religious places while they would be provided all basic facilities and housed in IDP centres to be set up soon. “We have facilities to accommodate all new IDPs”, he said.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/08/17/pol01.asp

A Rescue Mission by SLAF

Video Source,
http://www.youtube.com/user/kkair



Video Source,
SLRC

Original Source,
http://www.defence.lk/videos/20080815Rescue.wmv

Read more about the mission,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/lrrp-recue-video-posted-on-defencelk.html
and
http://www.rivira.lk/2008/08/17/ranabima.htm

Tunukkai about to fall

The strategic town of Tunukkai is about to fall. Sources indicated to this site that the town will fall within the next day or two. Already, small groups of Tigers are trying to escape the town as the army bypassed it and lay in ambush behind the town. Defence sources say that Tigers might abandon Tunukkai to fight another day and defend Kilinochchi.

If Tunukkai falls in the next few days, it won't take long for Mallavi to also fall. The fall of Mallavi will result in the fall of Mankulam on the A9. If the Army reaches the jungles at Mankulam and Kokavil, Kilinochchi will become untenable.

The Army took over control of the Vellankulam Tunukkai road last month. They are now in control of the Mulangavil-Tunukkai road. Units have also ventured into the Mallavi-Murugandi road. There is a famous Pullayar/Ganesha Kovil at Murugandi.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/tunukkai-about-to-fall.html

Security forces positioned in striking distances to Kilinochchi: LTTE loses grip over Administration hub at Mulankavil

The valiant troops of the 58 Division flanking the Western coastal boundary of the Wanni battlefront advancing in the Kilinochchi District along the A-32 Mannar -Pooneryn trunk road yesterday (Wednesday) gained control over a main terror bastion township, Mulankavil.

The LTTE garrison town of Mulankavil came under security forces control following intense fighting between troops and LTTE over days reportedly killing 20 terrorists including an area LTTE leader Thennaman. Security forces came victorious as no fatalities were caused during the pitched battles.

Mulankavil was the second most important administrative hub next to Kilinochchi for the last decade and a large township in the western coast, 58 Division Commander Brigadier Shaveendra Silva said speaking to defence.lk.

The Mahaviru day celebrations last year was held in the central ground at Mulankavil he said adding that the Pongu Tamil festivals were also consistently held at the location. This was also declared as the 'Mahaviru Town' by the LTTE security sources said.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080814_04
Videos,
SLRC

“Nobody Dares to Speak Against LTTE in Wanni” – Surrendered LTTE Cadre

“TIGER LEADERS are using thousands of child soldiers for war. They recruit children directly from schools. Parents and teachers are helpless and nobody dares to speak against LTTE orders or their diktats. Wanni people are now fully disgusted with the LTTE and they do not trust them any longer,” so says a 21 year old Tiger surrendee to the Army troops in Jaffna.

The surrendered Tiger cadre, identified as “Thileepan” in the organization was nineteen years of age when he was forcibly taken away by Tigers during a pilgrimage he has made to Madhu in the company of his mother and sisters in the year 2006. The surrendee who claimed that he was for peace and does not want to resort to violence, further told the Army in his confessions, the following;

“Senior LTTE men, operative from the rear of their defences are used to send new recruits to the front as canon fodder. Tigers are not capable of resisting attacks of the troops. LTTE members are now tired of fighting against well-trained government troops. They are now withdrawing. Their “Eelam Dream” is confined only to a dream. They will never achieve it.”

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15278

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

Tamilnet's latest lies

The Tamilnet website, manned by Pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora 'journalists' continues inventing news stories favorable to their losing war. In one of its recent and most blatant lies, the website announced on Tuesday, August 2008, that '23 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and four wounded in a Claymore ambush at Periyavaddavaan in Tharavai (Thoppikkal) area in Batticaloa district Tuesday evening around 6:30'.

Supposedly, 'well informed sources in Batticaloa' had told this to TamilNet. The site goes on to claim that this 'is the first major ambush on SLA since the Sri Lankan forces occupied the Thoppikkal region an year ago'.

In a small line below the article, the site reveals the truth, that 'only one SLA soldier was killed in the ambush and three wounded'. Although these lies are clearly to a Diaspora audience, it reveals the dwindling quality of tamilnet's sources in the East. Comparatively speaking, Tamilnet sources in the Wanni still continues as evidenced by an article today alleging a shelling of an innocents house in the Wanni.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/tamilnets-latest-lie.html