Tamil Tigers Exploit Exiles Abroad to Fund Insurgency

After 25 years of civil war, the Sri Lankan government believes that its goal of militarily defeating Tamil rebels is finally in sight. But cutting off the rebels' financial resources is a different matter.

The Sri Lankan flag, with its green-and-orange stripes and yellow image of a lion, fluttered proudly in a brisk ocean wind. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also seemed filled with pride when he stepped up to the microphone to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence on Monday of last week.

"Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history," he said defiantly, referring to the civil war that has crippled the country for the last 25 years. "Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat."

Despite the military parade that followed Rajapaksa's address, it was clear, judging by the many ordinary soldiers positioned behind sandbags, rolls of barbed wire and temporary bunkers in the capital Colombo, that the ceremony was only made possible by tight security precautions. Soldiers and armed security personnel kept a watchful eye on every shop and even every ice cream vendor along the city's harbor promenade.

Read more,
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,535316,00.html

Radha base hit hard

Two Kfir bombers of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) 10th fighter squadron took to the skies from Katunayake airbase at around 10.20AM last morning (14th). Their target was a clandestine LTTE military installation located in Vishwamadukulam region, Mullaithiv district (See previous article). In a few more minutes, the jets carried out a precision air strike on the pre identified target which was codenamed Radha base.

Radha base was a large training and logistics base home to some of the most trusted cadres in the LTTE outfit. Military intelligence had previously identified that the base was a central hub of activity for LTTE's so called anti aircraft units.

LTTE anti aircraft (AA) regiment had recently caused minimal damages to several fighter jets of the 5th Jet Squadron when they engaged in low flying bombing missions over rebel held territory. Ever since these incidents, LTTE's AA unit has been a primary target of the SLAF.

Read more,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/02/radha-base-hit-hard.html

Sri Lanka's first female paratroopers get the wings

Sri Lanka's first batch of female paratroopers today received their basic parachutists' wings by Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilakel, the Commander of the Air Force at a ceremonial wings-awarding parade held at the Katunayake Air Base.

Seven airwomen trained along with their 17 male counterparts in Navy and Air Force displayed their competencies by taking high altitude Para jumps to the airbase before receiving their wings.

Sri Lanka Air Force established the parachute training base at Katunayake in 2004 and so far 360 paratroopers have successfully completed their training at the base.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080215_06
Photos,
http://www.dinamina.lk/2008/02/16/mainpic_L.jpg

Sethu project: Beware of LTTE, says Lankan Navy chief

Sri Lankan Navy chief Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda on Thursday sought international cooperation to deal with the threat posed by the LTTE and claimed that patrolling would have to be increased if India’s Sethusamundram shipping channel project is implemented.

Wasantha Karannagoda, who is in New Delhi to take part in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, claimed that the LTTE has been a threat for Sri Lanka but if its activities were not checked the group will pose problems for other countries.

He said the Sri Lankan Navy has been successful in countering the LTTE. Welcoming the Indian Navy’s initiative to bring together sea forces of the Indian Ocean region, he said such a cooperation will help in forming a joint strategy to deal with threats posed by terrorists.

Read more,
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Micro Technologies enters into pact with Sri Lankan firm

Micro Technologies India on Friday said it has entered into a strategic agreement with Sri Lanka's real estate firm I-Systems to market micro products and its licenses in the island nation.

The firm said it has entered into an strategic agreement with the Sri Lankan company, it said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

According to Kavinda Jayasooriya, Managing Director of I-Systems, Sri Lanka has a very lucrative and rapidly expanding Market, which offers excellent opportunities for Micro Technologies security products and their product licenses.

Micro Technologies India provides high-end security products in the areas of mobile security, automobile security and monitoring systems, among others.

Read more,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/

Open Letter to Amnesty International - AI bias and deception exposed again

AI never cease to be anti GoSL and pro LTTE. I am referring to the statement by AI referred to in the BBC article with the Title "Security situation worsening - AI ref: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2008/02/080205_amnesty.shtml

Careful analysis of the statement would reveal that, AI does not blame the LTTE, who are their darlings, alone, but wish to drag GoSL and blame them as well.

AI also fail to state that the security situation is worsening, because of terrorism, again appearing to be protecting the terrorists and misleading the world.

There is reference in the article, to an alleged claymore mine attack on a bus in Mannar District on January 29 which allegedly killed 11 schoolchildren.. AI says ‘Both sides blamed each other for the attack.’ Soon afterward AI says in a typical AI fashion ‘Both the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE are failing to comply with their obligations’ without giving any evidence that GoSL is not complying with the obligations. The manner in which the statements were made, it implied that GoSL carried out the claymore mine attack.

Read more,
http://www.spur.asn.au/BS_20080214_AI_bias_and_deception_exposed_again.htm

Sri Lankan business community donates to the housing project for armed forces

Sri Lankan business leaders handed over checques for the "Api Wenuwen Api Fund" to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees today.

Under the 'Api Wenuwen Api' scheme the Ministry Of Defence in cooperation with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is building 50,000 housing units for armed forces personnel. The project is phased over five years, with 10,000 houses to be completed each year.

Any donation made to “Api Wenwen Api” Fund is treated as a donation made to a government fund and will be 100% tax deductible.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/February15132342CH.html

Lanka chooses Al Jazeera for tourism campaign

Sri Lanka Tourism has joined hands with Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel on a major publicity campaign targetting Arabic speaking travelers in the Middle East market.

"There is a need to be more pro-active in promoting the country's image among Middle East travellers. Under the advice of the President, I have made special programmes and a strategy to promote Middle East travelers to Sri Lanka," Deputy Minister of Tourism Faiszer Musthapha said, addressing a stakeholders meeting comprising tourism experts and airline operators in Doha.

He added, "The flight connectivity for Middle East is the best out of all countries and a wealthy Arab population coupled with large number of expats will provide an ideal opportunity for Sri Lanka to be one of the most preferred destinations for them which is only four and a half hours away.

Read more,
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?

Air Force jets pound Sea Tiger Training bases

Air Force jet aircraft pounded a LTTE Sea Tiger terrorist training base in the NAYARU area, MULLAITIVU and a Forward Operational Training Base in the WELIOYA area today (15) around 8.30 in the morning.

The aircraft pilots who launched the attack confirmed that the air strikes successfully targeted targets resulting in severe damage to the terrorist training bases and facilities.

The air strike was successfully launched on ground information as well as air observation.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10686

Sri Lanka Air Force Bombs LTTE “Raddha base”

Today (14), at around 10.30a.m, Sri Lanka Air force Fighter jets bombed a LTTE military base called “Raddha base” located in Teravilkulam, North East of Vishvamadukulam, It is one of the major LTTE terrorist bases in the area.

The air attack on the base was executed preciously using real time ground intelligence information, There fore the surprise attack left no time space for the LTTE terrorists to be prepared for any counter measures.

Fighter pilots confirmed the target was accurately hit and destroyed.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10678

Sri Lanka to take up sea attack issue with India

The chief of the Sri Lankan Navy is to take up the issue of an attack against a Sri Lankan naval ship from a flotilla of Indian fishing boats, a government spokesman here said Wednesday.

Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, who is currently on an official visit to India, would raise the issue, among other things, with Indian officials, spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters.

The Sri Lankan Navy said Feb 5 that up to six sailors had gone missing after a naval boat was fired upon from a flotilla of 400 Indian fishing boats, which were poaching off the seas off Talaimannar in the north.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080213/97510.htm

Navy rescues Three Tamil Nadu Fishermen in Distress in Sri Lankan Waters South of Thalaimannar.

Sri Lanka Navy rescued three Tamil Nadu fishermen, whose fishing trawler had washed ashore south of THALAIMANNAR, today (13th February 2008) around 6 a.m. They had left for fishing from MANDAPAM, which is located 15 nautical miles from DHANUSHKODI, Tamil Nadu, India.

The naval personnel of the THALAIMANNAR Naval Base, upon observing the ill-fated Indian trawler running aground, had rushed assistance to the Indian fishermen who had suffered multiple fractures and injuries due to the ordeal at sea. They were immediately taken to the sickbay of the naval base and were attended to by a naval doctor on duty. Having given them medical treatment, food and refreshment, the measures were taken with the assistance of the THALAIMANNAR Police to transfer the injured to the MANNAR government hospital for further medical treatment.

According to the injured Indian fishermen, five of them had left for fishing from MANDAPAM, which is located 15 nautical miles from DHANUSHKODI, on board the fishing trawler, “Jehovah Jireh” bearing the number TN 10 MFB.

Read more,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10663

Sri Lanka accuses international rights groups of bias

The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday accused international rights groups of bias for their alleged failure to condemn the killings of students by Tamil Tiger rebels.

Keheliya Rambukwella, the minister of Foreign Employment and the government's defense spokesman told reporters that some 14 school children had been killed as a result of recent bomb explosions blamed on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

"These groups who are very quick to blame the government have remained silent on the LTTE's killing of students," Rambukwella said.

An LTTE female suicide bomber killed 14 civilians including six students at the Colombo's busy Fort railway station on Feb. 3.

The students from a leading Colombo school were members of the baseball team and were returning to Colombo from the central town of Kandy when caught in the explosion.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/13/content_7598545.htm

Monks in Sri Lanka to counter Valentine's Day celebrations

Sri Lankan Buddhist monks plan to counter Valentine's Day celebrations in the island with programmes to lure the youth away from romantic love which they denounce as an undesirable Western concept.

The Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya (JSS), a national organisation of monks, will hold 'Adishtana' and 'Ashirwada' prayers Valentine's Day Thursday in a bid to make the youth love the country and the security forces battling Tamil Tigers.

The Daily Mirror Wednesday quoted JSS president Venerable Induragare Dhammaratana Thero as saying that Valentine's Day involved 'marketing love' as a commercial product. It also meant that love should be shown only on a particular day. All this was against Sri Lankan culture, he pointed out.

While special prayer ceremonies to foster love among all living beings were being performed on this day since 2004, this year the accent would be on showing love for the security forces, Dhammaratana Thero said.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080213/97410.htm