Ship from Sri Lanka hits Bengal jetty

A ship carrying containers and construction equipment from Sri Lanka lost control Saturday and hit a Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) jetty near here. No one was injured in the accident.

'The ship was coming from Colombo with heavy machineries and containers. On its way to Kolkata port, it lost control due to some technical problems and hit a jetty at Nurpur in South 24 Parganas district,' Kolkata Port Trust Chairman A.K Chanda told IANS.

He said the steering of the ship got jammed and the captain had no option but to stop it abruptly.

'The jetty was completely damaged but no human injury was reported in the incident,' Chanda said.

Extracted from,
http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20080322/105913.htm

Liberation for people in North soon - TMVP

The Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pukkikal (TMVP) said that the people of the East were thankful to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government and the military for ending the fearful era under the clutches of the LTTE terrorists.

The first woman Mayor of the Batticaloa district, Sivageetha Prabakharan of the TMVP told the 'Sunday Observer' that the TMVP hopes the Government would liberate the people in the North from the LTTE terrorists soon.

"We wish that our people in the North too will breathe the air of freedom soon," she said.

Agreeing that the TMVP still shelters children, she said that after the split, the LTTE tortured the younger brothers of the TMVP carders.

Mayor Prabhakaran, who seeks Government assistance to develop the district, assured that public money allocated for development would not be allowed to be misused under her administration.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/03/23/pol01.asp

Nedumaran, 164 party workers arrested

Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran and many others were arrested in the city on Saturday for defying a ban on staging a demonstration against the alleged sale of arms by India to Sri Lanka, among other issues.

Nedumaran and 164 others, including 15 women from various pro-Tamil groups were held after they tried to stage a demonstration at the Memorial Hall here without police permission, police said.

The protesters also denounced attacks on the Tamil Nadu fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, in the international waters.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200803221915.htm

Sea Tiger Coordinating Centre Destroyed

AFTER PROLONGED SURVEILLANCE, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter craft shelled an LTTE base northwest of PUDUKUDIRIPPU, MULLAITHIVU Saturday (22) at about 2.10 p.m.

Intelligence reports revealed the target was a coordinating centre of Sea Tigers.Pilots confirmed the Sea Tiger base was destroyed in the air attack.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=11791

LTTE attacking Indian fishermen, not Lankan Govt: SL Minister

Sri Lankan Minister for Highways Jayaraj Fernando today said the frequent attacks on Indian fishermen at the midsea were carried out by the banned LTTE and not by the Lankan Navy. In an informal chat with the newspersons here, he said it was only the LTTE, who attacked Indian fishermen. But they put the blame on Sri Lankan Navy to tarnish the image of Sri Lankan Government.

He said the Sri Lankan Government was keen on national integration within the island nation and not for any partition. ''We will not allow disintegration of the nation,'' he asserted.

He said the Sri Lankan Government was always ready for settling the ethnic issue through peaceful negotiations but the LTTE did not believe in these talks and instead they wanted to create problems in the island nation.

Read more,
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?

Windies fans feel the absence of Lasith

Walking out of the National Stadium after the drawn game between Sri Lanka and a Guyana Cricket Board President’s Eleven team I was confronted by a group of Guyanese cricket enthusiasts who noticed me sporting a Sri Lanka Cricket tee shirt.

‘You playing for Sri Lanka’, asked one of them in the group. ‘My playing days were long over’, I said, laughing to myself.

‘Hey mann, where is that mann Malinga? asked another in the group. I said is it Malinga Bandara? ‘No, no mann. That guy with the weired hair do and the peculiar slinging action. Oh, is it Lasith Malinga? That de guy’, they all shouted.

‘He didn’t play in this game. Is he being rested for the Test match’, they queried.

I said: ‘No my friends, he has been emitted due to injury and is not in the squad’, I said much to their disappointment.

‘Mann, when Malinga was here he took 4 in 4, you remember’, they asked. I said I was at the scene of action that day and lapped up every moment of that 4 in 4 blast, in the World Cup game at this venue, against South Africa, and described it to my newspaper.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/22/spo03.asp

Sri Lanka starts whale watching

Sri Lanka is launching whale and dolphin watching tours in the island's Western and Southern waters in an effort to exploit a growing trend in eco-tourism, officials said.

The joint venture between Walkers Tours, a unit of John Keells Holdings, and state-rn Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC) is part of a government and industry effort to increase the economic contribution from the island's fisheries sector.

Micheal Elias, chief executive of Walkers Tours, said the initiative would combine the marketing strengths of the private sector operator with the resources such as the boats and crews of the CFHC.

Read more,
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?

Troops capture one Square Kilometer in between Parayanakulam and Elanthivan area

The Army troops captured one square kilometer in between PARAYANAKULAM and ELANTHIVAN area today (22) morning. Fifteen LTTE terrorists were reported killed in the confrontation.

Due to the incident two soldiers were killed and another nine soldiers were reported injured. Five LTTE dead bodies were recovered by the troops subsequently.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=11312

Air strikes at LTTE sea tiger base - Mullaittiuvu

SLAF fighter jets launched precision air strikes at a pre-identified LTTE sea tiger base today (March 22), 7km North of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaittiuvu at 11.15 a.m., security sources said.

The air strikes came following intense terrorist activity monitored in the area since this morning, security sources said.

Pilots confirmed to have inflicted heavy damages to the LTTE sea tiger facility, sources further added.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080322_04

Navy Fast Attack Craft sinks in mystery blast; 6 crewmembers survive

A Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft (FAC) has been caught in a possible underwater blast this morning (March 22). According to the defence sources, the locally built P438 deployed in northeastern coastal waters off Nayaru has sunk due the blast that occurred around 2.30.a.m.

Upon the receipt of the SOS message from the sinking craft other sea units have immediately launched a search and rescue mission in the area. According to the naval sources, 6 crewmembers, including the Officer in Charge of the craft have been rescued so far.

The survivors have reported an underwater blast that damaged the boat's hull and caused it to be sunk in a short time. According to the survivors there has been no sea confrontation nor any LTTE craft were present in the area. Navy suspects the blast has caused by a possible sea mine or due to some underwater weapon developed by the terrorists.

Search and rescue mission continues.

Read more,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080322_01

Army bus caught to LTTE pressure mine - Mannar

Bus carrying army personnel caught to a pressure mine explosion in the Mannar area around 7.15 p.m. today.

According to the initial information reached, 2 army personnel were killed while 6 others received injuries due to this explosion took place in general area south-bar in Mannar.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080321_03

TNA withdraws from EP poll at Prabhakaran's instance

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has ordered Tiger proxy TNA not to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections in the Eastern Province. He issued this order when TNA Parliamentarians were attending the funeral of slain colleague Sivanesan.

According to reports from the Wanni, LTTE political wing leader Nadesan had reiterated to the TNA MPs the LTTE unwavering commitment to a Tamil homeland in the North and East and that their objective will be achieved in the near future.

He had also ordered the TNA MPs to agitate diplomatic missions in Colombo and complain that the Government was violating human rights and also to speak against the ongoing conflict.

The fact that elections are to be held in a demerged East and its implication on the Tamil homeland concept encompassing the Eastern Province had also weighed heavily in the LTTE's decision to order the TNA out of the poll.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/21/sec01.asp

SriLankan Airlines works harder to lure Indian tourists

SriLankan Airlines has announced it has redoubled its efforts aimed at bringing more tourists to Sri Lanka from India, in support of the country’s tourism industry.

“We are fully focused on our responsibility as the National Carrier to support our own tourism industry, although the airline itself has a thriving business in transit passengers traveling through our hub in Colombo,” SriLankan Airines employee said.

According to the airline, its most recent promotion in India offers discounted fares throughout the month of February for Indian travelers below the age of 27 to enjoy exciting holidays in Sri Lanka, with one condition--travelers must spend a minimum of three days in Sri Lanka.

“In the past, travel advisories in European countries have led to drops in arrivals from some of the island’s traditional tourism markets, although tourists have never been targeted in the country’s conflict,” the airline added.

“The airline has invested heavily in recent years in publicizing Sri Lanka as a destination in India, drawing attention to its value for money shopping, wide range of cuisine, superior hotel and convention facilities, cultural wonders, and diverse climates and landscapes.”

Read more,
http://www.eturbonews.com/1792/srilankan-airlines-works-harder-lure-indian-t

Information from the public Police seize stock of Explosives etc

The MEDAWACHCHIAY POLICE acting on information received from the public seized a large stock of explosives and accessories as given below from a van bearing No M.W.P.B 1824 which was proceeding towards MANNAR near the MEDAWACHCHIAYA roadblock in the evening around 5.45 on Wednesday (19).

Gelignite rods 242
Detonator cord 125 meters

Two suspects were taken into custody by the MEDAWACHCHIYA POLICE .
Police investigations reveal that the Gelignite rods and detonator wire was cunningly concealed inside an enclosure made for the purpose inside the vehicle.
MEDAWACHCHIYA POLICE are conducting further investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=11264