Vigilant civilians avert terrorists attack - Galgamuwa

A cowardly bloodbath planned by LTTE terrorists was foiled as vigilant civilians in the Galgamuwa town, found a bomb inside a crowded bus stand this morning. According to the police sources in the area two T-81mm mortar bombs were found trapped with a timer around 6 am. The timer had been fixed to explode the bombs around 7.30 am when some 7000 schoolchildren throng into the area, said the sources.

According to the police, "the bombs were wrapped in a brown paper sheets and placed inside a cardboard box as to show it as a gift pack. Unless for the vigilant civilians and for the efficient police officers in the area, hundreds of civilians including schoolchildren would have been killed, the sources added.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. The outfit's most favoured target in it s cowardly attacks has been civilians, particularly the women and children. The outfit has murdered tens and thousands of innocent civilians in village massacres, bus bombings, train bombings, and suicide bomb attacks.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080428_01

WFP to cut down food to Sri Lanka, say reports

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it is forced to cut down its rations to about one million Sri Lankans who are currently being fed in the North and East, as prices of essential grain are hitting record levels around the world.

WFP Country Director Mohamed Saleheen told local media that it would “suspend their food-for-work programme to about 175,000 people in the war-affected regions from May 1 and reduce rations of others from 1,900 kilocalories to 1,665 kilocalories per day per person.”

However he said that they would continue to assist the priority targets such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, the economically displaced, pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under five, and school feeding, which he termed as “absolutely imperative”.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April27125242JV.html

LTTE drops 3 bombs in Welioya: no damages caused

Despite heightened ground confrontations between troops and LTTE at the Wanni battle theatre, it was reported that 3 bombs were dropped by LTTE today (April 27) at the military forward defence lines in Welioya at around 1.45 a.m.

According to military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, no damages were caused to own troops in the aerial bombing.

"During the wee hours the SLAF air defence network radars detected 2 light aircraft of LTTE which were airborne and heading towards Welioya. In accordance with standard operating procedures, SLAF interceptor aircraft were made airborne in the direction of the intruding enemy craft. However, enroute to the area it was observed that the LTTE air craft were fleeing and heading back", air force sources were quoted as saying in a press release issued.

Earlier, on Saturday LTTE suffered heavy beating by SLA infantrymen when troops successfully thwarted two pronged LTTE offensive attempts to breach the military defences at Welioya.

Read more,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080427_01

Iran-funded project in Sri Lanka to become operational

Iran-funded multi-purpose Uma Oya Project will commence on Tuesday when the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially inaugurate the mega development project in Sri Lanka.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in the island on Monday, April 28, 2008 on a two day official visit. During his visit President Ahmadinejad will hold talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on issues of bilateral interests, official news website of Sri Lanka reported.

After completion the Uma Oya project will add 100 megawatts of power to the national grid. This will be the longest ever hydro-tunnel built in the country. The dam which would be constructed across the Uma Oya in Puhulpolla, Welimada, in the Uva Province, will irrigate the Kirindi Oya reservoir in Wellawaya.

The project will also provide potable water, irrigate and facilitate agriculture and other industries in the Uva and southern provinces. The project will generate both direct and indirect new job opportunities to the region and open doors for new development programs.

It will also irrigate 5,000 acres of paddy fields in Handapanagala in Wellassa, 2,000 acres in Kuda Oya, and also develop Athiliweva and Maagal Oya.

Several bilateral agreements will be signed during the Iranian president's visit.

Extracted from,
http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/menu-234/0804264491172834.htm

Government handed over Madhu Church to trustees

Sri Lanka Army opened Madhu Church for its trustees in this evening. Area Army commander and senior officials along with the trustees of the Madhu church attended this simple ceremony, our reports said.

The government said liberation of the Madhu Church precincts from the terrorists marks a watershed in the Northern war theatre. The troops trod with utmost caution in the sacred area, honoring a No Fire Zone arrangement, which the LTTE unfortunately violated. The soldiers ensured that no harm was caused to the Sacred Shrine, renowned throughout Asia.

The Army faced a formidable task vis-a-vis Madhu. The LTTE had heavily mined the area. The slightest propaganda by the troops and any damage to the Church would have sent the LTTE misinformation network into hyper drive. It is to their credit that they managed this feat without literally falling into the traps laid by the LTTE, physically and metaphorically.

Extracted from,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10764
photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/26/z_new350.jpg

'Lanka bus explosion LTTE's revenge killing'

Sri Lankan army on Saturday said the deadly explosion in a passenger bus near here on Friday which claimed 26 lives was a "revenge killing" by LTTE which lost more than 160 fighters in clashes at Jaffna.

"The LTTE seems to have resorted to such a cowardly act by undertaking bomb explosion in a bus targeting innocent civilians due to huge casualties it suffered during Wednesday's clashes in Jaffna. It seems to be revenge killing," a senior defence official said.

While the army lost 70 soldiers with five still missing in the attack on Muhamalai and Kilali in Jaffna, the death toll of the LTTE in the fighting is estimated at 160, according to the official.

With the death of two more people today, the death toll from the bomb that ripped through a bus at Pliyandala about 17 kms south of Colombo rose to 26. Around 62 people were injured in the attack.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the packed bus, saying the militants had once again resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy setbacks on the battlefield.

Rajapaksa said the attack clearly showed the LTTE was not ready to abandon violence and destruction even though the Government had repeatedly pledged its commitment to peace.

He asked the people to raise vigilance in order to help troops to foil "terrorists" destructive plans.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804261521.htm
Photo,
AP

piliyandala bus bomb -photos

photos from,
AP , http://www.lankadeepa.lk/2008/04/25/front_news/04.htm and http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080425_02

LTTE terrorists commit bloodbath against civilians; many killed and wounded - Piliyandala

LTTE terrorists have carried out a cowardly bomb attack targeting innocent civilians who were returning home after office hours at Pliyandala this evening. According to the available information the bomb has been exploded inside a Ceylon Transport Board bus parked at Piliyandala, public bus stand.

Several civilians have been killed and many injured in the explosion. The injured are being rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital .

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit notorious for crimes against innocent civilians. In its pursuit for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils, the outfit has killed and maimed over tens and innocent people in routine bus bombing , train bombing, village massacres and etc.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080425_02

Claymore mine defused

Today around 4.10 p.m. (25) on civil information to the Wolfendal street, Police road block, police searched a suspicious parcel and recovered a 11 kg claymore mine.Conceled in the parcel.

Later Special Task Force Bomb Disposal team defoced the claymore mine.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12028

Army liberates sacred Madhu shrine from terror clutches

Sri Lanka army has liberated the sacred Madhu shrine by beating off the occupying LTTE terrorists today morning (April 25). The soldiers of 8 Sri Lanka Light Infantry reached the shrine as the terrorists beat a retreat unable to withstand the army advance.

The centuries old Catholic shrine is held sacred and respected by all Sri Lankans irrespective of religion and ethnicity. Thousands of pilgrims used to visit the shrine, especially during the church feast in August, before the terrorists took control of the area in 1999.

As LTTE terrorists unleashed their "Final War" in 2006, the church became a sanctuary for thousands of civilians who wanted to avoid their children being conscripted by the terror outfit. Later, LTTE agents acting under religious fa‡ades, evicted these civilians and unashamedly made many of them to fall prey to the terrorists.

Gradually, the terrorists almost turned the shrine into a terror base by positioning its heavy guns around the church and using it as a barrack for its cadres. Though this desecration has been carried out for last few months the fact was kept secret from the general public until the sacred statue of Our Lady of Madhu was shifted two weeks ago.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080424_07

Madhu church captured

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) formations deployed in the Mannar district captured the Madhu Church today evening. The holy shrine and the surrounding area are now under the complete control of the army.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters who had camped inside the no-war-zone departed the area in face of the army advance. It was initially feared that the tigers would blow the church before the army captured it. According to our sources the church has not been seriously damaged in the countless artillery duels which took place in the past several months.

Read more,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/04/madhu-church-captured.html,

http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/04/breaking-news-army-captures-madhu.html and

http://www.lakbima.lk/articles/news1.htm

Sri Lanka not worried about possible Indian intervention

The Sri Lankan government said Thursday it was not worried about the resolution passed by an Indian state to intervene in Sri Lanka's escalating conflict between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman was reacting to a resolution adopted by the Indian state of Tamil Naducalling on the Indian central government to play a proactive role in Sri Lanka.

Rambukwella told reporters that Sri Lanka understands the political compulsions in neighboring India in getting drawn into action with regard to the conflict in the island, "but the Indian government stands supportive of our campaign to eliminate terrorism," Rambukwella said.

India's Tamil Nadu state assembly headed by its Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi adopted the resolution on Wednesday.

"India should arrange for talks between the two parties and help arrive at a political solution," the resolution said.

Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state across Sri Lanka's northern border, is home to over 50 million Tamils with ties to Sri Lankan Tamil community.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/24/content_8044537.htm

SLAF bombards Black Tiger training facility- Mankulama

Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets made precision air sorties this morning (Apr 24) at what was identified as a 'black tiger' training facility, located at Pannikkankulama, North West Mankulama junction, in Mullaittiuvu district.

Speaking to defence.lk Air Force Spokesperson Andrew Wijesooriya said, the target was engaged by SLAF fighters at around 6.20a.m. According to defence sources, the air raids were conducted on reliably obtained information of intensified terrorist activities in the area.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080424_04

Heavy casualties in Muhamalai battle

Both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) have suffered heavy casualties in the fighting that raged along Muhamalai and Kilali defence lines since yesterday (23rd) dawn.

Nearly 120 SLA soldiers have either been killed or gone missing in the operation that lasted for 10 hours. 370 soldiers are reported to be wounded. Around 250 of the wounded are in P1 (Seriously wounded) and P2 (Less seriously wounded) categories. In addition to these casualties, 4 main battle tanks (excluding the T-55 that was lost on the 22nd) of the army have also sustained damage. LTTE casualties stand at 52 killed and an unknown number injured.

SLA soldiers who valiantly battled it out on a terrain which the enemy had the advantage, even managed to storm the first LTTE defence line on two fronts. The LTTE, employing a similar tactic it used back in 2006, withdrew to secondary lines and brought a large volume of artillery fire on the troops consolidating newly captured positions. It was this rain of artillery shells that caused most of SLA casualties.

Extracted from,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/04/