Sri Lanka says no Indian pressure to give up military action

The Sri Lankan government on Thursday refuted claims by the main left party that India had pressurized it to abandon the current military thrust against Tamil Tiger rebels.

The JVP, or the People's Liberation Front, accused the Indian government of bringing pressure on the Sri Lankan government to stop the military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by sending a top level delegation to the island last week.

"There was no such pressure. The visit was a demonstration of the increased co-operation between the two countries," Anura Yapa, the government spokesman and the minister of Media and Information told reporters.

The unscheduled visit by Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan and Defense Secretary Sri Vijay Singh has led to many a speculation.

Yapa said both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments believe in a political solution to the island's long drawn out separatist armed conflict and the military solution was never an option.

The Sri Lankan government is currently engaged in a military campaign against the rebels who are fighting for a separate homeland for the Tamil minority in the north and east.

The military campaign so far has resulted in the rebels from being evicted from the Eastern Province and the government maintains that the rebels have now been limited to just two districts in the north.

Extracted from,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/26/content_8445162.htm

Late Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunge Remembered

The second death anniversay one of the veteran War Heroes in contemporary times Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunge who was brutally slain by Tiger terrorists falls today (June 26).

Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunge perished along with three more Army soldiers and a civilian in an LTTE suicide bomb attack at Pannipitiya, exactly a year ago while he was being driven to his office at Colombo Army Headquarters. A sea of mourners paid their last respects to this fallen military hero who was holding the post of Deputy Chief of Staff in the Army. The barbaric slaying occurred exactly two months after a Tamil Tiger woman cadre miserably failed to claim the life of Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka.

The second year commemorative activities to invoke merits on the departed Lieutenant General commenced at his ancestral home in Lewella, Kandy with an all-night Pirith chanting performed by a group of distinguished Buddhist monks. An alms-giving follows the following day.

Lt. General ParamiKulatunge fell prey to an LTTE suicide bomber on 26 June 2006 near Pannipitiya junction, Maharagama as he was proceeding towards Colombo during morning rush hours. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff Sri Lanka Army at the time of his demise.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14144

Read more about Lt. General Parami Kulatunga,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parami_Kulatunga and
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/parami.htm

Photos,
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/parami.htm and
http://www.spur.asn.au/LTTE_Atrocities_20060626_Parami_Kulatunga.htm

LTTE sources explosive supply from Bengaluru -India

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is reportedly sourcing raw materials for explosives and ammunition from Bengaluru and Mumbai.

An important "commercial" consignment of chemicals that can be altered to make explosives was seized by enforcement agencies at Madurai in Tamil Nadu last month. It was dispatched from Bengaluru and was meant for delivery to the LTTE.

The consignment — 500 kg of a variety of chemicals including diphenylamine sulphates, some chlorate salts and acids — was seized minutes before it was to be off-loaded at a transit point.

"The seized chemicals can be altered to make explosives. The consignment was marked ‘commercial’ and was to be handed over to some locals and Sri Lankans, who were supposed to smuggle it to Sri Lanka. We have arrested some people and are investigating the case," said an official. Some time before this haul, Central and state enforcement agencies in Tamil Nadu had seized an illegal consignment of ball-bearings, aluminium bars and batteries that had been sourced from a wholesale dealer in Mumbai.

It was also to be shipped to Sri Lanka. An investigation revealed that it was meant for manufacturing land mines and missiles by the The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Some material for repairing boats was also part of that shipment. The investigation is in the final stages and is nearing completion. Some "military" supplies to the Tigers have also taken place from Kerala, said an intelligence official. LTTE’s sympathisers in the southern states provide logistic support for the smuggling.

Extracted from,
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/ltte-sources-explosive-supply-from-bengaluru.aspx

Govt accuses LTTE of recruiting children

The secessionist organisation the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continues to use child soldiers in its battle against the Sri Lankan armed forces, the defence ministry said on Wednesday. It added that the LTTE forcibly recruit children and teenagers to fill up their fast-depleting ranks.

Quoting defence intelligence sources, the ministry said personnel of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) recovered three “obituary posters” giving the name, rank and unit of 150 LTTE cadres, including those of several child soldiers in the Karakakulam area in the northern part of the country. They found the posters after capturing the office of an LTTE regional leader.

The defence ministry said the pictures included “five self-styled lieutenant colonels, nine majors, fourteen captains, fifty-one lieutenants, forty-one second lieutenants and thirty others without rank.”

Read more,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?

Suspicious powder shuts U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka

The U.S. embassy in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, was closed on Wednesday after a "suspicious powder" was found in the premises, the embassy said.

"The suspicious substance will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Until the results are received and a determination is made that the substance does not pose health or safety risks, the embassy will be closed to the public," it said in an e-mailed statement.

The heavily-guarded embassy has thrice been closed in the past after suspicious powder was detected but on each occasion it turned out to be a false alarm.

A Sri Lankan police officer said no formal complaint had been received on Wednesday.

The consular section will remain available to provide emergency services to American citizens during the closure, the embassy statement said.

The United States supports a political solution to end Sri Lanka's 25 year civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people.

Extracted from,
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/knau/news.newsmain

150 LTTE cadres including child soldiers killed in one month - LTTE posters reveal

Three obituary posters found by troops operating in the Mannar battlefront have revealed details of 150 LTTE cadres, including more than 20 child soldiers, killed in one month. According to defence sources, the posters were found on a billboard at a recently captured office of an LTTE regional leader in the Karakakulam area.

The three posters contain details of 50 LTTE cadres on each, including their name, rank and the unit that they had been attached to. However, no ranks were mentioned against 30 cadres who appear very young in their early or mid-teens. According to the details mentioned on the posters, the LTTE cadres were killed at various locations in the Jaffna and Wanni theatre of operations from 17th February to 10th March this year.

A defence intelligence official speaking to defence.lk said that many of the LTTE cadres on the poster must have been those forcibly led into the battle by the terrorist leadership.

"The pictures of teenagers and children show the LTTE is still using child soldiers despite its attempts cover up the existence of its shameful baby brigade", he said.

"There were pictures of 5 self-styled "Lieutenant Colonels", 9 "Majors", 14 "Captains", 51 "Lieutenants", 41 "Second Lieutenants" and 30 others without any rank, on the posters", he added.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080625_02
Photos,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080625_02

Wanni operations 24th June 2008

Source,
http://www.defence.lk/videos/2080624_SLRC.wmv

Army Springs Another Surprise, Opens New Front West of A9; Task Force 11 Advance on New Targets, Tigers Retreat

With the offensive on the Vanni front reaching a decisive stage, the army has opened a new front west of the Jaffna-Kandy road.

While the 57 Division stepped up pressure on the LTTE holding on to Periyamadhu, about 16 kilometres north of Madhu, the newly created Task Force 11 would advance northwards. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the Task Force 11 would be on the eastern flank of the 57 Division and west of the A9 road.

Fielding questions, Nanayakkara said that while the 57 Division and Task Force 11 would advance on the LTTE-held territory, the newly created 61 Division would be deployed on a holding role in areas captured by the 57 Division. The 57 Division had regained about 600 square kilometres since it launched operations last year.

Nanayakkara said troops had made significant progress on the Vanni and Weli Oya fronts. The operations conducted by Task Force 11 would hasten the collapse of the LTTE on the Vanni west, the official said, asserting the LTTE wouldn’t be able to resist the army on three different fronts in the area west of the A9 road.

The Task Force 1 on the Mannar front has advanced upto Adampan and on Tuesday (25) brought a further three square kilometre area in the general area Adampan under control. SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said Mi 24 helicopter gunships had engaged an LTTE bunker line north east of Anandakulam Tuesday at 6.30 pm. The Mi 24s struck in support of the Task Force 1 about 45 minutes after jets launched from Katunayake air base bombed an LTTE training facility north of Oddusudan, he said.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14141

Air strikes on LTTE line of bunkers and 3 LTTE artillery locations

WELIOYA: Air Force MI24 helicopters carried out air strikes on LTTE line of bunkers 3km north of MITHUKAIKULAM tank ahead in FDL today(25) around 1.15pm. These air strikes were made to support the ground troops in WELIOYA FDL. Air Force confirms that the air strikes were carried out effectively.

JAFFNA: Meantime today (25) around 1.45pm Air Force fighter jets bombed 3 LTTE artillery locations, 3km south of MUHAMALAI FDL. These air strikes too were made to support the ground troops in JAFFNA FDL. Air force confirms that the air strikes were carried out effectively.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=13422

M'sia releases Sri Lankan accused of nuclear links

MALAYSIA said on Monday that it had released a Sri Lankan man held for four years over alleged links with a nuclear black market run by Pakistan's Abdul Qadeer Khan, saying he did not pose any threat.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Buhary Syed Abu Tahir remained in the country and would be monitored.

'He is not a threat. The recommendation for him is to be released but he is a subject for us to watch over,' Mr Syed Hamid told reporters.

'Four years he has been inside, I think we have investigated what we need to investigate,' he said.

The Star newspaper said that Tahir, who has permanent residency status in Malaysia, was released on June 6 and is under restrictions including a ban on going out at night without permission. He must also report to police weekly.

Tahir was described by US President George W. Bush in 2004 as the 'chief financial officer and money launderer' for Pakistan's disgraced scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Khan admitted passing nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea in a televised confession in February 2004, placing him in the thick of a global atomic black market.

Tahir was arrested in May 2004 in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur under the controversial Internal Security Act, which provides for detention without trial.

Read more,
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/S-E%2BAsia/STIStory_250828.html

Bodies of fire victims sent to Sri Lanka

Bodies of three Sri Lankans who were burnt to death in a fire last Wednesday were flown home last night.

Five of the nine occupants of a room were perished in the fire that destroyed everything in their dwelling. Two others had been admitted to the hospital with severe burns while two others escaped by jumping off the window.

The mortal remains of Thushitha Ananda Abeywickrama of Ambilipitiya; Roshan Thushitha Kumara of Akurassa and Niula Lakshman Ekanayaka alias Nimal from Chilaw were taken by a SriLankan flight (UL201), which left Doha at 9.40pm last night. It is scheduled to arrive in Colombo at 5am today.

The Sri Lankan embassy “managed to get the support of the relevant Qatari authorities and the media” to expedite matters with regard to the fire accident,” said charge d'affaires A Dharmakulasingham yesterday.
“The exceptional co-operation extended by the relevant Qatari authorities enabled this mission to despatch the bodies,” he said. The Qatari sponsor of the three Sri Lankans, who bore the expenses of sending the bodies, also donated money for the funeral rites.

Read more,
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/
Photo,
http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2008/6/25/2_226405_1_248.jpg

EPDP Eravur leader arrested in connection with abduction

Clarifying reports that claimed that an EPDP leader of Eravur was in Police custody, the OIC of the Eravur Police alleged that he was detained in connection with the abduction of a businessman.

Speaking to www.news.lk OIC S.B. Rathanayake said that a businessman named Devadas Suresh (31) has been abducted and later assaulted at the Eravur EPDP office.

Police investigating the complaint made by family members of Mr. Suresh has taken the suspected into custody for questioning, the OIC added.

According to Eravur Police the suspected, Darmalingam Illamaram alias Ravi, is alleged to have touched Mr. Suresh for ransom. Earlier the EPDP office has taken a motorbicycle owned by Mr. Suresh by force.

A second motorcycle had been demanded, apparently, and since this was not given, Mr. Suresh had been abducted along with the bike.

The suspect has also been accused of committing a murder at an earlier incident in Chenkaladi.

"The EPDP member is attached to the Eravur office of the party not to Vakarai," the OIC added, correcting earlier reports in certain media.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php

Afghan President Karzai to participate in SAARC summit in Colombo

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Afghanistan delegation will be participating in the forthcoming SAARC summit to be held in Colombo in August.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama visited Kabul to formally to invite President Hamid Karzai and Afghanistan delegation on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to the Colombo Summit

The call by Sri Lanka Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama on President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan in Kabul on 24th June, had as its outcome a clear meeting of minds on the need for SAARC to resolutely address the contemporary challenges facing the South Asian region. Towards this end the energy crisis, the rising food prices and the suppression of terrorism were identified as requiring a special focus during the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Colombo.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister while exchanging views with President Karzai and Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta on SAARC issues, also addressed the further strengthening of bilateral relations with Afghanistan. Minister Bogollagama’s view was that the establishment of an effective sectoral delivery mechanism would significantly enhance the present levels of economic and commercial cooperation in the region was endorsed.

On the bilateral plane, it was resolved that better commercial links through the engagement of the respective trade chambers, would be facilitated. Collaboration in the fields of cultural relations and educational cooperation would also be stepped up.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11915

Jayawardene gears up for Asia Cup defense

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene knows only too well the two best teams in the Asian Cup stand before his team and a title defense. If we have to win this tournament, we have to beat the best," Jayawardene said Tuesday _ a day before the 2004 champion takes on Bangladesh in its opening match of Group B, which also includes the United Arab Emirates.

It is very important for us as we are the defending champion of the Asia Cup and (also) the World Cup finalist," the veteran batsman said. Sri Lanka will be without injured fast bowlers Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof, but Jayawardene maintains Sri Lanka still has enough firepower in its bowling attack to give Pakistan and India tough time, assume all three advance to the second round as expected. We are very passionate about playing cricket and winning matches for our country," Jayawardene said.

We have been working very hard in preparation for this tournament." Sri Lanka still has two world class bowlers who are sure to trouble the big teams in left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas and prolific offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Despite its credentials in matching the world's top flight teams in limited-overs cricket, Sri Lanka has experienced a form slump since losing last year's World Cup final to Australia, winning just eight of its past 22 one dayers with three victories coming against lowly ranked Bangladesh.

It's not that we have been playing badly, we are not consistent with our game," Jayawardene said. There are some areas in which we needed improvement and hopefully we can get that all right in this tournament

Extracted from,
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=sn&nid=448