Exide may increase exports from Sri Lanka

Exide Industries, that enjoyed a 76 per cent market share in automotive batteries, will increase exports from its Sri Lankan subsidiary to India by 15 to 20 per cent this fiscal to take advantage of tax benefits in trade among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) countries.

Exide subsidiary Associated Battery Manufacturers (Ceylon) shipped around 88,000 batteries to India during 2007-08. The ABML facility was upgraded earlier during the fiscal that resulted in the rise in exports as well as local sales.

While exports more than doubled from Rs15.9 crore in in FY07 to Rs33 crore in FY08, the local sales shot up 35 per cent to Rs111.4 crore during the same period. Field trials have started for the Advanced Hybrid Maintenance free technology based batteries at ABML, Sri Lanka.

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http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?leftnm=1&autono=329884

ITN journalist critically injured in LTTE mortar attack

ITN’s News Editor Anura Dorakumbura and the Cameraman of the Newsroom Suranga Basnayake came under a mortar attack. Suranga Basnayake was critically injured. The gallant soldiers risking their lives on this occasion carried the two ITN journalists swiftly to a secure place.

ITN salutes the war heroes and senior officers providing them leadership for this noble task. Driver G.G.Gunasena’s dedication to promptly transport Suranga Basnayake to the Anuradhapura General Hospital is noteworthy. He drove the vehicle at a high speed on rugged roads in the Mullaitivu thick jungles with the intention of immediately transporting them to the Anuradhapura Hospital. The services discharged by the gallant soldiers on behalf of the ITN personnel deserve accolades.

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http://www.itn.lk/news_02_20080726.html

LTTE heading for its waterloo - TDNA

The current military operations by the security forces in the Wanni have weakened the LTTE terribly and reports from Kilinochchi indicate that the outfit is in complete dissaray as they are unable to face the advancing troops, the Tamil Democratic National Alliance (TDNA) delegation led by Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader Veerasingam Anandasangari told the visiting European Union delegation.

PLOTE leader Dharmalingam Sitharthan who was associated with the TULF leader at the discussions with the EU delegation said that he insisted on the necessity of a constructive political solution to defeat the LTTE politically as well.

They also briefed the EU Parliamentarians on the human rights violations carried out by the LTTE by staging ruthless attacks on civilian targets in the North as well as in the South.

The TDNA confirmed that the Security Forces were gaining control in the LTTE’s last bastion Wanni and the outfit was heading towards its `Waterloo’, when the European Union Parliamentarians met the TDNA members in Colombo on Friday.

The TULF leader who headed the three party alliance, comprising the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (Naba) told the Sunday Observer that his alliance briefed the European Union delegation on the present situation in the Wanni.

“During our discussion with the European Union Parliamentary delegation led by Robert Evans, we told them that the LTTE was now not in a position to continue with their armed struggle. Therefore, the outfit with its limited resources is heading for its `Waterloo’.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/27/sec01.asp

Murali and Mendis maul India

In a match dominated by not one but two spin wizards, Sri Lanka completely destroyed the Indian batting line-up twice over to script their best win at home. India started the fourth day needing 242 runs to avoid the follow-on but, with 77 minutes to go to stumps, they had slumped to their third-worst Test defeat ever with an abject collapse against Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.

Murali and Mendis, assisted by the ever-alert close-in cordon, did not loosen the vice-like grip they had had over the batsmen from the moment the ball was thrown to Mendis in the 10th over of India's first innings. With Mendis keeping the batsmen on a leash - his only two bad deliveries were the full tosses in his first two overs - and leaving the batsmen mesmerised, it was Murali who smiled his way to two five-fors and his 21st ten-wicket haul, which was also his fourth at the SSC.

There was no respite for the batsmen from either end as 19 wickets fell to the spin pair, who bowled 87.5 overs out of the 117.5 that India faced in the match. Murali was always likely to be a threat, but Mendis showed that his six-wicket haul against India in the Asia Cup final was not a one-off. His bowling action is almost as intriguing as the kind of deliveries he bowls: in his final stride, the index finger of his left hand points upwards, as if giving the batsman out. On the basis of this performance, that action is completely justified as one of the most anticipated debuts of recent times turned out to be the best for a Sri Lankan.

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http://content-sl.cricinfo.com/slvind/content/current/story/362550.html
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Sri Lanka plans foolproof security for SAARC summit

The Tamil Tigers may have announced a unilateral 10-day truce but the Sri Lankan government is leaving nothing to chance for the upcoming SAARC summit. It has deployed 19,000 additional security personnel to provide foolproof protection for the visiting leaders.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) truce between July 26 and Aug 4 was rejected by the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as "a trap".

The 15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) starts at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall here Aug 2. It will be attended by leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

All these leaders will bring their own personnel to personally look after their security but media reports in Colombo and India indicate that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will come with scores of elite Black Cats. India is also sending helicopters and bulletproof cars.

Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the Sri Lankan police and security forces would be in charge of the security cover for the summit.

"About 19,000 additional troops, including police personnel, will be deployed for the summit. It is a well coordinated security plan to ensure the best security cover for the summit," Nanayakkara told IANS.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?

He flew too close to the sun

Why Prabhakaran became so concerned about SAARC all of a sudden and declared a unilateral ceasefire must now be clear to one and all, given the damage the LTTE has suffered during the past few days. That he could have avoided that, had the government agreed to his truce, is clear.

In the past, he had managed to lure governments into truce traps and make them fight war according to his timetable. When he wanted war, he waged it and when he wanted time to regroup and rearm, he sued for peace. Thus, the conflict came to be punctuated by ceasefires at almost regular intervals, as we argued the other day.

By 2006, Prabhakaran had taken delivery of nearly a dozen shiploads of arms under the cover of a ceasefire, according to his erstwhile commander Karuna. Confident that he had enough firepower and cadres, a ceasefire-weary Prabhakaran threw down the gauntlet at Mavil Aru.

Prabhakaran may have expected the government to stop at fighting for Mavil Aru, as had been the case earlier on, so that he could drive the army away. But, that move proved to be a huge military miscalculation on his part. He let the genie out of the bottle.

Today, the LTTE is doing exactly what the army did in 1999 and 2000 in the North-running for dear life. In 1999, a series of LTTE offensives launched with the help of newly acquired small MBRLs, among other things, were so intense that the army vacated places like Oddusudan, Nedunkerni etc. in no time. Camps were crumbling like a pack of cards and the PA government did not know how to put the brakes on the LTTE's military onslaught.

The biggest debacle came in 2000, when the army lost its sprawling military complex at Elephant Pass with its big guns. The march of the LTTE had all the trappings of a cakewalk. Prabhakaran's boys and girls reached the outskirts of Jaffna, where the army was trapped. The government did frantic shopping for arms. MBRLs were rushed from Pakistan posthaste and the Tigers stopped in their tracks.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/07/26/editorial.html

Wanni operation 24 th July 2008

Source,
SLRC

LTTE Dead Numbers Rise to 33: Eight Terrorist Commanders Among Them

CONSOLIDATING TROOPS of the 57 Division and Special Forces in THE north of VANNAKULAM after a pitched round of battles late Thursday (24) night have been able to collect thirty-three (33) dead bodies of Tiger terrorists as the dusk fell on Friday (25) along with a massive stock of arms and ammunition.

Valiant troops taking a strategic measure after the initial capture of the area, quite close to MALLAVI town awaited a retaliatory attack in return since the damage to the enemy was colossal at the first phase. The enemy was later on strategically lured into another mishap as the evening fell.

Troops Friday (25) morning started clearing the captured areas taking maximum possible precautionary measures since the area remains infested with LTTE booby traps and explosive devices.

The latest reports received Friday (25) at 6.00 p.m. (local time) confirmed from ground troops further said they had by now collected thirty-three (33) dead bodies of Tiger terrorists including six female terrorists.

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http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14777
Photos,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14777

LTTE suffers heavy beating: 30 bodies found - Mallavi

Heavy ground battles were reported between troops and LTTE in general area North of Vavunikulam Tank, Southeast of Mallavi in Mullaittivu District as troops mounted intense retaliation thwarting an LTTE counter attack killing over 30 terrorists including a deputy of the 'Charles Anthony' band on Thursday (July 24) evening.

According to Wanni sources, fresh fighting broke out since last night till this morning(25), as troops have reportedly found 30 LTTE bodies scattered in the battle filed during subsequent search operations conducted. 'Pallawan' a deputy leader of the Charles Anthony band was also among the killed, military said citing intercepted LTTE communication.

Yesterday the 57 Division troops led by Major General Jagath Dias and Special Forces troops gained control over the Vavunikulam Tank bund and 10sq.km of adjacent area, killing over 25 terrorists. The valiant soldiers further advanced towards Mallavi crossing the Paliaru waterway, neutralizing remaining LTTE elements in the southwestern edge of the Vavunikulam Tank, our defence correspondent said.

"Banu a senior cadre was identified speaking over the LTTE communication circuits leading the LTTE offensive and have reportedly fled deeper into Kilinochchi unable to withstand the military onslaught.

Army continued to pound identified LTTE positions dispersing its offensive wave as infantrymen and Special Forces hunted down remaining terrorists inflicting heavy damages", defence sources said.

"Despite continuous pleas made for reinforcement been turned down, frustrated terrorists have fled for safety leaving their dead and equipment behind", sources further said citing ground troops.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080725_03

12,000 Police contingent for SAARC security

SAARC security arrangements will be in effect from today with Police deploying 12,000 personnel in addition to a strong presence of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel.

Addressing the media yesterday at the Media Centre for National Security, Senior DIG Nimal Mediwake said all security and traffic arrangements had been made for the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo. There will be alternative routes and shuttle bus services from July 30 to August 4.

Commenting on the additional Indian security contingent for Indian Premier Manmohan Singh, DIG Mediwake said a full package of local security will be provided to him and other foreign delegations.

“Close protection of any Head of State is provided by their personnel and the number of the security personnel will be decided according to threat and security assessment they face,” he added. He said Parliament, BMICH, Kollupitiya and Fort areas had been declared as High Security Zones for the SAARC summit.

“The above mentioned areas will be for the use of foreign SAARC delegations’ meetings from July 30 to August 4.

During this period for the security and convenience of SAARC delegations public and vehicles will be not be allowed into those areas except for those whose working places and residences are located in the above mentioned HSZ’s,” he added.

DIG Mediwake pointed out that people working in the HSZ’s can access the area with their relevant company Identity Cards except employees of Galadari, Hilton and Inter Continental hotels. These hotel employees should obtain a special pass from Kollupitiya or Fort police stations.

He also said only a certain number of vehicles will be permitted to enter the HSZ’s during the SAARC summit and vehicle owners should obtain a special pass from the police of their respective areas.

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http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/25/sec01.asp

Three LTTE craft destroyed off Chilavaththa, Mullaithivu

In a pre-emptive attack launched by the fast attack craft, fast missile vessels and Special boat squadron of the Navy to a cluster of about 10 LTTE craft launched from Vhilawaththa situated two nautical miles to the south from Mullaithivu in order to attack naval craft, three LTTE attack type craft were completely destroyed today (24th July) around 0630 p.m.

The cluster of LTTE attack type craft had been launched and was being maneuvered in the shallow waters when sighted the preparedness of theirs to attack navy.

However, amongst attack by the naval units the other craft fled after three craft were completely destroyed.

Extracted from,
http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=914

57 Div Troops & Special Forces Capture Area to South of Mallavi Town

MANNAR: HEROIC TROOPS of the 57 Division and Special Forces in the MANNAR front, WANNI forging ahead triumphantly in areas to the north of VANNAKULAM, about 3 km to the south of MALLAVI town Thursday (24) afternoon brought a well-fortified LTTE stronghold area completely under control killing twenty-five terrorists and injuring a similar number.

Scores of Tigers who have also been reportedly motivated by LTTE’s Artillery Chief and MANNAR sector “BHANU,” just hours before valiant troops rolled on to that area could not resist the fire-power of the advancing troops. The fight for dominance in the area commenced as the first light on Thursday (24) fell when brave troops started their advance into Tiger controlled areas.

By 3.30 p.m. on Thursday (24) troops have collected seven dead Tiger terrorists, one 120mm weapon (artillery mortar), two 81mm mortars, forty-eight 120mm rounds, seventy-four 81mm ammunition rounds, four ICOM sets, two motorbikes, five T-56 weapons, one binocular, one tractor and many other explosive devices as the troops after fighting settled started clearing the area.

As this report was being pasted, troops in control of the area were consolidating their positions while carefully removing booby traps and other explosive devices infesting the area. Many more LTTE items, left behind by fleeing Tiger terrorists are yet to be collected by the troops.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14729
graphic image,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080724_05

Air Force fighter jets raid LTTE recruit training centre - Oddusuddan

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets launched air strikes targeting an LTTE recruit training centre in the Oddusuddan area, approximately 20 km Southwest of Mulaithiuvu this morning (July 24).

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that the air raids were launched at 7.30 AM. He said that the targeted camp was located 4km North of Muthuaiyankaddu Tank . The target was accurately obtained, he added citing the fighter pilots.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080724_02

Jayawardene emulates Bradman to put Sri Lanka on top

Mahela Jayawardene equalled former Australian legend Don Bradman's record of nine centuries at one venue to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the opening Test against India here on Thursday.

Skipper Jayawardene cracked a stylish 136 to help his side post 422-4 in the first innings at stumps on the second day.

The Sri Lankan captain's ton at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground equalled Bradman's nine at one venue -- the Australian great's coming at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"I wasn't really thinking about all that," said Jayawardene.

"It is a very friendly venue for me as I've been playing almost 12 years of first-class cricket here."

Jayawardene was not the lone batsman to feast on the Indian bowling on a placid track as opener Malinda Warnapura (115) and Thilan Samaraweera (111 not out) also contributed handsomely to their team's total.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 20 after earning a reprieve under a new experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions.

He was on one when given out caught behind off left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan by umpire Mark Benson of England, but asked the official to review the decision.

Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision as the ball had not made contact with the bat.

Read more,
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080724/world/cricket_sri_ind
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