Army takes commanding position west of A-9 bags Tunukkai, eyes Mallavi, Mankulam under threat

The LTTE yesterday abandoned Tunukkai on the Vanni front as the army brought the strategically important area west of the A9 road under its control.

The withdrawal came after three weeks of fierce fighting between the 57 Division and LTTE units spearheaded by the elite Charles Anthony ‘Brigade.’ The SLAF over the past few weeks engaged a range of LTTE targets in the area to facilitate the ground assault. The elite Special Forces troops assigned to the 57 Command had played a pivotal role in the fightng, the military said. The military acknowledged that the battle for Tunukkai had the toughest confrontation faced by the 57 Division commanded by Major General Jagath Dias in the recent past.

After failing to breakthrough LTTE positions south of Tunukkai, the army on Thursday had pushed towards the town from their positions west and north of the town situated halfway along the Mankulam-Vellankulam road.

The 57 Division had secured Madhu, Palampiddi, Mundumurippu, Periyamadhu, Naddakandal, Chiradikkulam and Kalvilan areas before its latest success..

Army headquarters said that ground operations on the western front had reached a critical stage with troops taking a commanding position against LTTE fortifications along the A9 road between Omanthai and Mankulam.

Senior military officials said the Task Force I on the Kilinochchi front, 57 Division on the Mullaitivu front and Task Force II advancing northwards on the right flank of the 57 Division and west of the A9, had taken the upper hand in the overall campaign in the Vanni west.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/08/23/news2.html

Tunukkai, Uyilankulam & South of Akkarayankulam Tank Fall under Valiant Troops after 25 Years

THE MUCH-TALKED TERRORIST stronghold, TUNUKKAI, about 20 km west of MANKULAM, one more central connecting village, UYILANKULAM, and also the southern edge of the AKKARAYANKULAM tank, about 12 km to the southwest of KILINOCHCHI town centre were finally brought under government troops as dawn fell on Friday (22) bringing a humiliating defeat for the terror outfit that has been ranked as the most ruthless, the Army Headquarters announced.

This is the first time in the history of the so-called “Eelam War” Sri Lankan troops dominated these areas striking a major blow to the LTTE terrorist outfit which has murdered thousands of innocent civilians, politicians, democrats, intellectuals, statesmen, members of the Armed Forces and the Police.

Agriculturally-rich TUNUKKAI, one of the nerve centres of Tiger outfit was serving as a major administrative hub responsible for coordination of all Sea Tiger attacks, deployment of LTTE terrorists, distribution of armaments, planning of clandestine operations, abduction and evacuation of civilians from different venues, etc for the past few years. This terrorist stronghold became busily operational after the recent fall of notoriously famous Sea Tiger base, VIDATTALTTIVU which was earlier regarded as a “no-entry zone” by Tigers.

UYILANKULAM, another farming village that lies between the southern edge of the AKKARAYANKULAM tank was also dominated by Tigers. It functioned as a secret transit location for their operations, since it is situated quite close to their administrative financial hub, KILINOCHCHI and other important locations.

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http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15455
Map,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080822_04
Video,
SLRC

SLAF fighters pound LTTE logistic base - Mullaittiuvu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded LTTE logistic base located at Vishwamadu in Mullaittiuvu District this morning, 22 August.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that the targeted LTTE base was identified as one of the main LTTE's logistic facilities containing vehicle spare parts and other combat items adding that it is located in general area Dharmapuram, 5Km north of Vishwamadu tank in Mullaittiuvu district.

The air sorties were carried out around 9.30 AM and the Air Force confirmed that targeted LTTE base was destroyed completely.

Meanwhile, SLAF MI-24 helicopters launched an air raid targeting the LTTE defence line located 17 Km north-west of Thunukkai in general area south of Wannerikulam tank, Kilinochchi District around 6.30 AM today. The air bombardment carried out in support of ground troops of Task Force 1 advancing northwards in Wanni liberating offensive, Air Force spokesperson added.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080822_02

Suicide Jacket materials found in Colombo – Bomb found in Kandy

Accessories used to assemble suicide jackets were found hidden in the premises of a Catholic church in Olcott Mawatha in Pettah, by the security forces this morning, (22), Ministry of Defence said.

The recovery was made on information provided by a civilian around 8.50 am. The materials included detonators, switches and a few other items that had been concealed inside the St. Phillip Nerish Church in Pettah, in Colombo.

These items also included five remote antennas.

Meanwhile Kandy Police conducting a search operation on a tip off have uncovered a bomb weighing around 1 kg from the Balagolla area, a suburb in Kandy.

The bomb, containing gelignite sticks and C-4 high explosive, had been hidden in a sand mound near a privately owned residence in the Balagolla area, sources said.

The Army bomb disposal team later defused the bomb, sources added.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?
Photos,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15454

Sri Lanka government accuses LTTE of conscripting civilians to fight

Sri Lanka government today accused the LTTE of conscripting civilians to fight the troops advancing into the Tiger controlled areas as their numbers dwindle due to the fighting.

The government said the LTTE leadership has directed their cadres to forcibly conscript civilians who had no battle training and use them as a buffer between the LTTE and the troops marching into the terrorist stronghold in the Wanni.

The government further said “the LTTE seeks to use civilians as a human shield so that in the event of casualties the organization can plead to what has been a largely unsympathetic world that there is a 'humanitarian catastrophe'.”

The human rights group, Amnesty International, recently slammed the LTTE for breaking international law by using civilians as a buffer against government forces.

Human right groups and the United Nations have repeatedly accused the Tigers of recruiting child soldiers and sending them to the frontlines.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/August2245743CH.html

Sri Lanka ready to hold Champions Trophy

With the ICC finding it tough to convince apprehensive cricketers on touring Pakistan for next month's Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka today said it was ready to hold the tournament even at a short notice.

"We are ready to hold the Champions Trophy as we are the alternate venue for the tournament," Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Duleep Mendis said.

"We are in a position to hold the Champions Trophy as Sri Lankais the alternative venue for the ICC event," he added.

SLC officials feel that all the grounds are in good condition as the Indian cricket tour is currently on in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, a meeting took place on Wednesday at the ICC's offices in Dubai to discuss the preparations for the Champions Trophy The event, which is scheduled from September 11 to 28, is facing an uncertain future after Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand, raised concerns over touring Pakistan due to the security situation.

This is despite the ICC taking a decision on July 24 to hold the championship in Pakistan after getting assurance offull security to the players.

Yesterday's meeting at Dubai discussed feedback from task team briefings with stakeholders from England, Australia and New Zealand.

Extracted from,
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf

Troops enter strategic Thunukkai town

Video Source,
SLRC

Army troops attached to the 57 Division yesterday entered the strategically important Thunukkai town, an alternative hideout of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in the Western flank of the Mullaitivu district, west of the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 road and are continuing search operation to flush out Tiger cadres, military sources told the Daily News last night.

"The fall of Thunukkai is imminent by Friday afternoon as troops are flushing out Tiger cadres," Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said. Meanwhile, military sources said that intermittent clashes erupted yesterday too with the LTTE, as troops entered this strategically important town to gain full control of it.

Sources said troops were poised for more clashes as LTTE was offering stiff resistance towards the advancing troops as they are on the verge of losing one of their strongholds in the Wanni.

Thunukkai is on the Mankulam-Vellankulam Road which connects the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 Road to the North Western coast. The capture of Thunukkai will mark a huge milestone in the Security Forces' efforts to liberate the entire North from LTTE clutches as it would be a giant leap towards reaching the Tiger heartland Kilinochchi.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/22/news02.asp

Security Forces breach outer LTTE defences of Nachchikuda

Latest reports arriving from the Nachchikuda battlefront indicates that that troops of Task Force 01, fighting their way into the enemy territory on the Mannar- Poonaryn road (A-32) on the Kilinochchi southern front have reached the outer defences of Nachchikudha amid heavy resistance from the LTTE terrorists.

Troops have succeeded in taking control of a 1 km stretch of the earth hump made by the LTTE, located in the Vannerikkulam area, east of Nachchikudha, Ministry of Defence said on its website a while ago.

Fierce fighting throughout the day had resulted in 12 terrorists being killed and 15 wounded, according to intercepted LTTE radio transmissions.

Four soldiers were reported injured in the battle.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6784&Itemid=44

You forgot something, Mr. Blake!

There is hardly any difference between an aid-dependent country and a house of ill fame. Both have to leave their doors ajar so that the rich and powerful could enter at will. They have to shut up and entertain the unspeakable moneybags so that they will be paid for the services rendered, whether they like it or not. Else, they run the risk of losing the easy dosh of shame and being branded sinners and stoned in public.

When States are reduced to the level of women of easy virtue, the first thing they lose is their sovereignty and dignity. They end up being, as a local saying goes, bananas without the skin pecked by every crow––ambassadorial or otherwise. They have no alternative but to grin and bear it.

It is reported that US Ambassador Robert Blake met the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake on Wednesday. What they discussed has not been made public but it is said that the former stressed the importance of conducting free and fair elections in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The Foreign Ministry tells us that their meeting has led to no breach of protocol. So be it! After all, this is not the first time such an unusual meeting has taken place.

In 2005, we had President Mahinda Rajapaksa visiting the then Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao at her residence for a meeting! Earlier, an Indian High Commissioner had kept the late President J. R. Jayewardene under his diplomatic thumb. J. N. Dixit was his name. A vice president of the World Bank once treated President Chandrika Kumaratunga to a long lecture on good governance at an aid meeting which the latter attended by throwing protocol to the wind.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/08/22/editorial.html

Special security measures adopted in Sri Lanka elections

The Sri Lankan Army would be deployed in all four administrative districts in the North Central and Sabaragamuva (south eastern) provincial council elections to be held on Saturday, according to election watchdog here Thursday.

The deputy chief of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said that the Commissioner of Elections had assured them special security measures.

"The Commissioner said every possible step would be taken to ensure a free and fair poll. This would mean the deployment of the Army to ensure security and action to annul polling in any of polling station marred by violence or malpractice", Hettiarachchi said.

The election watchdog groups have blamed all major contesting parties for the breakdown of law and order in the areas.

The opposition groups have blamed the police for inaction which had led to the high level of violence.

The two snap elections are held to elect provincial councils for the two provinces for a five year period.

Analysts say the elections are meant to test the public approval of the Sri Lankan government's current military thrust against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

Extracted from,
http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=318553381

Student shot dead at university in eastern Sri Lanka

A student belonging to the majority Sinhala community was shot dead at an university in predominantly Tamil minority eastern Sri Lanka by unidentified persons on Thursday night, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The student was identified as a 27-year-old first year business management student attached to the Vandaramullai University in Batticaloa, 240 kilometres east of the capital Colombo.

The spokesman said it was not clear as to who was responsible for the shooting or the motive for the killing.

The shooting came as students belonging to the majority Sinhala community who have been selected to attend the university staged a protest in the capital, refusing to register at the university because they claim it is not safe.

The students selected to go to the university are asking the government to allow them to register in other universities in the south which are located in predominantly Sinhala areas.

Extracted from,
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/227302,student-shot-dead-at-university-in-eastern-sri-lanka.html

2-Sri Lanka-flagged ship sinks in Bay

A ship carrying more than 3,000 tonnes of rice from India sank near the outer anchorage of Bangladesh's Chittagong port on Wednesday, port officials said.

They said the Sri Lanka-flagged vessel Badulu Valley was in collision with an empty, anchored Chinese oil tanker called Heng Zhou, and sank in the Bay of Bengal during the afternoon.

Port officials had earlier said the vessel was carrying a Singapore flag.

Port officials had also earlier given the name of the vessel as M.V. Batulu but the agent for the ship later corrected this.

"The ship sank in the bay with its 17 crew on board," a port official said.

Tugboats from the port authority and the Bangladesh Navy rescued 16 crew members, he said, but the fate of the remaining member was unknown.

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http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?

SRI LANKA'S UNION ASSURANCE NET PROFIT UP 63 PCT

Sri Lanka's Union Assurance group June quarter net profit went up by 63 per cent, interim results released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed.

Its after-tax profit rose to 49 million rupees (US$454,774) in the quarter from 30 million in the same period one year ago.

The firm's six month profits shot up 78 per cent to 90.3 million rupees.

Group revenue was up by 21 per cent to 1,368 million rupees during the three months ended June.

The gross written premium went up 14 per cent to 1,301 million while net written increased 11 per cent to 1,018 million rupees.

Union Assurance net claims and benefits for the 3-month period grew by 16 per cent to 821 million rupees.

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http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080821/17/1wq02.html

Sri Lanka eyes more travellers from the Middle East

A high level travel delegation from Sri Lanka, led by His Excellency Faizer Musthapha, Sri Lanka�s Deputy Minister of Tourism will target prominent countries in the Gulf including UAE and Qatar in a bid to attract increased leisure traffic. During the four-day visit between 24th and 27th August, HE Musthapha will meet large scale hospitality industry operators including tour operators and travel agencies.

�The Middle East is one of our major travel origin markets and in 2008 we have seen significant growth from this market. We are increasing our marketing and promotion drive by carrying out a year round campaign to increase our share of leisure visitors and further increase awareness about our country�s tourism attractions,� said HE Musthapha.

HE Mustapha�s visit denotes the importance Sri Lanka attaches to this market and its growth potential. Destination Sri Lanka recently reported a surge in tourist industry arrivals. The highest performer during the period was the Middle East, which registered an increase of 80.6% in comparison with 2007. HE Mustapha�s visit is expected to impact positively on the number of tourist arrivals from the Middle East.

Read more,
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/08/21/3612192.htm