LTTE terrorists target civilian bus in claymore blast; one civilian killed - Trincomalee

LTTE terrorists detonated a claymore mine targeting a privately owned bus at Nilaveli 06th Mile Post in Trincomalee this morning.

According to the available information due to the attack that took place at 11.20 a.m, the driver of the bus was killed and two others were injured. The targeted bus was plying from Trincomalee to Errakkandi with a large number of innocent civilians when the attack has taken place.

The security forces personnel have rushed to the location and are evacuating casualties at present.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070922_03
and
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=7531
Photo,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=7531

Air strikes neutralize LTTE attempts to salvage LTTE Vishwamadu Base - Mullaitivu

Today (22) at 7.00 a.m., Air Force fighter jet aircraft launched an air strike in the vicinity around the LTTE Vishvamadu Base on Terrorists engaged in attempting to salvage what remained from yesterday's (21) air strike using vehicles.

The air strike based on LTTE communication intercepts and intelligence was successfully completed.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070922_06

Tiger detainees dig 200m tunnel beneath Kalutara prison wall

In a startling discovery, officials of the Kalutara Prison on Horana Road have found a tunnel nearly 200 metres long and eight feet below the prison ground leading to the Kalu Ganga complete with electricity and light bulbs, dug by LTTE suspects in custody over a period of one year.

Prison officials on Thursday made this find during a special search operation within the prison premises. Fifty-three LTTE detainees were kept in a separate section at the Kalutara prison till they were transferred to the Welikada prison several months ago.

A senior prison official told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the tunnel was dug by the LTTE suspects using blunt weapons improvised from utensils they had smuggled into the cells hidden on their persons.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/22/front/1.asp

President off to UN

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for New York today to attend the 62nd United Nations General Assembly.

The President’s Office said President Rajapaksa was scheduled to address the assembly next Wednesday and he is expected to explain how his government has found a permanent political solution to end the north and east crisis.

Meanwhile, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga will also fly to New York on Monday to address the Bill Clinton Foundation.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/22/front/6.asp

Speaker of Sri Lanka parliament decides to take the votes for four controversial bills again

The Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara today announced at the Sri Lanka parliament that four of the five tax bills that were declared passed on September 06 amid chaos should be put forward to the committee stage again in the House.

Stating that a bill would not pass merely since he stated that it was passed, the Speaker said only the No: 256-draft bill was passed in the House at the committee stage and the remaining four bills should be re-submitted for the committee stage.

The Speaker said that he took the decision after considering the facts furnished by the government and opposition MPs.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/September21142009SL.html

SLAF destroys key LTTE base - Mulaithivu

SLAF fighter jets destroyed a strategically important LTTE facility in precision air strikes carried out at 12:15 p.m. today (21), at Vishvamadu in the Mulaithivu area.

The air sorties were carried out at a LTTE base complex consisting of large arms and ammunitions dumps which was also said to be a harbouring location for the LTTE's special "regiment" (Imran Pandiyan). The air strikes were based on accurate air and ground surveillance information, a defence official said.

SLAF sources said strikes were also launched today on a LTTE gathering point in the area, where high raking LTTE terrorists meet. This LTTE facility was a regular visiting place for key terrorist leaders.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070921_02

LTTE confirms Soosai’s injury, son’s death

The LTTE has, for the first time, confirmed that Sea Tiger leader Soosai was injured in an “accidental” explosion off the Mullaitivu seas recently while his son was killed.

In comments over the Voice of Tiger radio on Wednesday, an LTTE official ‘Radha’ said Soosai had now fully recovered.

According to the radio report, Soosai was injured during a Sea Tiger training exercise.

In July, reports spread that Soosai was critically injured in a boat explosion off the Mullaitivu seas.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/21/front/07.asp
Photo,
http://www.interpol.int/public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/2006/76/2006_57476.asp

terrorist groups get their supply of arms and ammunition from Sri Lanka to use against India

Due to the increased vigil by the Indian security forces on all the possible land routes of infiltration, the terrorist organizations are reportedly busy in searching other routes to infiltrate in India now. The previous tried and tested land routes have become difficult to cross now.

High security measures in those areas have resulted in major losses for terrorist organizations and the terror outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba has tried to explore new routes and the sea route has become most preferable route for them...

...According to the Intelligence Bureau, terrorists start on boats from Karachi in Pakistan to reach Jafna in Sri Lanka. The terrorists get their supply of arms and ammunition From Sri Lanka to use against India....

Read more,
http://www.indiadaily.org/entry/
terrorists-preferring-karachi-jafna-chennai-sea-route-now/

Air Force fighter jets destroy LTTE Arms storage - Mullaittivu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets have pounded the LTTE's Arms and Ammunition storage located at North-West of Puthukuduiruppu in the Mullaittivu area this morning (September 20). According to defence sources, the target has been accurately hit by Kfir and Mig-27 fighter jets around 11:50 a.m.

The attack followed gathering of information through both ground and air surveillance carried out for a long period. Further, the targeted LTTE base had been used as one of the key arms and ammunition storages of the LTTE, sources said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070920_02

5300 buses for CTB - Transport Minister Dullas Allahapperuma.

Central Transport Board (CTB) currently operates with a capacity of only 4600 buses. This is a marked reduction from 5200 buses which were on service in 1975. The Government will be taking steps to increase the number of busses to 5300 in two months period.

This was stated by the Minister of Transport Dullas Allahapperuma today in Parliament.

Minister Allahapperuma added that there is a visible sacristy of buses at every CTB bus depot and the Ministry is currently making efforts to find solutions to this problem through the ‘model depot’ project. He explained that there are many buses stationed at the depots because of mechanical problems.

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3494&Itemid=44

Lankaputra and Mihin Air: Sordid deal, says Ranil

Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that the transfer of public finances to establish Lankaputra Development Bank and Mihin Air was totally illegal because there was no approval from Parliament which oversees such matters.

Mr. Wickremesinghe told the House in a statement that there was a deliberate act of violating the principles of Parliamentary control over public finance.

The statement reads as follows:

As Members of this House we are at all times prepared to protect both our rights and those of the House. The legislative power in the country is vested in the House. There are three characteristics for an independent legislature.

1. Legislating, 2. Supervision of the Executive, 3. Control over Public Finance....

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/20/front/2.asp

US aid to Lanka will continue, says envoy

US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Robert O’ Blake yesterday denied any move to halt US aid to Sri Lanka and reiterated its unwavering support for a political solution based on a compromise between the Government and the LTTE.

The US envoy was speaking at the handing over of 17,500 metric tons of essential commodities worth US $ five million to be distributed among people in conflict affected areas at the WFP Warehouse at Orugodawatte.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/20/news03.asp

Basil swears in amidst opposition chaos

Basil Rajapakse took oaths as a MP before the Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara amidst protests and chaos of the opposition MPs. It was the first time in the history that a MP assumed duty in such context.

The tradition of the parliament is to stay calm until the new MP takes oath and to welcome him with applause. Instead, the UNP MPs today displayed placards mentioned '10%' in protest of the appointment of Basil Rajapakse as a MP.

The chaos due to the display of such placards in front of the Speaker's chair led to the adjournment of the meeting for ten minutes.

Read more,
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4695

Times of India says LTTE is divided now

Quoting tha Singapore based Counter terrorism think tank and other sources New Delhi’s Times of India said there is a rift in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leadership ranks due to its leader trying to make his son Charles Anthony his successor.

“Sources say LTTE is witnessing an ugly power struggle that is beginning to undermine Prabhakaran's leadership which was undisputed so far.

In fact, the Singapore-based counter-terrorism think-tank, International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, in its recent country report, says a major rift within LTTE is a distinct possibility,” the newspaper said .

The newspaper said the 52 year old Supremo of the LTTE is trying to groom his son as his health is afflicted with hypertension and diabetes. The following is the full story published by the newspaper on its front page:

“Tamil Nadu's Dravidian leaders seem to have left an indelible mark on LTTE chief V Prabhakaran. So it comes as no surprise that dynastic politics is catching up within the LTTE too, with Prabhakaran eager to hand over the reins of the terror outfit to his son Charles Anthony Seelan, an aeronautical engineer...

Read more,
http://www.go2lanka.com/stories/091907_2.html