Sri Lankan Air Force bomb LTTE position; 33 rebels killed

Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets today pounded an LTTE training base inside a rebel-held territory as ground troops killed at least 33 Tamil Tigers in a series of clashes in the island's embattled north, officials here said.

The supersonic jets bombed the LTTE base located at Kokkuthuduwai in Mulaithiuvu this morning, the Defence Ministry said, adding pilots confirmed that the targeted position was severely damaged in the attack.

This was the second aerial raid undertaken by the Lankan Air Force during the last four days.

Earlier on Monday, the Air Force had attacked a regular gathering place of LTTE's intelligence wing leaders in Puthukuduiruppu in Mullaitivu.

The jets, which were flown from the Katunayake air base near Colombo, engaged the target which had been under air surveillance for a considerable time, the ministry said.

In another incident, troops resisting a rebel attack at Muhamalai in Jaffna invaded LTTE's first line of defence this morning, defence sources said.

Driving back the guerrillas, the security forces overran the LTTE's first line of defence, they said.

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http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/$All/

LTTE Operating Four Air Strips

The LTTE's Zlin light aircrafts have been detected by the existing Air Defence System (Radar) on several occasions, including the last attack on Anuradhapura Airbase.

The lack of Anti Aircraft guns in each army detachment up to Anuradhapura has prevented ground forces challenging the two planes from proceeding to their target each time. They also seem to be avoiding flights over large Military Bases that are equipped with various types of AA guns (varieties cannot be revealed).

The Sri Lanka Army believes the LTTE is operating four airstrips at Iranamadu, Puthukudiiruppu, Nendunkerni and Mannar North. All four have been bombed in the past, including two hangars at Iranamadu, but the Zlin light-aircrafts had been moved from that location long before.

Extracted from,
http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com/2007/10/ltte-operating-four-air-strips.html

LTTE threatens new entrants to Universities

It is reported that the LTTE has threatened the families of undergraduates seeking admission to universities in the unredeemed areas in the Wanni to handover one member from their family to join the LTTE ranks if they were to be allowed to read for their Degrees.

This virtually amounts to conscription where members are forced to join the LTTE ranks. Some students from the above areas have reported to the Army post at Omanthai that unless a member of the family is sent to the LTTE cadres, they would not be permitted to pursue their studies at Universities.

About 12 students from Jaffna, Colombo and Ruhuna Universities have entered State controlled areas through Omanthai. It is also learnt that undergraduate of Wanni have been provided a basic combat training by the LTTE.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071031_06

Shared intelligence accounts for SL Navy's successes

The availability of real time maritime intelligence from South and South East Asian countries has been a key factor in the Sri Lankan navy's recent stunning successes against the intrepid and innovative naval wing of the LTTE.

"Both ASEAN and SAARC are now highly sensitive to maritime terrorism seeing it as a common threat, and intelligence is shared," an informed source told Hindustan Times explaining the Sri Lankan Navy's successful hits against the LTTE's Sea Tigers in the past year.

The Sri Lankan naval spokesman, Commodore DKP Dassanayake, had said that in the past 13 months, the Navy has destroyed 8 large LTTE vessels, 11 multi-day trawlers and six to seven small boats off the North, North Western and Southern coasts of the island.

Read full article here,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?

Sri Lanka has strong start to three-day Australian cricket tour

Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit 84 runs from 85 balls in the first session and went on to score 154 Saturday on the first day of a three-day tour match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.

Fellow veteran opener Marvan Atapattu added 56 runs at the Adelaide Oval to help Sri Lanka notch up 335-4 at stumps on the first day.

The team is preparing for the first of two Test matches against Australia beginning Nov. 8 in Brisbane. The second starts Nov. 16 in Hobart.

"I made my first test century here against Australia, so I'm quite happy to get another hundred here," said 38-year-old Jayasuriya, who has indicated this will be his last tour of Australia. "It's always good to get a hundred before a test series because you get a lot of confidence from that."

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http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i-5ZTwxuk7jCe6lncvdHic2IpdCw

Lawyers Confident of Saving Rizana

There is a strong possibility that Rizana Nafeek, charged by a court in Dawadmi with murdering a four-month-old child, will escape execution, according to her lawyers. The law firm of Khateb Al-Shammary retained by the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has filed an appeal against the death sentence and her case is currently being reviewed in a court of appeals.

“In a letter addressed to us, the legal firm has said that there is a strong likelihood of Rizana being spared,” Basil Fernando, executive director of AHRC, told Arab News yesterday. However, he added that the lawyers believed that she could be given a five-year jail term for “death caused without intention.”

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http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=102900&d=28&m=10&y=2007

Sri Lankan air force attacks LTTE intelligence gathering

Sri Lankan air force fighter jets pounded a regular gathering place of LTTE's intelligence wing leaders on Monday in the north eastern part of the country, the defence ministry said here.

The jets took off from the Katunayake airbase near Colombo and engaged the target at Puthukuduiruppu in Mullaitivu, which has been under air surveillance for a considerable time, it said quoting sources.

"The air raid has been launched after real-time ground information revealed a gathering of LTTE intelligence heads in the morning at the targeted location."

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http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?r

Anandasangaree reprimands Prabakaran

V.Anandasangaree in another letter to Velupillai Prabakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, has reprimanded him for his recalcitrant behaviors and told him to come forward for talks with the Sri Lanka Government and accept a reasonable solution. He has alleged that Prabakaran has failed to listen to his advises. He said that advising Prabakaran is like blowing a conch in a deaf man ears......

......
Mr. V. Prabaharan,
President – LTTE.

My Dear Prabaharan,

Please Stop Your Killings and Go For Talks

I very strongly condemn you for what you have done at Anuradhapuura last Monday. It is not a matter for anyone to rejoice at. Every right-thinking person will curse you for this ruthless act. However there are some people who are comfortably settled in safe places with their families, glorifying you. What have you done, for anyone to give credit to you? In this operation you had been the cause for the death of 35 people, 14 from the Air force who come from poor Sinhalese families, joined the Air force to earn a living. The remaining 21 belong to the suicide cadre of your Black Tigers, all of whom were compulsorily recruited and brain-washed by you.

Read full article here,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/8021

Lanka conscious of Tamil Nadu factor: Defense Secretary

The Sri Lanka government is conscious of the Tamil Nadu factor in determining New Delhi's Sri Lanka policy, and it strives to ensure that the war waged in the island's North and East is directed against the LTTE terrorists and not against innocent Tamil civilians, Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapksa, has said.

In an interview to the state-owned Rupavahini TV channel on Sunday, Rajapakasa said that India's Central government would be able to help Sri Lanka fight LTTE terrorism only if Tamil civilian casualties were minimal, in view of the fact that Tamil Nadu state was home to 60 million Tamils.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=9f72c0d4

Eight Sri Lankan fishermen in LTTE custody

All Lanka Fisher Folk Trade Union Secretary M. Vijendra says that eight fishermen are in the custody of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE).

The fishermen sailed from Kalpitiya in multi-day fishing crafts on 2007 February 11 were missing since then and Vijendra said that Mannar Bishop Rev. Rayappu Joseph had verified the families of the fishermen that they were in LTTE custody.

Lanka Fisher Folk Trade Union is preparing to complain to the ICRC, to Sri Lanka President and the Committee to Investigate Disappearances.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/October29113451SL.html

Oil exploration: Lanka eyes experienced companies

Sri Lanka has called for bids for oil exploration from oil companies that have experience in the field, Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie on transit at the King Khalid International Airport told Daily News.

Fowzie who was enroute to the Sixth Doha Conference on Natural Gas, came to the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The Minister said the bids for this tender will close in January 2008.

“We want to get the right party to carry out the exploration since the seismic survey carried out in 2002 had indicated that the Mannar Basin could produce 1 billion barrels,” Fowzie said. Mannar Basin covers an area of 35,000 km, stretching from Mannar to Kalutara.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/10/29/news03.asp

Sri Lanka win Cricket Sixes

Thanks to an incredible performance with the bat, Sri Lanka were the surprise winners of the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes, beating the All Stars by 16 runs.

The Sri Lankans, who take home their first ever Sixes title and 100,000 dollars US in prize money, set Shane Warne's team 128 to win from 40 balls. Indika de Saram made 40, Jeevantha Kulatunga 28, as the All Stars were smashed all over the KCC.

Craig McMillan, who was as named the player of the tournament, fell for a golden duck, and despite 34 from Brian Lara and 36 from Geraint Jones they fell short.

Extracted from,
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20071029/news_20071029_56_442466.htm

Tamil Tigers preparing for ‘Hero’s Day’ celebrations in London

The United Kingdom and European Union proscribed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (Tamil Tigers) activists are getting ready to hold the annual Hero’s Days celebrations in London on November 27, 2007.

Colourful leaflets are being distributed via Tamil outlets which states ‘Tamil Thesia Ninaiveluchi Naal 2007’ (Tamil National Memorial Uprising Day 2007), November 27, Tuesday (11.30 – 17.30). The leaflets failed to disclose the details of the venue/s, organisers name and their contact details.

Read more,
http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com/2007/10/tamil-tigers-preparing-for-heros-day.html

Chinese Arms in LTTE Hands

In a picture released of the latest troupe of young Tamils to sacrifice themselves to the unattainable dream of Tamil Ealam see the Tigers brandishing nothing but Chinese weapons.

In the picture, some Black Tiger cadres carry QBZ 97, export version of QBZ 95, produced for the Republic of China military by Qīng Buqiang-Zidong company, designed by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation). The weapon is a 5.56mm caliber (NATO-term) weapon.

Members of the group is also shown holding Anti-Tank Weapons, also made in China (Type-69 or RPG7 variation) loaded with Airburst Anti-Personnel HE with HEAT rockets in their back.

The body colour of this weapon seems to indicate it is more a T69. Members of the group also hold 66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAWs) with disposable rounds and the RPGs are of reusable type.

One Tiger poses with a CIS 40 Singapore made 40mm Grenade Launcher (CIS 40 GL). Tamil Tigers use CIS 40 and Ultimax LMG as weapon of choice in many battles. The Sub Machine Gun held by one Tiger is a T86 silenced version and again 5.56mm.
The LMGs in the picture are Type 88 GPMG (QJY 88 or General Purpose Machine Gun).

Read the full article here,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/10/chinese-arms-in-ltte-hands.html