Malaysian Indians look at LTTE

Angry ethnic Indians who marched in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to protest race-based discrimination in Malaysia carried portraits of Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of their non-violent struggle.

“But if their genuine grievances continue to be ignored, (Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers leader) Velupillai Prabakaran could soon replace Gandhi as their inspiration,” warns P. Ramasamy, former professor of history at University Kebangsaan Malaysia.

In an interview to DNA from Singapore, Ramasamy, who was appointed by the LTTE to its Constitutional Affairs Committee in 2003, connected the dots that link the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia (which accounts for most of the Indian population there) to the Tamil Eelam movement in Sri Lanka.

The chilling picture that emerges is one that holds serious foreign policy implications for India, quite similar to what it faced in Sri Lanka in the early 1980s.

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http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1136140

16 civilians killed over 35 injured - Nugegoda

LTTE terrorists carried out a cowardly bomb attack targeting innocent civilians in the densely populated Nugegoda town around 5.50p.m, this evening (November 28).

The explosion took place in front of the 'NOLIMIT' building complex on S.D.S Jayasinghe Mawatha, at Nugegoda junction.

According to available information, the bomb was inside an unattended parcel which was found at the counter of the shopping complex.

Several civilians have suffered serious injuries and admitted to Kalubowila hospital and National Hospital Colombo. According to the Kalubowila hospital sources 16 people have been killed and over 37 injured in the explosion. Three victims including one schoolgirl in critical condition have been transferred to National Hospital Colombo.

Latest hospital reports state, 07 females and 09 males to be among the 16 civilians killed.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071128_09
Photo,
http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2007/Nov/28/20071128_04.htm

Suicide Bomb Blast in Nugegoda Town

LTTE terrorists have carried out a cowardly suicide bomb attack targeting innocent civilians in Nugegoda this evening (November 28 ).

According to the available information the bomb has been exploded at the Nugegoda Junction around 6 p.m. and a bus has caught fire after the attack.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/

Air Force war planes attack LTTE radio station - Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed LTTE's clandestine radio station at Kilinochchi this evening (November 27), Air Force sources said.

The targeted location has been identified as the place where LTTE produces its propaganda products aimed at luring Tamil youth to join the terror outfit and also at tarnishing the good image of Sri Lanka.

Fighter pilots have confirmed that the radio station was completely destroyed, the sources further said.

The targeted radio station was to air the annual speech of terror chief V. Prabhakaran this evening.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071127_11

Sri Lanka vows to kill Tamil Tiger leader

Sri Lanka's government has marked the birthday of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran with a vow to kill him.

The island's powerful defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, said Colombo now had the upper hand in the long-running conflict, with the elusive guerrilla chief limited in both his movements and ability to score strategic victories.

Earlier this month the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), S.P. Thamilselvan, was killed in what the government said was a precision air strike on the north and not a mere lucky hit.

"The killing of Thamilselvan sent a very powerful message: they know we have good intelligence on their movements," Rajapakse told AFP in an interview Monday at the heavily-fortified defence ministry in Colombo.

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http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071127014209.pwzwzbh1.html

Sri Lankan president: We support Iran's peaceful nuclear program

Visiting Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, in a meeting with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Monday, said his country supports Iran's inalienable right to use nuclear energy.

According to Foreign Ministry Media Department report on Monday, in the meeting, Mottaki presented a report on the latest situation of Iran's peaceful nuclear program, active cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency( IAEA) and (IAEA Chief) ElBaradei's report to the IAEA Governing Council.

Referring to the level of bilateral ties, Mottaki said, "Iran is interested to expand ties with Sri Lanka in all fields and the visit is a new chapter in mutual relations."

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http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0711262832212908.htm

Manmohan Singh expected to visit Sri Lanka in Feb

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to be the chief guest at the 60th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka's independence in February next year.

"The Sri Lankan government had extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he has accepted it," a senior Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official said.

"He will visit Sri Lanka on 4th of February," the official said.

The official, however, said it was not yet finalised whether Singh's visit will be for one day or two days.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament that Singh will be the chief guest at the 60th anniversary celebrations on February 4.

Extracted from,
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/CE7EEA3AFEE2A9F5652573A00041CE58?OpenDocument

Koertzen out of Lankan series

Umpire Rudi Koertzen, who angered Sri Lankans this month by wrongly giving Kumar Sangakkara out on 192 in the second Test against Australia, has been withdrawn from the series against England.

South African Koertzen, 58, was due to stand in the series between Sri Lanka and England starting in Kandy on Saturday, but officials said the International Cricket Council had replaced him.

"The ICC has taken Koertzen off the roster for the series," Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Samantha Algama said.

Read more,
http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/koertzen-out-of-lankan-series/

LTTE shifting operations to Kerala coast: Top Navy offcial

With its movement restricted on the Tamil Nadu coast due to constant surveillance by Navy and Coastguard, the LTTE has started shifting its operations to the Kerala coast, a top Naval official on Monday said.

The Sri Lankan forces have understood LTTE's tactics and the Indian Navy has increased vigil on the Tamil Nadu coast, making it virtually impenetrable, Flag officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval command, Vice Admiral Sunil K Damle said.

Now attempts are being made by the LTTE to slowly use Kerala coast for smuggling arms and ammunition and drugs. Efforts are also being made by other terrorist organisations to use Malabar as a landing point for RDX, he told reporters.

Read more,
http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/LTTE_shifting_ope

LTTE fires artillery at Catholic school in northwest Sri Lanka, four students and two teachers wounded

Hours after the killing of four civilians in the border village of Mahawilachchiya, the Tigers fired heavy artilleries at a Roman Catholic school in Pulleadi Irrakkam in the Mannar district, injuring four students and two teachers.

Military said that two boys, two girls and two teachers were among the seriously injured and admitted to the general hospital in Murunkan. Another two, a girl and a teacher have been admitted to Mannar Hospital. They said that more than 10 artillery shells exploded inside the school premises around 1.20 pm.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/November26123941JV.html

LTTE terrorists kill 04 villagers including a woman - Anuradhapura

Four civilians including a woman were shot dead by LTTE terrorists today (26 November) at Mahawilachchiya village bordering Wilpaththu Sanctuary, Mahawilachchiya Police said.

According to Police sources, terrorists have opened small arms fire at the villagers and fled into the jungles area at the bordering Wilpaththu Sanctuary.

Police and security forces are now engaged extensive search and clearing operations in the area, Mahawilchchiya Police said.

Defence sources viewed this as an LTTE genocide attempt to cause fear among the villagers forcing them to flee their traditional lands, at the boarders of the ancient Anuradahapura Kingdom.

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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071126_04

Sri Lankan president in Tehran

The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has arrived in Tehran heading a political and economic delegation for a three-day visit.

Iran's Commerce Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi welcomed Rajapaksa at Tehran Mehrabad International Airport Monday morning.

The Sri Lankan president was later welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

During the ceremony, the national anthems of the two countries were played and the two presidents reviewed a guard of honor.

Ahmadinejad and Rajapaksa then started private talks.

Read more,
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=32637§ionid=351020101

Sanath to quit Test cricket

Sri Lanka’s aging batting superstar Sanath Jayasuriya will announce his retirement from Test cricket during the first Test against England which will get underway at the Asgiriya Stadium next Saturday, according to a very senior member of Sri Lanka Cricket. He said “Sanath is due to make this announcement during the Test match in Kandy”.

One of the explosive batsmen that the cricketing World has ever produced made his Test debut against New Zealand at Hamilton, on February 22 1991. However he made his mark on the field of cricket during the 1996 World Cup pairing off with wicket-keeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana taking pinch hitting at the top of the order into a new height. He was chosen as the most valuable player even prior to the end of the series.

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http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071125/Sports/sp218.html

Amnesty for Lankan army deserters, over 1,500 report for duty

Over 1,500 Sri Lankan army deserters have rejoined duty after being offered a general amnesty, boosting the military's fight against Tamil rebels.

"The deserters who do not have any criminal record were offered amnesty and given time between November 12-25 to re-join," Defence spokesman, Udaya Nanayakkara, said.

He said over 1,500 army deserters have already joined duty and the number of such personnel could cross 1,600 before the deadline ending on Sunday.

"They will be given training to bring them back into high fitness level before resuming duty in their respective regiments," Nanayakkara said.

The amnesty applied not only to army deserters, but also to those who remained absent from duty without getting official leave.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200711251820.htm