LTTE refutes SLAF claims of air strike on Tiger leadership

Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan Wednesday evening refuted the claims by the Sri Lanka Air Force that it had hit a location of the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Pirapaharan Wednesday morning. Stating that Colombo was spreading false propaganda, Mr. Ilanthirayan said the SLAF attack targeted civilian settlements at Vaddakkachchi twice between 11:10 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. and in the evening between 5:15 and 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Ilanthirayan was responding to questions raised by media in Colombo.

Earlier in the day, the SLAF had claimed that it had hit a key LTTE base describing the target as LTTE's nerve centre and stating it was awaiting confirmation on whether the LTTE leader was residing in the target, which it named as "X-ray base".

Colombo was engaged in such false propaganda, also during the Tsunami catastrophe and on many occasions earlier, he said.

Extracted from,
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=24389

LTTE maintains radio silence after air strike

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) maintained radio silence after a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) raid targeted one of its highly secured military complexes deep inside the jungles east of Iranamadu today morning. LTTE also ordered all shops in Kilinochchi town to be closed down immediately following the aerial raid.

SLAF used 6 fighter jets simultaneously in one of the largest air strikes in the 4th Eelam War. However there is still no confirmation on any injuries caused to the LTTE leader Prabhakaran, who was supposedly present at the base during the bombing.

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http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/01/ltte-maintains-radio-silence-after-air.html

Air Force raids "X-ray base"; terrorists' nerve center in Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka air force fighter jets have raided the terror hub in Kilinochchi, known as "X-ray base" around 11.15, this morning (January 23). Air Force fighter jets in a low flying mission have targeted the base located East of Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area, with the pin point accuracy, air force sources said.

According to Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Andi Wijesoriya, the air sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and ground reconnaissance. Also, he said that the targeted location has been a regular visiting place of terror chief V. Prabhakaran.

Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit, he added.

Defence intelligence sources said that the air raid was timed with a "special" activity that was going on at the LTTE base. However, the sources refrained from commenting further on the issue. Also, the sources said, the targeted terror hub was located in a thick jungle patch, North of LTTE's "runway" in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a "high security zone" and a "no go" area for civilians, the sources added.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that has been fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. Last week, LTTE terrorists butchered 47 people in the Monaragala and Thanamalwila areas at the behest of their psychopathic leader V.Prabhakaran.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080123_05

LTTE calenders sold outside London temples: report

A calendar apparently depicting the logo of the banned rebel outfit LTTE and the map of a separate state of Tamil Eelam was sold outside Hindu temples in London earlier this month.

The calendar, with a reddish sky and a rising sun in the background, depicts the map of Tamil Eelam and a Gloriosa Lily, the official flower of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Colombo Post reported today.

While the writing on top says Thamil Thai Naalkaati (Tamil Mother Calendar) 2008, the bottom portion states "History of the Tamils, world history and a calendar that reflects the religious and astrological matters relating to Tamils," it said.

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http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/01/22/0801221940_lanka-calender.html

Twelve fishermen held by Lankan Navy

As many as 12 Indian fishermen were on Tuesday arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly entering the country's territorial waters near Kachathivu, state fisheries department officials said.

The fishermen were later remanded to police custody by the Judicial Magistrate at Oorkaval near Kangesanthurai in the island nation, the officials said.

Three boats used by the fishermen were also seized by the Navy.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also took into custody 48 fishermen from Rameswaram who had attempted to cross to the Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday and handed them over to the Fisheries department officials. The licence of 12 boats and their diesel quota have been cancelled, officials said.

Indian Navy had detained 12 other fishermen belonging to Rameswaram on Monday, along with their mechanised boat.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200801221717.htm

India has realised danger from LTTE, says Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that India and the US are supporting the war against 'Tamil Tiger terrorism' because they themselves feel threatened by the Tigers.

'India now realises that it could be the next target of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). And I am told that the LTTE has taken a contract to motivate Al Qaeda cadres to become suicide bombers,' Rajapaksa told IANS on the sidelines of a press conference here Tuesday.

The president described his government's relations with New Delhi as 'very good' and added that if he had to allow any foreign government delegation to go to Kilinochchi to talk to the LTTE, it would be the Indian government.

'I prefer India. It is our neighbour,' he asserted.

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http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080122/93134.htm

Jet, Kingfisher eyeing stake in Sri Lankan Airlines

Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways and Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines are among a host of carriers looking at acquiring a 43.6 per cent stake in Sri Lankan Airlines, aviation industry officials said.

The two carriers will be looking at buying the stake presently held by Emirates Airlines in the Sri Lankan carrier once their 10-year shareholder pact expires April 1, the officials added.

The Sri Lankan government holds 51 percent stake in the carrier, while employees hold the rest.

When contacted, officials at both Jet Airways and Kingfisher declined comment on the matter. "We cannot confirm any development on this," Wolfgang Prock Schauer, chief executive officer of Jet Airways, told media.

"No comment," the Kingfisher spokesperson added.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Jet_Kingfisher_eyeing

Srilanka to introduce ET technology in dairy sector

In order to achieve maximum output from country’s milk sector, Srilankan government has decided to introduce latest Embryo Transfer technology to the industry.

Srilankan National Livestock Development Board, the Australian Government and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Peradeniya recently launched this Embryo Transfer Project and so far 200 high breed frozen embryos of Jersey Holstein Friesian and AFS breeds from Australia have been brought to Sri Lanka.

Once the breeding process is completed, the cows will be distributed among farmers associated with the NLDB. The objective of the project is to increase the number of milk cows and enhance dairy production.

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http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=5035

The day the government would be sent home is not far away if the government is getting ready to introduce devolution proposals in betrayals of the vic

Propaganda Secretary of the JVP, Mr. Wimal Weerawansa says that if the government is getting ready to introduce devolution proposals for the Northern and Eastern provinces in betrayal of the victories gained by the brave security forces and sacrifice made by the people of the country and challenging the unitary status of the country, the day the government would be expelled in unison with the progressive forces of the country will not be far a way.

He said this when inquired by us about the stand of the JVP about the devolution package to be introduced by the All Party Representative Committee.

In further comments he said, "This package is a deadly blow to the forward march of the security forces to liberate the Northern Province from the Tiger terrorist after they have liberated the Eastern province and it is betrayal of the security forces gained by the security forces at the expense of their lives as well."

"On the other hand, the JVP sees this devolution package as a plot hatched against the advancing march of the security forces gaining victory after victory." he said.

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http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2008/January/22/20080122_02.htm

Two soldiers injured in LTTE attack- Thanamalwila

Two soldiers were reported injured when they came under an LTTE gunfire attack while been engaged in an extensive search operation, at Sirinandapura north east of Kithulkotte in Thanamalwila today (January 22) at 12.30.p.m.

The latest incident was reported within a day following the gun down of three Police personnel in a road picket, at Aliwanguwa junction in Kithulkotte along the Thanamalwila- Monaragala road.

According to Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a soldier received minor injures while another wounded was admitted to the general hospital at Hambantota.

Further search operations are underway in the area, the spokesperson said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080122_05

Three Police personnel killed in LTTE attack- Thanamalwila

Three Police personnel a Sub- Inspector and two constables were shot dead by LTTE terrorists this evening (January 21) during a road picket at Aliwanguwa junction in Kithulkotte along the Thanamalwila- Monaragala road at 8.20.p.m, Thanamalwila Police said.

According to latest reports, the bodies of the slain Police personnel were brought to the general Hospital at Thanamalwila, while security forces tightened security in the area.

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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080121_08

Arrested LTTE Cadres in Chennai Reveals More

In a follow-up to the arrest of eight LTTE cadres including Nathan alias Suruli in Tamilnadu, the sleuths of State Intelligence wing have filed a petition at Alandur court today seeking one week police custody for interrogating the arrested.

And the petition is likely to be taken up for hearing on Tuesday.

It may be noted that Thambidurai Parameswaran who had been working with LTTE’s intelligence section infiltrated into India via Rameswaram last February and later moved to Chennai.

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http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com/2008/01/arrested-ltte-cadres-in-

Global concern over maritime security cripples LTTE

Heightened global and regional cooperation to increase maritime security is adversely affecting the fighting capabilities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on sea and land, military experts say.

"In naval terms, detection is more difficult than destruction and therefore, there is growing international cooperation for detection through arrangements like the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) programme in the Asia-Pacific region," a military official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

He pointed out that the Indian Navy was holding an MDA conference at Port Blair in the Andamans in which 12 navies, including the Sri Lankan Navy, were participating. The Sri Lankans had sent naval cutter Suranimala under a commodore for the meeting.

He added that the Andamans were ideal for holding such a conference because, at its eastern most end, it was only 63 nautical miles from western Indonesia, an area that had become notorious for arms smuggling and piracy.

And significantly, the floating warehouses of the LTTE, which the Sri Lankan Navy had destroyed in the past year, were generally anchored just west of Java in Indonesia.

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http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=64647

Brutal Buttala Killings Provide Path to Ultimate Victory Against Violence Leading to Peace

The attacks on civilians in Buttala with LTTE’s inherent brutal dimensions to it got damning condemnation from all over the world. The United States aid that the incident bears "all the hallmarks of the LTTE." European Union’s Colombo office stated that "this attack has all the characteristics of the LTTE’s modus operandi."

It added that no support can ever be gained in the EU through such acts of "barbaric terrorist violence." The time is opportune for the Sri Lankan government to show the world that while taking the path towards a decisive victory against the LTTE in all its deadly forms of violence, the problems of the Tamils are also being taken seriously.

The country is behind the Rajapakse government in their unerring militaristic assault on the Tigers and it must deliver also on the issue of a fair settlement of the governance issue and that Tamils and their problems are being generously addressed.

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http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/9219