News Archive

New Life for Child Soldiers

ALL under-aged children who carried arms in the North will not be prosecuted by the Government, instead they will be integrated into society after proper rehabilitation, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Mahiyangana on Saturday. Speaking at a ceremony organised by the people in the Uva Province to fete President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa , the Former Army and Navy Commanders, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilake and Civil Defence Force Chief Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera on the completion of two months since.....
Commander Visits His Former Wanni Fortress; Distributes Rs. 3.8 m Items Bought by All Ranks for IDPs

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya on Sunday (19) morning made his first visit to Vavuniya after assuming the office of Commander of the Army.His visit to Vavuniya was of two fold importance. This was the first time he was visiting his former Security Forces Headquarters where he served nearly for two years as the commander. More importantly, Lt.Gen. Jayasuriya took a personal interest in distributing Rs. 3.8 million worth milk powder and other essentials among the Wanni displaced, temporarily housed in welfare centres. The whole lot of items was purchased with one-day salary allocation made by all ranks of the Sri Lanka Army as a token of goodwill and humanity. Army Commander on his arrival at the Vavuniya airstrip was received by Brigadier General Staff Security Forces Headquarters-Wanni (SEHQ-W) Brig. Sudantha Ranasinghe and a few senior military officers who accompanied the Commander to SFHQ-(W) premises where the troops of his own Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, accorded a guard turnout and a Guard of Honour to the visiting Commander.
LTTE overseas hardliners see KP as a failure

The following is an interview with an expert on LTTE Affairs and the Head of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research of the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Prof. Rohan Gunaratna.
Q: A one time LTTE operative in Colombo, now in detention, in an interview with a newspaper confessed that he received instructions, the funding and motivational feedback from a foreign source. In this context shouldn’t we be more concerned about the LTTE’s declaration of a provisional transnational government?
A: The LTTE failed to establish a Government in the North and East of Sri Lanka. As a result of this failure, it is now trying to establish a Government in exile. This too will be a short lived dream. The desire of Prabhakaran to create an imaginary state is still being advocated by those who funded, procured weapons, managed ships and indoctrinated Tamil youth to continue the journey.
Don't fear to visit Yala

With the end of the decades-long conflict, the military has guaranteed the security of the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary; a government minister said after he visited the park yesterday. "The military says there is no need to fear any terrorist threats to the Yala and Kumana national parks anymore," Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka told Daily Mirror.
Indian Terrorism Expert: If Sri Lanka Could Defeat LTTE, Why Cannot India?

A TOP INDIAN terrorism expert has said that if Sri Lanka could defeat the LTTE after years of conflict, so can India in its fight against the Maoists rebels, The Tribune reported yesterday. The Tribune news story filed from Kanker in Chhattisgarh, quoted top terrorism expert Brigadier (retd) BK Ponwar as saying that the recent defeat of the LTTE in Sri Lanka after a 30-year conflict has raised hopes that terrorism could be defeated militarily. "If Colombo can do it, we can also do it... the Bastar jungles are not that difficult," he said.
Vavuniya-Horowpathana-Trincomalee A-29 Road Opened For Civil Traffic

VAVUNIYA: MARKING one more milestone in the aftermath of the war on terror, the Security Forces on Tuesday (21) opened the VAVUNIYA-HOROWPATHANA (A-29) main road for civil traffic after a lapse of several years. Terrorists at that time committed a series of heinous bloodbaths targeting Security Forces and innocent civilians living or serving on both sides of this important road. As a result, people had to make a detour to TRINCOMALEE after arriving at MEDAWACHCHIYA which was a long way for them.
More Jewelry Emerge as Troops Intensify Search Operations

MULLAITTIVU: TASK FORCE-VIII troops, during their fresh search and clear operations in PUTHUKUDDIYIRUPPU area on Monday (20) uncovered a large stock of jewelry left hidden by the LTTE terrorists during their dictatorial administration in Wanni areas. LTTE was in the practice of exploiting wealth of innocent civilians in those areas in various ways, by way of ransom, “tax’ and transactions through the so called “Eelam Banks”.
Service Personnel & Police Join with Civilians in Wanni New Year Festival

Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni (SFHQ-W) took initiatives to conduct a special Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival in Vavuniya town for two consecutive days (April 23-24). Members of sports clubs in Vavuniya, tri-service and Police personnel and a large gathering of civilians who participated in the festival events received gifts from Army organizers. The festival, supported by ‘Tharunnyata Hetak’ project took place at the Vavuniya Urban Council grounds and.....
Army Salutes Its War Heroes Pinning 'North-East Humanitarian Operation' Medal onto Them

One thousand seven hundred and eighty (1780) more War Heroes whose unrelenting pursuit of humanitarian operations in the North and East against ruthless terrorists saw an end to the long dragged terrorism, were awarded ‘North-East Humanitarian Operation’ Medals during a special ceremony at Panagoda Wednesday (27) morning. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces inaugurated the award of the same ‘North-East Humanitarian Operation Medal’ on 14th December 2010 where a representative.....
New Wanni Commander Takes Office

MAJOR General Kamal Gunaratne who earlier served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Division during the peak of the War on Terror took over duties as the new Commander, Security Forces Headquarters-Wanni (SFHQ-W) amidst blessings of members of clergy on Monday (20). The formal ceremony commenced as Maj. Gen. Gunaratne reached the entrance to the SFHQ-W where a Guard Turn-out, followed by a Guard of Honour awaited his arrival. His own troops of the Gajaba Regiment (GR) saluted the new Wanni Commander.