News Archive

Amnesty: 5,000 Army & Navy Deserters Turn Up

MORE THAN 5,000 army and the navy personnel who had deserted ranks before May 31 this year, have applied to receive an honourable discharge from service.Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said about 3,800 army other rank deserters had turned up since the offer was made on August 24. “The programme is continuing successfully at regimental headquarters countrywide and will end on September 24,” Brigadier Nanayakkara said adding that the paper work was being attended to for the discharge of deserters.”
Soldiers Still Uncover Hidden Arms & Explosives

WANNI: ARMY troops engaged in search and clear operations in the general areas of IRANAMADHU, PUTHUKUDDIYIRUPPU, SUGANDIPURAM, KAPPUKULAM and KADIKULAM on Monday (31) recovered seventy-eight T-56 weapons, one pistol with a magazine, twelve rounds of 9 mm ammunition, one thermo baric weapon, four anti personnel mines, sixteen Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), one part of 12.7 mm weapon, sixteen Multi Propose Machine Gun (MPMG) links, three hundred and forty rounds of MPMG ammunition, four RPG charges, three Improvised Explosive Device (IED) charges, twelve hand grenades, .......
Troops Clean Up Aiyanagar Hindu Temple Premises

TROOPS of the 3rd Battalion, Vijayabha Infantry Regiment (VIR) that comes under 521 Brigade recently conducted two projects in Punidhanagar and Katkoolem areas in Jaffna. One was the self-help (Shramadana) programme to clean the Aiyanagar Hindu temple premises in Punidhanagar with the support of the public in the area and soldiers of the 3 VIR on 11th August 2009. Lunch packets for the people who participated in the programme were also provided by the 3 VIR unit.
T-56 Weapons Kept Hidden Still Emerge

NORTH: ARMY troops engaged in search and clear operations in the general areas of PALLEKKULI, PERANKAMAM, VISUAMADU and PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU on Tuesday (1) recovered seven T-56 weapons, six T-56 magazines, ninety-three rounds of T-56 ammunition, one pouch, four Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), forty-five anti personnel mines, sixteen 60 mm mortar bombs, three micro pistols and twenty 12 bore cartridges.
LTTE, Not RAW, Tried to Kill Pakistan Envoy

COLOMBO: IT was LTTE and not India’s external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), that attempted to assassinate Bashir Wali Mohmand when he was Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka three years ago, claimed Sri Lanka sleuths. Interrogation of arrested LTTE cadre in recent weeks had revealed that the LTTE had set off the blast at Colpetty junction on August 14, 2006, and that Mohmand was not a deliberately chosen target, reported the weekly Lakbimanews. The LTTE’s plan had been to attack any VVIP convoy taking that route at that time.
President Tells Forbes Magazine: No Peace Without Development

WITHOUT development, there won’t be peace; we must develop the economy, I don’t want to just be the liberator, I want to be the leader who brings permanent peace and development to this country and reconciliation with Tamil communities in the North and the East, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview with the Forbes Magazine. “The war is over,” he said. “Now we have no excuses. We have to start working and develop this country.” “I am a President for the whole nation. I divide people not as Sinhalese or Tamils or Muslims or Burghers. I divide them into people who love the country and people who do not,” the President said. He said he speaks Tamil when he wants to, as he can approach them more closely by speaking to them in their own language.
KDU Enters into Historic MoU for Medical Officer Training

GENERAL Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) marked another milestone in its history of twenty-eight years of lifespan today (2) when it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ruhuna for training of its tri-service military medical students for the MBBS degree. The first batch of twenty-five KDU medical cadets are to enrol to the University of Ruhuna shortly to undergo training at its Faculty of Medicine until the infrastructure for medical training is ready at the KDU.
OVERSEAS LTTErs REINVIGORATE DISCREDITING CAMPAIGN

IT seems that remaining LTTE supporters and a section of Tamil Diaspora, now hell-bent on discrediting the Army and the Government of Sri Lanka were launching all out efforts to woo the International Community and disrupt post- war rehabilitation and reconstruction processes that are in full swing. Those LTTE elements with the sheer intention of maintaining/gathering momentum for their humiliatingly defeated terrorist organization and reinvigorating its coffers appear to be re-grouping for street protests, demonstrations, public forums, renewed propaganda gimmicks.....
Explosives, Claymores & APMs Found

NORTH: ARMY troops engaged in search and clear operations in the general areas of KUDAMEEYAN and PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU on Wednesday (2) recovered one pressure mine, one hundred and eighty-one anti personnel mines, sixteen hand grenades, four claymore mines, 1kg of grease, one hundred and twenty-seven Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one hundred rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, one 60 mm mortar launcher with mortar sight and a base plate, twenty-five electric detonators, one battery, one ration tin, three land mines and five detonator cords.
The Steely Hand Behind Tigers' Demise

UNDER the firm guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan military did what the Tiger leadership least expected it to do-double its manpower and bring the fight direct to the enemy and inflict decisive psychological wounds. This was all-flanks engaged warfare based on common-sense and strategic insight. It was brilliant as it was simple, making many wonder why it hadn’t been instituted before, states the Manila Times of August 31, 2009 in its regular column “Open Notebook” by Random Jottings, written by a senior correspondent of the MT who was in Sri Lanka recently. Following is the text of the article