TWO of the Rehabilitation Centres in Vavuniya for former LTTE combatants celebrated Independence Day in their own fashion on February 4. At Poorthottam, where there are a couple of hundred former child soldiers, there was a flag hoisting ceremony, which included the release of a dove, and speeches in both Tamil and Sinhala.This was followed by a well rehearsed drill display.
FORMER Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, taken into military custody last night (8) on charges of committing alleged fraudulent acts and military offences has been provided with full security and protection under detention. His lawyer as well as the family has been granted unhindered access to the detainee and full medical assistance as required has been offered as indicated by him.
REPRESENTATIVES of two international aid agencies, World Food Programme (WFP) and USAID with a view to taking assessment of food and other daily requirements among Wanni IDPs and resettled people met Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Commander, Security Forces, Wanni and Competent Authority for IDPs. Messrs David Allen and Francis Abanzi of the WFP in Vavuniya and Miss Andrea Sawka.....
HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his retinue after a successful three-day state tour to Russia returned to the island this morning (9) to a tumultuous welcome at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Senior ministers, Parliamentarians, Chief of Defence Staff, Army and Navy Commanders, Inspector General of Police, state secretaries and a large crowd greeted the President on his arrival at Katunayake. President Rajapaksa was conferred an honorary Doctorate by Russians in appreciation of his contribution to the world peace by eradicating LTTE terrorism. During his stay in Russia, President Rajapaksa met his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and held a series of bilateral talks with many senior state officials.
MULLAITTIVU & EAST: TROOPS, engaged in the final phase of the battle to eliminate LTTE terrorism confronted terrorists in PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU area and captured another earth bund built by the terrorists in KARIYAMULLIVIKAI on Friday (27). In search operations that followed, six dead bodies of terrorists, seven T - 56 weapons , three communication sets, one mortar, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one motor cycle, one boat , one 60 mm mortar base plate and four hand grenades were recovered by the troops from those areas.
VAVUNIYA: AN ATTEMPT by a suicidal Tiger bomber to harm Security Forces failed to come through in the general area of VARIKOTTORUWA, VAVUNIYA. This afternoon (28) at about 2.00 p.m. but the terrorist had to lay his life since the soldiers kept away from going closer to him. Army troops on information received by them conducted a cordon and search operation in the general area of VARIKOTTORUWA. While the search was on soldiers observed two men and they suddenly started running on seeing the troops. The troops on suspicion pursued them and ordered to stop for search. Since they did not heed the call, troops had to open fire at them. One of those fleeing suspects, following injury.....
WANNI: ARMY troops made further advance amidst stiff resistance from LTTE terrorists attacking their positions in PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU area on Saturday (28) and caused heavy damages to the terrorists. Meanwhile, during search operations conducted in the general areas of PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU, DHARMAPURAM, ODDANKADDUKULAM, MUTHIYANKULAM, AMPAKAMAM and OLUMADU on Saturday (28) Army troops recovered six LTTE dead bodies, thirteen T-56 weapons, two I-com sets, two hundred and ninety-seven 60 mm mortar bombs, twenty-seven shaped chargers.....
MULLAITTIVU: NINE hundred and thirteen civilians including of two hundred and ninety-nine men, three hundred and sixty- three women and two hundred and thirty-four small children reached troops in PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU, MUNEI and PULMODDAI areas during Saturday (28).
Troops sent those civilians to the Relief Village and IDP centres after giving them refreshments.
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MULLAITTIVU: AN armoured tank used by Tigers during their last phase of the gun battle against the troops was completely destroyed Sunday (29) morning by brave soldiers, now entering the last patch of Tiger stronghold in PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU.
It is believed several Tigers on the tank also perished during the fire directed by the troops crawling on to the area. Charred dead terrorists were also found trapped inside the armoured tank, ground troops said.
MULLAITTIVU: NINE hundred and thirteen civilians including of two hundred and ninety-nine men, three hundred and sixty- three women and two hundred and thirty-four small children reached troops in PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU, MUNEI and PULMODDAI areas during Saturday (28).Troops sent those civilians to the Relief Village and IDP centres after giving them refreshments.
