MULLAITTIVU: ARMY troops continued their attacks on LTTE positions inflicting heavy damages among the terrorists on Wednesday (29) while progressing in the final rescue operation in the VALAYANMADAM-KARAYANMULLIVAIKKAL areas. Troops using small fire and snipers took several targets bringing the LTTE death toll to over a dozen, ground troops confirmed. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in the enemy-fire.
A FORMER spokesman for the Tamil Tigers who surrendered last week has accused the rebels of shooting dead at least 200 civilians, and forcibly recruiting children as young as 13.Velayudam Dayanidi, better known as Daya Master, made these accusations in a video interview released today on the Defence Ministry's website ten days after surrendering with V.K. Pencharatnam, known as George, a former aide to the Tigers' late political chief.Both appeared in the video and seemed to be relaxed and in good health, but it was not possible to speak to them directly or to verify whether the interview was conducted under duress.
NEITHER Australia nor the international community believed the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka could be solved by the creation of an independent Tamil state, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said yesterday. In an interview with ABC Television Minister Smith said the safety and protection of civilians must be the absolute priority for all sides engaged in fighting in northern Sri Lanka He said Australia would commit an additional $4.5 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians caught up in the conflict in northern Sri Lanka. This assistance will provide urgent support including medical supplies, shelter, water and.....
THE HOSTAGE –taking drama that is taking place in the Wanni today, is one of the worst episodes of hostage –taking in history. The tragic irony is that the so called protectors and those claiming to represent the Tamil community are the perpetrators of the hostage drama! It is abundantly clear to all except the frenetically energized Diaspora and their deaf,dumb and blind, inveterate sympathizers in the West that Prabhakaran’s day is over and the latter knows it. He is clutching on to the last tenuous straw of shamelessly hiding behind Tamil civilians and praying for a miracle to be.....
INDIA has put its security forces on alert along its southern coastline to prevent beleaguered LTTE cadres fleeing Mullaitivu from entering this country. Indian Army’s Vice Chief Lietenant General Noble Thamburaj said here today that his troops along with the Navy and Coast Guard are on alert along the southern coastline. Talking to reporters, he said: "The Coast Guard and the Indian Navy form the first tier of guarding against infiltration from our southern coast. We have some troops deployed in the Southern Command to make sure that LTTE elements.....
"WE HAVE PASSED the difficult land-marks of the defeat and eradication of terrorism from our land. Our heroic troops, a vital sector of our workforce, are completing the historic task of sweeping terrorism away from our midst. The people see a new promise of freedom throughout the land, a freedom that was for long denied for nearly two-thirds of our land and a third of our population and working people. Terrorism not only threatens peaceful society, it also gives rise to misery that is the enemy of progress, "said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the commemoration meeting.....
"MY problem is not what the LTTE will do to you," the Defence Secretary said laughing, "instead it is that should such a thing happen, we would not be able to take Prabhakaran as planned!" He said after thirty years, the time had come finally for Prabhakaran and other terrorist leaders to be captured dead or alive and the government would not stop until that end was achieved. Defence Sectary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday (29) rejected visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s call for a ceasefire and access for aid workers to the civilian zone, and told him that the government would not stop its war on terror until the LTTE was crushed and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran captured, dead or alive.
IN ORDER to learn ground realities and the methodical, but steady progress in the final rescue operation in the “No Fire Zone”(NFZ), meant to decapitate the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Thursday (30) morning undertook one more trip to Wanni Security Forces Headquarters in Vavuniya. Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka during the meet listened to detailed accounts, given to him by ground commanders who particularly rescued hundred thousands of trapped civilians from the NFZ in Puthumattalan.
A NEW chapter in the government initiated “Uthuru Wasanthaya” (Resurrection of North) programme, designed to re-develop the entire northern province was opened Thursday (30) morning when one hundred and twenty-two displaced families (four hundred and nine civilians), returned to their renovated original houses for resettlement after the entire Mannar was brought to normalcy, cleared of LTTE terrorism. The brainchild behind “Uthuru Wasanthaya” Presidential Advisor, Hon. Basil Rajapaksa (MP) with a ministerial delegation, including Hon. Douglas Devananda......
MULLAITIVU: 57 DIVISION troops continuing to conduct extensive searches further deep into newly-liberated KUPPIKULAM, PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU areas for the first time uncovered a useable 106 mm Recoilless Rifle (RCL) that had been kept meticulously intact inside a lonely house for eventual use by evicted Tiger terrorists. The RCL, kept hidden in the entire sitting room of a large house, believed to have been vehemently frequented by terrorists after driving away the inmates, was the first-ever serviceable weapon of that kind, found by valiant troops who are now conducting extensive search and clear operations in those areas under the command of Major General Jagath Dias, General Officer Commanding, 57 Division.
