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Supporting LTTE will invite stern action’ |
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31 Jan 2008 - 15:17
Tamil Nadu’s DMK Government
yesterday warned of stern action against those who speak in
support of banned outfits.
“Any speech supporting the
banned outfits or propagating their ideals is a crime under
the Unlawful Prevention Act and legal action will be taken
against those who indulge in such acts,” Law Minister
Duraimurugan told the Assembly, without making a direct
reference to the LTTE.
His statement assumes
significance in the wake of the Congress’ demand for the
arrest of Thol Tirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai
Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK), another DMK ally, for his speech at
a public meeting recently, seeking revocation of the ban on
the Tigers.
Yesterday, Congress members
walked out of the house, dissatisfied with the explanation
offered by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the LTTE issue.
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S L military says 94 terrorists killed in clashes
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31
Jan 2008 (Update 15.30)
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka’s air force bombed Tamil
Tiger positions in the far north while ground battles killed
14 rebels and a government soldier on Monday, taking the
death toll in three days of fighting to 94, the military
said.
The death toll in the first two days of
clashes had stood at 79, including 36 Tamil Tiger Terrorists
killed by government troops in the north on Sunday.
Those clashes were on the Jaffna peninsula,
the northern districts of Vavuniya and Polonnaruwa and the
northwestern district of Mannar, and killed 75 terrorists
and four soldiers, the military said.
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LTTE's first bunker
line falls as Army foray terror defences in Jaffna
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30
Jan 2008 (Update 16.30)
 Sri
Lanka Army sources claim that first bunker defence of LTTE
terrorists on Muhamalai and Nagarkovil fronts in the Jaffna
peninsula were destroyed in a surprise attack this morning (January
30). According to the sources over 100 infantrymen ran at the
terror defences around 12.45.a.m. smashing 35 bunkers occupied
by the terrorists.
LTTE radio transmissions have
revealed 10 cadres were killed in the confrontation. However,
ground troops have reported that 25-30 terrorists were either
killed or wounded. A rocket propeller grenade launcher, a 60mm
mortar bomb, a large stock ammunitions have been found during
the subsequent search.
Military sources say, seven
army soldiers were wounded in action and have been admitted to
military hospital in Palaly. Troops are consolidating their
positions , the sources added.
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Fighter jets and army-gunners pounds LTTE gun
positions in Jaffna
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28
Jan 2008 (Update 13.30)
 Sri
Lanka Army artillery and Air Force fighter jets pounded LTTE gun
positions located in the Kalmunai Point (K- point) area North of
Paranthan this morning (January 28). According to the defence
sources, the attack was launched in retaliation to the
terrorists' artillery shelling at the Jaffna peninsula around
10.a.m.
Sri Lanka Army responded to the
attack with heavy artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets launched from
Katunayake air base raided enemy gun positions with repeated air
sorties around 11.45.a.m. The Air Force sources said that the
air raids were successful.
According to the defence
sources in the area there were no casualties or damages caused
by LTTE artillery fire.
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Hon. Minister of Health of Sri Lanka in Geneva |
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25
Jan 2008 (Update 12.30)
The 122nd Executive Board Meeting of the WHO convened
in Geneva from 21st to 26 th February 2008
at the premises of the WHO headquarters. The Health Ministers
and other Senior Health officials of 34 Executive Board Member
countries participated at this meeting and held extensive
discussions on several issues of the World Health Agenda of the
year 2008.
more>>
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16 civilians killed by LTTE |
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25
Jan 2008 (Update 12.00)
Sri Lankan police were
Friday investigating the gruesome discovery of 16 bullet-riddled
bodies dumped in shallow graves in a government-controlled area.
The victims of what appeared to have been
execution-style killings were found on Thursday evening by
villagers in a district 206 kilometres (130 miles) north of the
capital Colombo.
The victims had been blindfolded, tied up and
shot, officials said.
"We are now investigating to initially
establish the identity of the victims," said a senior officer in
the area, who declined to be named. "We have also increased
security in the area.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara
said the bodies were found dumped in a swamp Thursday near
Kabithigollewa village, 170 miles north of the capital, Colombo.
He suspected the separatist Tamil Tigers were behind the
killings.
He said the victims were believed to be a
group of civilians who had been searching for their cattle. The
bodies had not been identified, but a forensics team was sent to
investigate, he said.
The rebels were not immediately available for
comment.
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Sri Lanka calls on Human Rights Council to challenge Israel’s
policy of Impunity |
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25
Jan 2008 (Update 12.00)
The Human Rights Council
held its sixth Special Session on “Human Rights Violations
emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including the recent ones in occupied
Gaza and the West Bank town of Nablus”, on 23 -
24 January 2008. The Special Session adopted a resolution
against Israel with thirty (30) votes in favour, and one (1)
against. Fifteen (15) members of the Council abstained from
voting. more>>>
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Join hands to resolve national issue on common agenda -
President |
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24
Jan 2008 (Update 14.00)
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday(23) appealed to all political
parties to join hands to solve the national question within a
common agenda sans their private agendas and party differences,
thinking of their Motherland and the common masses.
President Rajapaksa
made this appeal at the historic occasion in which the Chairman
of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) Prof Tissa
Vitharana handed over the draft proposals of the APRC to solve
the national question at the Presidential Secretariat.
"All political
parties should join hands for the sake of the common masses of
the country to provide them a political solution and to salvage
the country from terrorism, considering it as their bounden duty
and responsibility", the President said.
The proposals were
handed over to the President following his request to the APRC
on January 09 to hand over the draft proposals by January 23 for
him to go ahead with the proposals to solve the national issue
after obtaining approval from the Cabinet.
President Rajapaksa
thanked all the political parties represented at the APRC and
also those who left the APRC prior to the completion of the
final proposals for their participation at APRC deliberations.
He also thanked the APRC members for handing over their
proposals within the stipulated period.
The President
explained that the handing over of the proposals was a
fulfilment of a requirement of the country as the public
expected a political solution to fully implement the
Constitution in all parts of the country.
"Today we have an
environment to implement these political proposals in the
country though it was difficult due to interference by the LTTE
in the North," the President added.
He said that all
political parties share the responsibility in the process of
ensuring democratic rights and the people's right to live
without any fear regardless of their ethnicity.
The party leaders who
participated at the event expressed satisfaction that the APRC
was able to finalise the proposals at a time the nation was
about to celebrate 60 years of independence next month.
"We should find a
political solution for the political problem of the country.
There is no military solution to political problems. That is
very clear. The solution to terrorism is a different one. We are
bound to fulfil all aspirations of the people," the President
added.
He also said that
proposals could be discussed with the Cabinet of Ministers and
also with other political parties in order to rectify any
shortcomings.
The President also
thanked the party leaders for agreeing to proposals and for
expressing their willingness to extend their support for the
proposals in the future too.
Political party
representatives representing the Parliament and outside the
Parliament participated.
Courtesy: Daily News
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Air Force raids "X-ray base"; |
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23
Jan 2008 (Update 14.00)
SL 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.
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Troops take undercontrol 24 terrorists bankers |
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21
Jan 2008 (Update 14.00)
Fifteen
LTTE terrorists were killed and over thirty wounded in a
pre-dawn clash between security forces and LTTE today (January
21), ahead of Nagarkovil defences.
According to Jaffna military
command, troops launched a multi-pronged surprise assault at
LTTE positions ahead of Nagarkovil defences, around 2.30 a.m.
forcing terrorists to flee with soaring casualties.
The advancing troops have
destroyed 24 LTTE bunker defences, security sources said. Four
LTTE bunkers were destroyed ahead of Nagarkovil FDLs, while 12
and 08 others bunkers were destroyed at Muhamalai and Kilali
fronts respectively, the sources added.
Military said that, two valiant
soldiers laid their lives while, nine others were wounded during
the hours long confrontation. Latest, military reports citing
intercepted LTTE communication stated that, wounded terrorists
were taken to seven separate locations in the non-liberated
region.
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27 Tamil Tiger terrorists killed in north |
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19
Jan 2008 (Update 11.00)
A total of 12 LTTE terrorists were killed and
3 LTTE bunkers were destroyed during confrontations with troops
yesterday (18) in MANNAR.
A total of 7 LTTE terrorists were killed
during confrontations with troops yesterday (18) in VAVUNIYA,
WELIOYA.
Eight LTTE terrorists were killed including a
female terrorist in the MUHAMALAI area, JAFFNA during three
confrontations with Troops on Friday.
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LTTE terrorists massacre innocent civilians in remote village |
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18
Jan 2008 (Update 11.30)
A group of LTTE terrorists
have carried out a cowardly attack at the civilians at
Kalawalgala, a remote village in the Thanamalwila area around
10, last night (Jan 17). According to the latest reports, 10
innocent civilians have been butchered during the night raid
carried out by the terrorists.
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Sri Lanka bombs Tamil Tiger terrorist leaders |
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17
Jan 2008 (Update 10.30)
Sri Lanka's military said Thursday its war
planes had "completely destroyed" a rebel hideout near the
northern town of Kilinochchi where Tamil Tiger leaders were
meeting."Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeted an LTTE (Liberation
Tiger of Tamil Eelam) senior leaders' gathering at Jayapoor in
Kilinochchi," the defence ministry said in a statement."Pilots
confirmed that the location was completely destroyed," it added.
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USA condemns attack on bus, points finger at LTTE |
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17
Jan 2008 (Update 10.10)
The Embassy of the
United States of America in Sri Lanka strongly condemned
today's vicious terrorist attack on a civilian bus in the Uva
Province which took the lives of 27 civilians including many
women and children while injuring more than 60 others.
Expressing condolences to the victims and their families in a
Media Release, the United States has pointed out that although
no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, " it bears
all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam".
The media release further stated that targeting
of civilians only serves to foster fear and cause further
suffering among the Sri Lankan people and maintains that only
a political solution to the country's conflict offers a way
out of the current cycle of escalating violence.
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Rajapaksa says
India-Sri Lanka accord can solve ethnic issue |
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17
Jan 2008 (Update 10.00)
 Sri
Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the India-Sri Lanka accord
of 1987 offers the best solution for the ethnic problem in his country.
The devolution of power envisaged in the accord,
offered the best solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said
in "Walk the Talk" programme on NDTV Saturday.
Following the signing of the accord by Sri Lankan
president J.R. Jayewardene and the then Indian prime minister Rajiv
Gandhi, the Sri Lankan parliament passed the 13th amendment to the
constitution, which created provincial councils with a modicum of power
devolved from the central government.
But the provincial council system did not function
where it was primarily meant to, namely, the Tamil-speaking northeastern
province. The northeast provincial council, dissolved in 1990 due to the
war, still remains dissolved 17 years later.
Now, President Rajapaksa reportedly wants to fully
implement the 13th amendment saying it is the most practical answer to
the Tamil minority's demand for provincial autonomy.
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LTTE Terrorists target Civilian Bus in Buttala |
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16
Jan 2008 (Update 10.40)
LTTE terrorists have carried out a cowardly bomb blast targeting
innocent civilians at Okkampitiya, Monaragala this morning (16 January).
According to the available information the bus which was plying from
Buttala to Okkampitiya with large number of civilians including
schoolchildren has been targeted in the explosion.
Police sources said that the terrorists have exploded claymore mine
targeting the bus and subsequently opened fire at the survivors . The
explosion has taken place around 7.40 am at Telangugaspallama ,Niyadalla,
Okkampitiya, the sources added.
According to the latest reports 24 people have been killed and over 60
suffered injuries in the attack. Hospital sources said that 8 people
among the wounded are in critical condition.
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60 Tiger terrorists Killed |
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14
Jan 2008 (Update 15.40)
60 Tamil Tiger Terrorists have been killed in the
latest fighting in Sri Lanka, the military said, adding that one of its
soldiers was also killed.
Security forces in its attempt to
liberate thousands of civilians stranded in LTTE captivity marched
forward, despite resistance fire from terrorists. According to Wanni
defence sources, troops have overran an LTTE strongpoint during the
military onslaught targeting LTTE positions.
In an interview with a popular local
weekend newspaper 'Rivira' yesterday, Army Chief, Lt. General Sarath
Fonseka said, SLA have begun advancing into non-liberated areas of Wanni
and Northern fronts in five major offensive divisions. Further, in his
interview, the Army Chief revealed that two offensive divisions from
Jaffna would join the advancing troops from Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya
fronts.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that one
soldier was also killed and 28 others suffered injuries during the
clashes that prevailed throughout Friday on the Vavuniya, Mannar and
Jaffna battlefronts.
The statement came one day after Sri Lankan Army
Commander Sarath Fonseka told reporters that the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would be militarily defeated before he retires from
the service at the end of this year.
"I do not want to hand over this issue to the next
army commander," Fonseka said Friday night.
The commander, who himself survived an
assassination attempt carried out by the LTTE in 2006, said the strength
of the LTTE has been reduced to about 4,500 cadres after it lost 2,300
cadres in the east and about 1,500 in the north from mid-2006.
He added that about 600 government soldiers were
killed and around 4,000 were injured in the battlefield during the
period.
Fonseka said earlier the war with the LTTE would
enter into a decisive state by August this year after the organization's
strength is further reduced to about 2,000 cadres.
However, the commander said Friday that government
troops are not in a hurry and what happened in the last two years will
continue in the future.
"The troops are doing very well. And at the rate
we are going, there will be major changes in the coming six to seven
months," said Fonseka.
Fonseka said he did not believe in a military
solution to the country's long drawn-out ethnic issue, but the defeating
of the LTTE by the armed forces will pave the way for a political
solution.
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Sri Lanka has a right to take action against terrorists: Pranab |
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14
Jan 2008 (Update 15.30)
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New Delhi, Jan
12 (IANS) Sri Lanka is well within its right to take action against
terrorists, but the government should also continue efforts to
arrive at a solution to the problem of ethnic minorities, including
the Tamils, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.
Mukherjee has refused to criticise Sri Lanka for
abrogating the ceasefire pact with the LTTE, saying that India was "not
party to it (the ceasefire agreement)".
Answering a query on the abrogation of the
ceasefire on Karan Thapar's "Devil's Advocate" programme for CNN-IBN
to be telecast Sunday, Mukherjee said: "We shall have to see what
impact it has."
"Of late the clashes between Sri Lankan forces and
LTTE terrorists have increased. So far as the terrorism is concerned,
our position is that India's position is zero tolerance. So any
country that takes action against terrorists are free to do so
within their legal system," he said.
On the issue of ethnic minorities, Mukherjee said,
"So far as the solution to the problem of ethnic minorities,
including the Tamilians, is concerned, so that their legitimate
aspirations are fulfilled within the Sri Lankan system, that part
should not be lax and efforts must continue to arrive at a solution."
On the invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
to attend Sri Lanka's 60th Independence anniversary celebrations,
Mukherjee said that no decision has been taken yet. "As and when it
will be decided we will let you know but no decision has yet been
taken".
He added that the prime minister will attend the
Saarc summit to take place in Colombo later this year. |
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Sri Lanka's government rejected a Tamil Tiger fails offer |
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14
Jan 2008 (Update 15.30)
Sri Lanka's government rejected a Tamil Tiger
offer on Friday to abide by the terms of a newly-scrapped six-year
ceasefire and vowed to push on with a military campaign to crush the
rebels.
The Tigers said on Thursday they were willing to implement the terms of
a truce Nordic monitors say they have violated thousands of times, but
the Tamil tiger terrorists also said they were ready to face a
full-scale war if the government were to wage one.
We will be going on with our liberation operations. We
need to liberate the whole country from terrorism. We will flush them
out."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who want to create an
independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, were not immediately
available for comment.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has said they are "among the
most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world".
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Bomb explosion in Colombo Fort Railway Station |
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11
Jan 2008 (Update 20.30)
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A
bomb explosion has taken place in the Colombo fort railway station
around 7.35 this evening. According to the available information the
explosion has occurred on the sixth railway platform.
Police suspects
that the explosion was caused by a parcel bomb. One person has
suffered minor injuries due to the explosion. ..
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LTTE most dangerous extremist outfit: FBI
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11
Jan 2008 (Update 16.30)
 The
Federal Bureau of Investigation has described the dreaded Tamil Tigers
as among the most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world.
The US investigative agency has warned people against making donations
to organisations or charities that work as cover organisations for the
Tigers to raise money.
FBI has also said that the Tigers have placed operatives in the US to
discreetly fund its terrorist campaign in Sri Lanka.
The investigative agency also credits LTTE with being the only
terrorist organisation in the world to have assassinated two world
leaders.
FBI said that the LTTE's ''ruthless tactics'' have inspired terrorists
worldwide, including Al-Qaida in Iraq.
The FBI has arrested several LTTE suspects the US in the past year
including the alleged US director of the Tigers.
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LTTE Sea Tiger base destroyed by SLAF - Mullaithivu |
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11
Jan 2008 (Update 13.30)
 Sri
Lanka Air Force fighter jets pound on LTTE Sea tiger base located at
Allampili in the Mullaithivu area this morning, January 11.
According to the air force sources, air
sorties were launched at 8.45 a.m by SLAF supersonic fighter jets.
Pilots confirmed that the targeted LTTE sea tiger base was destroyed due
to the bombardment.
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Troops advance in Killali |
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10
Jan 2008 (Update 20.10)
Today around 1.40p.m
in KILLALI troops advancing ahead of FDL’S detonated a claymore bomb
targeting a LTTE BUNKER, where two LTTE Terrorists were confirmed
killed.Meanwhile 5.10p.m, troops shot dead two LTTE terrorists who tried
to penetrate FDL’S in the NAGARKOVIL area.
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ceasefire was free
licence for tiger murder culture |
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10
Jan 2008 (Update 20.00)
TULF leader V. Anandasangaree has said that the ceasefire agreement
provided a licence to the LTTE culture of killing. The agreement should
have been abrogated a long time before..
Giving
his views to ITN, he said the ceasefire had created many issues for the
people of Sri Lanka. It was a free licence given to the LTTE to do
anything they wanted. It is with the ceasefire licence they
assassinated many parliamentarians and killed a number of members of
other groups. They brought the District Secretariats and other
government offices under their control. The TULF leader also said they
exploited the ceasefire to threaten principals, teachers and school
children. The ceasefire also gave a free licence to the LTTE to bring
the entire area that was under the control of the government, within
their purview. It had not brought any benefits to the country. Mr.
Anandasangaree claimed it only helped the outfit to strengthen itself
and stabilise and build their Navy, Army and Air Force.. |
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Shankar,Senior LTTE leader gunned down by STF |
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09
Jan 2008 (Update 15.00)
Police Special Task Force (STF)
personnel gunned down an area leader of LTTE terrorists at Saukade in
Batticaloa this afternoon (January 9), defence sources said. Terrorist
leader in charge of Batticaloa district, Shankar was killed in the
shooting incident that occurred around 12.45.p.m, sources added.
The incident occurred when the police
commandos acting on civilian information were engaged in a cordon and
search operation in the area. The STF personnel have shot the terrorist
leader when he had attempted to escape the cordon throwing a hand
grenade. No STF casualties have been reported due to the explosion of
the hand grenade.
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Army Troops captures Terrorist's control area in mannar |
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09
Jan 2008 (Update 14.30)
Troops have taken over
another sq. KM at Parappakandal last night, said Media Centre for
National Security.Nineteen terrorists were
killed and 30 wounded, while one soldier died and five were wounded," a
military spokesman said, asking not to be named in line with
policy.Another 19 rebels were killed the same day in a series of clashes
across the north, where fighting is focused, the spokesman added.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who want to create an
independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, were not immediately
available for comment.
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SL air force
chief escaped bomb blast |
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09
Jan 2008 (Update 14.00)
Sri Lanka's air force chief,
Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, narrowly escaped being caught in a bomb
blast in the capital on Tuesday.The media Wednesday quoted military
officials as saying that the air force commander had passed by the site
of the blast in the Fort area of central Colombo, just five minutes
before a parcel bomb placed in a roadside public telephone booth went
off.
Fitted with a timer, the bomb caused some minor damage
to a building nearby. No one was injured.
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Chronology of major attacks by LTTE |
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08
Jan 2008 (Update 21.00)
April 1987 - Car bomb explodes at Colombo central bus
station, killing 113 people and wounding scores.
April 1989 - Car bomb explodes in the eastern port of Trincomalee,
killing 51 people shopping for traditional new year.
March 1991: Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne is among 19 killed when a
car bomb is detonated in Colombo.
May 1991 - Former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi is killed in
southern India by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber.
Aug. 1992 - The army chief, Lieutenant-General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, is
killed in a landmine blast in Kayts, in northern Sri Lanka.
November 1992 - Navy chief Clancey Fernando is killed in a suicide
bombing in Colombo.
May 1993 - President Ranasinghe Premadasa and 23 others are killed by a
suicide bomber in Colombo.
Oct. 1994 - Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake is one of 52
killed in a bomb blast at a Colombo election rally.
Jan. 1996 - A truck filled with explosives rams into the Central Bank
building in Colombo, killing up to 100 people and wounding 1,400.
July 1996 - Two bomb blasts on a rush-hour commuter train kill 57 people
and wound more than 250.
Dec. 1999 - President Chandrika Kumaratunga is wounded in an attempted
assassination by a suicide bomber; at least 34 are killed in two
explosions. She lost an eye.
June 2000 - Industrial Development Minister C.V. Gunaratne and 21 others
are killed in a suicide bomb blast in Colombo.
July 2001 - An attack on the country's main air base and only
international airport kills at least 12 people and destroys 13 aircraft.
Aug. 2005 - Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar is shot dead at his
home in Colombo.
April 2006 - Army Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka is badly hurt
in an abortive suicide attack on Army HQ in Colombo.
May 2006 - Kethesh Loganathan, deputy head of the government's peace
secretariat, is shot dead by a suspected Tiger gunman at his Colombo
home.
June 2006 - Army Deputy Chief of Staff Parami Kulatunga killed as
suicide bomber rams a motorcycle laden with explosives into his vehicle
outside Colombo.
June 2006 - A mine attack on a civilian bus in the central district of
Anuradapura kills 64.
Oct. 2006 - Nearly 100 people, mostly navy sailors, are killed in a
suicide bombing on a convoy near the town of Habarana, northeast of
Colombo.
Dec. 2006 - Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, narrowly escapes a suspected Tiger bomb attack on his
convoy in central Colombo.
April 2, 2007 - A bomb blast hits a civilian bus in the eastern district
of Ampara, killing 16 people, mostly women and children, during a
Buddhist holiday.
Nov. 28, 2007 - Suspected Tamil Tigers kill 18 people in two bomb
attacks in the capital Colombo.
Dec. 5, 2007 - Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels kill 16 people in an attack
on a crowded civilian bus, 45 km (28 miles) from the town of
Anuradhapura.
Jan. 1, 2008 - Main opposition United National Party (UNP)
parliamentarian T. Maheshweran is shot dead at a Hindu temple in
Colombo. Government blames the rebels, but the opposition blames the
government.
Jan. 8, 2008 - Nation Building Minister D.M. Dassanayake is killed by a
roadside bomb planted by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the town of
Ja-Ela, 12 miles (19 km) north of Colombo. Source: Reuters (Writing by
Nagesh Narayana, Editing by Simon Gardner)
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claymore bomb Target
Minister D.M. Dasanayaka |
|
08
Jan 2008 (Update 12.00)
According to the available information the
explosion occurred between Ja-Ela junction and Rukmani Devi junction
along the Colombo - Negombo main road.Latest information said that
minister D.M Dassanayake and two others who sustained severe injuries
are now being treated at the Intensive Care Unit at Ragama Teaching
hospital. The Director of the Ragama hospital speaking exclusively to
defence.lk said nine others were also admitted following the explosion.
The bomb tore through the car carrying Nation Building
Minister D.M. Dassanayake as he traveled through the Ja-Ela area, about
20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Colombo, said military
spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
Dassanayake, who was not a member of the Cabinet,
suffered head injuries and wounds all over his body and was rushed into
surgery before he died, said Dr. Dharmawardena Guruge, a physician at
Ragama Teaching Hospital, where the minister was taken.
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Heavy fighting, killed LTTE intelligence leader including
20 Terrorists |
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06
Jan 2008 (Update 11.00)
Head of LTTE's 'military'
intelligence wing Shanmuganathan Ravishankar, alias Charles was reported
killed along with three other terrorists following an ambush by Sri
Lanka elite forces, in the general area North of Mannar, last evening (January
05), said the defence sources.
Charles was known to be another
self-styled colonel of the terrorist outfit and the deputy to Pottu
Amman, the chief of LTTE's intelligence wing.
According to the sources, the army
elites had ambushed a vehicle movement carrying Charles and his
companions. A senior defence official told defence.lk that the attack
was carried out with accurate ground information received from LTTE
dominated Wanni region. meanwhile same day
Twenty Tiger terrorists were killed while many were injured due to heavy
fighting reported from the PARRAPPAKANDAL and ADAMPAN areas in MANNAR.
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SL Govt. officially informs Norway |
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04
Jan 2008 (Update 10.00)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's
government Thursday evening informed Norway of its decision to quit the
CFA. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed over the formal
document to this effect to the Norwegian ambassador in Colombo Tore
Hathrem.Under the agreement, a 14-day notice should be given by either
of the parties to pull out from the ceasefire. |
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Pressure mine explosion .Welioya |
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03
Jan 2008 (Update 10.00)
At least two soldiers were killed and four others
wounded in a pressure mine explosion this morning at around 9.30 (January
03) at general area Sinhayaulpatha, in Welioya.
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Government withdrawn from CFA |
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02
Jan 2008 (Update 23.00)
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The government has officially
withdrawn from the Ceasefire Agreement. This is a cabinet decision
taken today (02).Under the February 2002 ceasefire arranged by peace
broker Norway, both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers
were given the option to pull out after giving Oslo two weeks'
notice.Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake proposed that the
government should formally quit the truce because it was holding
only on paper since an escalation of fighting in December 2005.
Last week, defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse,
publicly declared there was no point in observing a moribund truce
and described the ceasefire agreement as a "joke".
Indo-Lanka agreement is still there.
When signing a new peace agreement, the previous peace agreements
should be abolished but it never happened. I think since Thimpu we
have so many peace agreements.
I believe that the most sensible
thing is that we must abolish the ceasefire agreement. It should be
officially end. The CFA is there and every day it is violated making
the CFA a big joke.
Officially we should say that there
is no ceasefire agreement and we should ban the LTTE because it is a
terrorist organisation. I think these two steps - banning the LTTE
and officially declaring the abolition of the CFA should be done
immediately.
Then the President can
come out with a new set of proposals to address the problems of the
Tamil people. One should remember that we should not give solutions
for the LTTE, which is a terrorist organisation. Our solutions
should be for the Tamil people and their leaders.
According to SLMM, it was reported that LTTE violated
the CFA more than 3000 times. In fact nothing came out of the CFA
violation reports. LTTE continued with its violation with impunity
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Air Force pounds terror targets killing two leaders in North |
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