SLAF fighter jets made another precision air attack targeting LTTE terrorists in the coast of Mullaittivu, damaging an LTTE attack craft this evening at around 6.30p.m.
According to Air Force sources, an LTTE construction site was also damaged in the air sortie.
Sri Lanka Navy destroyed a medium-size LTTE logistics vessel carrying a large quantity of war like materials seventy (70) Nautical Miles North-east of Mullaithivu during the early hours today (20th December 2008). The Navy also intercepted a cluster of LTTE boats and destroyed four enemy attack craft, which were abortively attempting to support the enemy logistics vessel, in a separate confrontation off Mullaithivu.
The medium-size enemy logistics vessel had been detected by the Navy's Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) on surveillance mission in deep sea around 0130 hrs and subsequently, the Navy's patrol craft were deployed to intercept and destroy the enemy logistics vessel which was approximately 30 - 40 meters in length. In the ensuing naval fire that lasted for around 30 minutes, the enemy logistics vessel was completely destroyed. It is believed that the enemy vessel was carrying a large quantity of war like materials to the LTTE since it sank engulfed in a ball of fire under the heavy naval fire.
Four more LTTE attack craft, which were fleeing after having been abortively attempted to provide support to the enemy vessel, were also intercepted and destroyed by the Navy off Mullaithivu in a separate confrontation.
Courtesy : Sri Lanka Navy
As the battle for Kilinochchi enters a decisive phase, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged politicians concerned over the safety of Tamil civilians to "coax the LTTE to allow the civilians to move towards the safe corridor".
In an interview to the New Indian Express, he said that the LTTE "is preventing civilians from moving to safer areas."
Terming the expected fall of Kilinochchi in the near future not as a "military victory" but as the "beginning of the restorations of democratic freedoms", the President dismissed the need to wean away people from the LTTE.
"There is error in thinking that there is need to wean the people away from the LTTE. There is nothing to show that they are fully committed to the LTTE or nurtured by it," President Rajapaksa said. He was willing to concede though a "small misled minority... may be still with it." He said: "We know that the Tamil people left in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are held there in the thrall of LTTE's arms."
Once that power is broken, he said, the Tamil people will be free to join the democratic system. "We will be looking towards a new Spring of Development in and for the North" he said.
The President said his country took a "serious note" of the fact that an average of 500 Indian fishing vessels enter Sri Lankan waters daily.
Declaring that "the movement of smugglers" was a threat to the country's "sovereignty and security", the President pointed to a "nexus between smugglers and the LTTE and perhaps even other terrorist organisations."
On whether the arrangement with Member of Parliament V. Muralitheran and Eastern Provincial Council Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan (both defected from the LTTE) is working out, the President said differences of opinion were common in democracy and that he hoped the two "would sort out differences in the larger interests of the people they represent."
Courtesy : Daily News
(By: Walter Jayawardhana)
Speaking at the adjournment debate in the British House of Commons Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth office said the United Kingdom recognized the right of the Sri Lanka government's democratic right to fight the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).
Condemning the activities of the LTTE on behalf of the United Kingdom, the Minister of State, Bill Rammel told the UK parliament December 18, "The LTTE has no democratic mandate to represent the Tamil population. It is reported to recruit civilians, including children, into its ranks forcibly, to extort food and money from an already impoverished people, to abduct and kill Tamil civilians who disagree with its views or methods and to break all norms of international humanitarian law by preventing civilians from leaving conflict areas, effectively holding them as a human shield. The LTTE has conducted a terrorist campaign across the whole of Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, deliberately targeting thousands of individual civilians, as well as assassinating Government figures."
He added, ":" It is important not to forget that the LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organisation, which is responsible for serious human rights abuses against civilians throughout Sri Lanka"
According to the Hansard the following are some of the excerpts from the debate:
""With great international concern about the humanitarian and human rights situation in the north of Sri Lanka, it is timely to hold a debate on that country. Like many people in Britain, the Government are deeply concerned about the worsening conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and its impact on the welfare and human rights of Sri Lankan citizens.
"The lack of access by non-governmental organisations and the media to the conflict zone makes an objective assessment of the conflict impossible, to put it bluntly. Many alarming reports have emerged, speculating about the extent to which both parties' activities conform with international humanitarian law. Those reports need a sober and measured analysis based on the evidence available, and I will try to provide that.
Concern for civilians in Sri Lanka and the primary responsibility of the Government of Sri Lanka to protect those means that the LTTE's role in the conflict is sometimes overlooked. It is important not to forget that the LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organisation, which is responsible for serious human rights abuses against civilians throughout Sri Lanka.
The LTTE has no democratic mandate to represent the Tamil population. It is reported to recruit civilians, including children, into its ranks forcibly, to extort food and money from an already impoverished people, to abduct and kill Tamil civilians who disagree with its views or methods and to break all norms of international humanitarian law by preventing civilians from leaving conflict areas, effectively holding them as a human shield. The LTTE has conducted a terrorist campaign across the whole of Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, deliberately targeting thousands of individual civilians, as well as assassinating Government figures.
The UK condemns those activities and recognises the Government of Sri Lanka's democratic right to fight terrorism.
Two LTTE sea tiger leaders were killed in an air attack launched by the SLAF MI-24 helicopter gun ships targeting LTTE boat movement this morning, 19 December.
Air Force sources confirmed citing Electronic Warfare sources, two woman LTTE sea tiger leaders, Suhandini and Siran, were killed in the air attack launched around 11.45 am targeting LTTE boats in Kilaly lagoon area.
One LTTE boat was completely destroyed while several others sustained damages due to the bombardment, Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.
The timely detection of a bomb with its detonator by an Army Sergeant in a Kurunegala bound state bus saved the lives of nearly 100 innocent passengers, including Army personnel this evening (19) at about 5.30 p.m.
The passenger bus with its full complement, started off from Maharagama and has picked up many passengers on its way just after the Army cantonment in Panagoda.
An alert Army Sergeant in the bus after entertaining doubt about the movement of a well-dressed gentleman towards the rear part of the bus with his brand new brief case in hand, has suddenly gripped on to his hands and tried to get the brief case away, but it tore off uncovering the bomb's detonator which was to be exploded at any given moment.
Passengers supported the move and managed to overpower the "brief case LTTE terrorist turned gentleman" and handed him over to Padukka Police station with the bomb and its detonator.
Had that not been the presence of mind of the Army Sergeant, many precious lives of the passengers would have been blown to pieces once the "gentleman" receives the signal.
Courtesy : Sri Lanka Army
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| Troops of Task Force 1 captured the LTTE built earth bund and engaged in further consolidating operations. |
Troops attached to Task Force 1 (TF1) have breached the LTTE built earth bund following heavy confrontations ensued in general area Nivil last afternoon, 18 December, the military report received from the battlefront said.
LTTE terrorists have launched a counter attacks to recapture LTTE built earth bund late evening while troops engaged in consolidating operations in newly captured areas yesterday. Troops successfully repulsed the LTTE attempts inflicting maximum damages to the enemy. Troops also sustained minor damages during the confrontation.
Meanwhile, in a separate confrontation took place in general area Adampan, LTTE received more casualties, ground troops confirmed. The confrontation occurred when troops attacked at detected group of LTTE terrorists around 12.55pm.
Army personnel also sustained minor damages in confrontations took place in general area Adampan, north of Akkarayankulam on the same day.
Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopters raided LTTE boats movement detected in Kilaly lagoon area this morning, 19 December.
Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that the air raid carried out targeting observed LTTE boat movement around 11.45 am.
The MI-24 helicopter gun ships have accurately taken the targets inflicting maximum damages to the enemy boats.
More information will follow.
Troops of 59 Division on their mission to capture LTTE's main administrative bastion in northeastern coastal belt, Mullaittivu, had several confrontations with detected LTTE terrorists while extending own defence line yesterday, 19 December.
According to the military report, hours-long fighting ensued between security forces and LTTE terrorists in general area Karuppaddamurippu last afternoon. LTTE suffered heavy damages during the confrontation, the report said citing Electronic Warfare sources.
Meanwhile, troops sustained minor damages in few confrontations reported in general area Kumulamunai during last afternoon.
Separately, troops conducted a search operation in general area Kumulamunai uncovered military items left behind by the fleeing terrorists. 24 pouches, 5 torches, a compass, a bicycle and a penuche cape were among the items found.
Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships carried out series of air raids targeting LTTE defences in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu fronts assisting the ground troops on multi-pronged offensive this morning, 19 December.
Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that an LTTE defence line observed in 3Km east of Iranamadu junction in Kilinochchi front was targeted around 9.30 am. The air sorties launched in support of ground troops of 57 Division.
Another air raid was launched targeting LTTE defences observed 2Km east of Mullaiyaweli in Mullaittivu front around 10.00 am. The air attacks were launched to assist the ground troops of 59 Division heading towards LTTE bastion Mullaittivu.
Meanwhile, LTTE's defence line located west of Paranthan was also raided by the SLAF MI-24 helicopters around 11.45 am today. The air attacks were launched in support of troops of Task Force 1 who have successfully breach the LTTE built earth bund yesterday.
