Sri Lanka Timeline - Year 2008
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January 1
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The UNP Member of Parliament, T. Maheshwaran, was shot at and
injured by suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE while
he was offering prayers inside Sivam Kovil (Temple of Lord Shiva) at Kotahena
in the capital Colombo. The Parliamentarian, however, succumbed to his
injuries. One of the nine more civilians wounded in the incident also died of
his injuries. The Kotahena police claimed that the suspect, a resident of
Gurunagar in Jaffna, was shot at and injured in retaliatory fire by
Maheswaran's security personnel and is under police custody.
The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the LTTE
is under pressure due to a sharp decline in recruiting cadres and acute
shortage of arms and ammunition.
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January 2
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The Sri Lanka government decided to withdraw from the CFA with
the LTTE. At the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
proposed to annul the CFA, signed in February 22, 2002, between then United
National Front government and the LTTE, government spokesperson Minister
Keheliya Rambukwella said. "The Government decided to officially
withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement since it is futile to continue with the
Ceasefire with no indication that LTTE is willing to enter the peace
path," the Minister said, adding further, "The Ceasefire has been
violated by the LTTE more than 10,000 times. The Cabinet decision will be put
into practice by using the terms and conditions of the Ceasefire Agreement
itself."
Four persons were killed and over 20 injured in a powerful
bomb blast in Colombo. The Defence Ministry said the blast which occurred at
about 9:30am opposite the Nippon Hotel, targeted an army bus carrying
soldiers.
At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others injured
when troops launched two separate attacks on a LTTE bunker line at Kilaly in
the Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also killed and six others sustained
injuries during the exchange of fire. Five LTTE bunkers were destroyed in the
incident.
Troops entered the LTTE bunker lines in the Vaiyaththukulam
area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. While one soldier was
injured in the encounter, the troops destroyed one bunker.
In the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district, troops
destroyed a LTTE bunker, killing four militants.
The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade at a STF foot patrol
in the Thirithilana area of Ampara district without causing any fatalities. The
STF retaliated and killed three militants.
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January 3
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At least six LTTE militants were killed and more than a dozen
injured when troops stormed the outfit’s bunker line at Pallikuli, west of
Adampan, in the Mannar district. One of the seven soldiers wounded in the
incident later succumbed to his injuries. Six LTTE bunkers were completely
destroyed by the troops.
Troops in the Pallikkulam area of Vavuniya district launched
an attack on a LTTE bunker line and completely destroyed one bunker, killing
four militants while injuring another. Four soldiers also sustained injuries
in the incident.
Troops observed an infiltration attempt of the LTTE militants
into the security forces held areas west of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya
district and launched counter fire killing at least four militants.
The government’s decision to abrogate the CFA was based on a
policy decision and the doors are yet wide open for a peaceful and negotiated
political solution to the ethnic conflict, said Cabinet spokesperson and
Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
The government officially conveyed to Norway its decision to
pull out of the CFA. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed a letter to
Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem, saying that the government was withdrawing
from the agreement.
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January 4
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Six LTTE militants were killed in separate encounters Vavuniya
and Mannar.
Six LTTE militants were killed after troops stormed the
outfit’s bunker line in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna
district. Four soldiers were injured during the encounter.
Three LTTE cadres were killed during an armed clash between
troops and militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
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January 5
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Chief of the "Liberation Tigers Military
Intelligence", self-styled Col. Charles a.k.a. Shanmuganathan
Ravishankar, was killed in a "random claymore attack" by the Sri
Lanka Army’s Deep Penetration Unit at Pallamadu in the Mannar district.
Charles, who has been in charge of internal intelligence within the ranks of
the LTTE ground forces and led an external operations corps and regular
combat force that has been deployed in Mannar district, was killed along with
three LTTE "lieutenants" in the ambush while they were traveling in
a van between Iluppaikkadavai and Pallamadu at 3:10 p.m. Confirming the news,
the Sri Lanka Defence Ministry said that Charles was deputy to Pottu Amman,
the chief of the LTTE’s intelligence wing.
At least 20 LTTE cadres were reported killed and a large
number of other cadres were injured following a raid by the troops on a
bunker line of the outfit at Parappakandal in the Mannar district.
Six LTTE militants were killed in the Adampan area of Mannar
district. Two bunkers were neutralised. Intercepted LTTE radio communication
later revealed that two more cadres were killed.
Five LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter
in the Kutinchankulam area of Vavuniya district.
Troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district confronted
a group of LTTE militants and killed three of them.
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January 6
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Troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter at
Kaduruvitankulam in the Vavuniya district.
Troops launched an attack towards the LTTE bunker line north
of A-9 at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed four militants. While
two LTTE bunkers were also destroyed, an unspecified number of militants were
reported injured in the incident.
During an encounter at Pallikkulam in the Vavuniya district,
troops killed three LTTE militants.
Three LTTE militants were killed by troops during a clash at
Pandivirichchankulam in the Vavuniya district.
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January 7
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At least seven LTTE militants were killed as troops foiled
their attempt to infiltrate into the security force’s FDL at Muhamalai in the
Jaffna district.
Three LTTE bunkers were also destroyed. Troops at
Talaivankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants
and killed four of them.
Three LTTE militants were killed in the general area of
Kuchchaveli near Trincomalee when the sailors observed LTTE movement in the
area.
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January 8
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Suspected LTTE militants killed the non-Cabinet Minister for
Nation Building, D.M. Dissanayake, in a claymore mine blast near Rukmani Devi
junction at Ja-ela while he was proceeding towards Colombo to attend the
parliament session. A personal bodyguard of the Minister, identified as K.P.
Rathnayaka, also succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. 13 people,
including seven civilians, were injured in the incident.
Troops killed six LTTE militants in the Mullikulam area of
Mannar district when the militants were trying to enter the military-held
areas.
Troops killed four militants in the Periyathampane area of the
Vavuniya district when the latter tried to confront troops in the area after
firing a few shots towards them.
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January 9
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The LTTE eastern leader Shanker was shot dead by the STF
personnel at Shaukade in the Batticaloa district. Military spokesman
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that Shanker who was spotted by the STF
personnel on patrol at Shaukade, between the Sathurukanda and Eravur areas,
opened fire towards them and was shot dead in the retaliatory fire.
At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and over 30 injured
during clashes between troops and the militants in the Parappakandal area of
Mannar district where troops further consolidated their positions capturing
an area of about one kilometer covering north of Parappakandal.
10 LTTE militants, including a leader named Kalanadan, were
killed when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s militants in the
Mullikulam area of Mannar district. One soldier was also injured in the
incident.
At least eight LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified
number of them injured during clashes between the militants and troops in the
Parappakandal and Periyakulam areas of Mannar district.
In a clash between the two sides at Chettukulam in the
Vavuniya district, troops killed five LTTE militants and captured one bunker
of the outfit. Three soldiers sustained injuries due to the explosion of
anti-personnel mines during the clash.
Five LTTE militants were killed in two separate incidents in
the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
Troops at Kutinchankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a
group of LTTE militants and killed three of them. Four soldiers sustained
injuries during the exchange of fire.
Troops attacked a LTTE stronghold in the jungle off Janakapura
in the Vavuniya district and killed three militants.
Three LTTE cadres were killed and two others injured by troops
during an encounter in the area west of Mullikulam in the Mannar district.
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January 10
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Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the
Parappakandal area of Mannar district and killed at least five militants.
Troops killed five LTTE militants during an attack launched in
the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
Three LTTE militants were killed and several others injured by
troops when they repulsed an LTTE attack in the Parappakandal area of
Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the incident site.
A US District Court in Maryland sentenced a Sri Lankan to 57
months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to
provide arms, ammunition and other military materiel to the LTTE. The
sentence was imposed on Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, a Sri Lankan resident in
the US.
The LTTE is one of the most dangerous and deadly extremist
outfits in the world and the world should be concerned about the outfit as
they had ‘inspired’ networks worldwide, including the al-Qaeda in Iraq, said
the FBI. In a January 10 report, posted on its website under the title
"Taming the Tigers," the FBI alleged that the LTTE had perfected
the use of suicide bombers, invented the suicide belt, pioneered the use of women
in suicide attacks, killed some 4,000 persons in the past two years alone and
assassinated two world leaders — the only terrorist group to do so.
"Needless to say, the Tamil Tigers are among the most dangerous and
deadly extremists in the world. For more than three decades, the group has
launched a campaign of violence and bloodshed in Sri Lanka, the island
republic off the southern coast of India. Its ultimate goal: to seize control
of the country from the Sinhalese ethnic majority and create an independent
Tamil State," the report said.
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January 11
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At least 13 LTTE militants, including three female cadres,
were killed in a pre-dawn raid carried out by troops on an LTTE bunker line
in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Four bunkers were also
destroyed in the raid.
Troops after observing two groups of LTTE militants in the
area north of Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district launched an attack on
them, killing 13 militants. While six militants were killed and at least one
injured in the first attack, troops killed seven more militants and injured
nine others in the second attack.
Troops attacked and destroyed an LTTE bunker in the
Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, killing eight militants and injuring
several others.
Eight LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by
troops as they repulsed a militant attack in the area west of Puthukulam in
the Mannar district. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.
Troops attacked an LTTE bunker line at Palamoddai in the
Vavuniya district and killed six militants.
Troops operating ahead of the FDL in the Periyapandirichchan
area of Vavuniya district confronted group of LTTE militants and killed at
least five of them. About four hours after the incident, terrorists fired
mortar and artillery towards the troops, injuring 13 soldiers.
Troops launched two separate attacks on LTTE bunkers in the
Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants, including one
militant leader. Three bunkers were also destroyed in the incident.
The Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said that the
abrogation of the CFA will not affect the foreign aid flow as the LTTE has
been perpetrating terrorist activities even though the government tried its
best to protect it. He informed that outfit has violated the CFA 3,743 times
according to the reports of the SLMM.
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January 12
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At least 15 LTTE militants were killed during a fierce gun
battle that erupted between militants and troops at Pallikuli in the Mannar
district. One soldier was killed and five others were injured during the
clash.
Troops in three separate incidents moved forward and destroyed
three bunkers of the LTTE in the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilaly areas of
Jaffna district and killed six militants. Two soldiers were also injured
during the incidents.
An LTTE bunker was fired upon by troops in the Kallikulam area
of Vavuniya district. While four militants were killed, one soldier sustained
injuries during the clash.
During clashes that erupted between the two sides at
Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, three LTTE militants were killed and two
others injured by troops.
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January 13
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Nine LTTE militants were killed and eight others wounded
during clashes between the two sides in the area west of Parappakandal in
Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and 15 others sustained
injuries in the exchange of fire. Troops also captured nine LTTE bunkers.
Troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter in the
area east of Mantai in the Mannar district.
An LTTE bunker ahead of the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district
was completely destroyed by troops and three militants killed.
Three LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them
injured when a confrontation erupted between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai
in the Vavuniya district.
Troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the
Kutinchankulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.
Troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Periyapantrichurichchan
area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three
LTTE militants, including one decomposed female dead body.
One soldier was killed during clashes in the
Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district. Though troops inflicted heavy
casualties on the LTTE, the details are yet to be ascertained.
The Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi arrived in Colombo to
hold talks with the government and to assess the impact of the decision of
the government to withdraw from the 2002 CFA.
In a strongly-worded statement the Tokyo Co-Chairs of Sri
Lanka (Norway, Japan, U.S. and the E.U.) backing continuation of Norway’s
role as the official peace facilitator as well as asked the government to
provide the Co-Chairs and Norway access to the LTTE in Kilinochchi.
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January 14
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The LTTE cadres
triggered off a powerful claymore mine targeting one civil vehicle moving in
the Kudakachchikudi area of Vavuniya district. Two army soldiers and the
driver of the vehicle were killed in the explosion while three soldiers and
another civilian were injured.
Eight LTTE militants were killed by troops during two separate
encounters in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.
During an encounter between the two sides in the
Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE
militants.
Five LTTE militants were killed by troops during sporadic
clashes in the Periyapantrichurichchan, north of Villattikulam, Kattikulam
and Kutinchankulam areas of Vavuniya district.
Four LTTE militants were killed during an exchange of fire
with army troops ahead of the Kokkutoduvai FDL (Forward Defence Line) in the
Vavuniya district.
Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Muhamalai
area of Jaffna district and reportedly killed three of them. One soldier was
injured in this incident.
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January 15
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Troops attacked and captured one LTTE bunker killing at least
four militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.
A group of LTTE militants who were moving away from their
defence line in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district were
attacked by troops. Three militants were killed and one of their bunkers was
destroyed.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides at
Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, troops killed three LTTE militants and
injured two others.
The Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya
Nanayakkara told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the military
wants to destroy the LTTE and conclude 25 years of war after the cease-fire
ends on January 16. He said the military was already putting pressure on the
LTTE at various fronts in the North, and added, "If we continue like
this we will be able to defeat the LTTE."
The LTTE said that they will never be defeated despite Sri
Lankan authorities vowing to wipe them out within months. The head of the
outfit’s political wing, P. Nadesan, told BBC that the LTTE
has experienced similar statements during their 30-year old struggle against
Sri Lankan state. Denying that the outfit is reverting to guerrilla tactics
as it is losing the war, he asserted, "We will never revert to guerilla
warfare. We are a conventional force. We will launch attacks on military
targets but we will not target civilians." He also denied accusations
that his organisation forcefully recruits civilians for combat and said,
"No. People, they like to join us. We never force the people. LTTE is a
people's organisation."
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January 16
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At least 27 civilians, including some school children and
women, aboard a Central Transport Bus proceeding to the Buttala town of
Moneragala district, were killed and 66 others injured in a claymore mine
explosion triggered by the LTTE in the Helagama area near Ella road. The bus
was simultaneously fired upon by the militants immediately after the claymore
mine explosion.
A group of four LTTE militants, allegedly scurrying back into
the jungles minutes after triggering the claymore mine explosion targeting the
passenger bus, reportedly shot dead five farmers in their paddy-fields at
Dambeyaya in the Heentenna area.
The LTTE leader for Trincomalee south, Arichelvam, who was
wanted for numerous killings and criminal activities in the east, was shot
dead by the troops at Pachchanoor.
The Sri Lanka government said it has decided to eliminate LTTE
chief V. Prabhakaran to bring peace, while maintaining that it was still open
to negotiations with the rebels. "If Prabhakaran is ready to take the
white flag, we will leave some window open to consider that offer. Otherwise
we have decided to eliminate him to bring peace in Sri Lanka," said
defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.
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January 17
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At least 10 civilians, including two home guards, were shot
dead by the LTTE militants at Hambegamuwa in the Thanamalwila area of
Moneragala district.
Nine LTTE militants were killed when troops moving towards the
north from their Mannar base confronted militants at Thirukeshwaram in the
Mannar district.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides, troops
captured another three kilometres patch of land along Uyilankulam – Adampan
road in the Mannar district killing five LTTE militants.
Troops shot dead four LTTE militants in an encounter in the
area north of Pallikuli, a suburb of Adampan in the Mannar district. Three
soldiers were also injured during the exchange of fire.
During a confrontation between the two sides in the
Kurunchakulam area of Vavuniya district, troops killed four LTTE militants.
Three LTTE militants were killed and two others injured by
troops when they attacked a bunker of the outfit at Janakapura in the Welioya
region of Vavuniya district.
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January 18
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10 LTTE militants were killed by troops during three separate
confrontations in the Pullippankiyarkulam, Villattikulam and Janakapura areas
of Vavuniya district. Troops also destroyed one bunker.
Troops captured three LTTE strong points in the Pallikuli area
of Mannar district and consolidated their positions in the area. During the
process, troops killed nine militants.
Troops launched attacks on LTTE positions in the Muhamalai and
Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed six militants.
Troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Maruthamadu area, 4-km
northwest of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district. Four female militants were
confirmed killed and the bunker was completely destroyed.
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January 19
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Troops confronted two groups of LTTE militants in the
Mullikulam and Villattikulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya district
respectively, killing seven militants. Two soldiers were also injured.
Six LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter
at Janakapura FDL in the Vavuniya district.
Troops on advance from their Chettukulam FDL in the Vavuniya
district attacked and destroyed two LTTE trenches. Six LTTE militants were
killed and 10 others injured in the incident.
Troops killed four LTTE militants and injured nine others when
a clash erupted between the two sides in the Chettukulam area of Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries.
At Pallikuli in the Mannar district, troops killed three LTTE
militants in two separate incidents.
Two LTTE militants were killed and another injured as troops
attacked and destroyed a bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.
During the attack one soldier was also killed and two others were injured.
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January 20
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Seven LTTE militants were killed when troops attacked a bunker
of the outfit in the Pullippankiyarkulam area of Vavuniya district.
Advancing troops captured another LTTE stronghold in the
Vaiyttankulam area of Mannar district after a confrontation with the
militants in which four of the militants were killed. Six soldiers were injured
in the incident.
Four LTTE militants aboard a tractor were killed when troops
opened fire towards the tractor moving about 5-km south of Madhu.
Troops shot dead three militants in the Madhu s area of Mannar
district.
Troops cordoned the area north of Kaithady in the Jaffna
district and conducted a search operation. During the operation, the LTTE
militants fired at the troops. Troops in counter fire killed two militants,
including the outfit’s leader of the Thendamarachchi area, identified as
Chengan.
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January 21
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At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others inured as
troops launched a pre-down attack against the outfit’s bunker lines in the
Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district and destroyed 24 bunkers.
The troops destroyed 12 bunkers east of A-9 road and eight more bunkers west
of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area while four bunkers were destroyed at
Nagarkovil. Two soldiers were also killed nine others injured during the gun
battle that lasted nearly for one hour.
Four LTTE militants were killed during a clash between the two
sides in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.
A team of police personnel who were providing security at
Allimankada in the Kithulkote area of Thanamalwila in the Moneragala district
confronted a group of LTTE militants and in the ensuing gun battle, three
policemen were killed. The militants, however, managed to escape.
Troops attacked a group of LTTE militants moving in the
general area of Mullikulam in the Mannar district. In the ensuing gun battle,
troops killed seven militants.
The troops in the general area north of Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed six
of them.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides at
Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six more LTTE
militants.
Troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers in the Parappakandal area of
Mannar district and killed five militants.
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January 22
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10 LTTE militants were killed as troops in the general area
(area under government control) of Pallikuli in the Mannar district attacked
an LTTE strong point and destroyed four bunkers.
Troops stormed a LTTE bunker line in the area south of
Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed four militants.
A calendar apparently depicting the logo of the LTTE and the
map of a separate state of "Tamil Eelam" was sold outside Hindu
temples in London on January 1. The "Tamil Eelam" national
calendars were publicly sold at the rate of five pounds to 10 pounds each, a report
said.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said that the ethnic conflict
should not be solved through military means, but the government will not seek
a political solution as long as the LTTE engages in terrorism.
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January 23
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The Elections Commissioners Department recognised five more
political parties in addition to the 53 Political Parties recognised as on
December 31, 2007. The TMVP, the political wing of the LTTE breakaway faction
led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, is among the two new recognized Tamil political
parties.
Full and faithful implementation of the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution, holding of provincial council elections in the east and
establishment of an interim provincial council in the north are the key
recommendations made by the APRC in its interim report submitted to President
Mahinda Rajapakse.
President Mahinda Rajapakse promised to hand over the LTTE
chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to India to face trial in the former Indian
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case if he is captured.
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January 24
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Police recovered the dead bodies of 16 youths hacked to death
by suspected LTTE militants from a swamp at Kiriketuwewa on the
Horoupathana-Kebithigollawa road in the Anuradhapura district.
Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in three
separate attacks launched on the outfit’s bunkers at Anandankulam in the
Mannar district.
The troops launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line in the
area south of A-9 route at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed five militants.
President Mahinda Rajapakse is to set up a Temporary Interim
Advisory Council (TIAC) to resolve problems in the North, said the
Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom
Party General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena.
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January 25
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Troops captured a one-kilometer stretch of land in the
Karpiththanmoddai area on the Uyilankulam–Adampan road in Mannar district and
killed nine LTTE militants. Troops also destroyed seven bunkers. Two soldiers
sustained injuries in the incident.
Seven LTTE militants were killed and four others wounded
during two encounters between the militants and troops at Madhu road area in
the Mannar district.
At least six LTTE militants were killed when troops attacked a
pocket of militants who were firing at troops from a bunker in the
Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district. One soldier who received
injuries during the incident died later.
Renegade LTTE leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias
'Colonel' Karuna was sentenced to nine-month imprisonment by a UK Court for
identity fraud. He was arrested in London on November 2, 2007, for carrying
an apparently genuine Sri Lankan diplomatic passport issued under a false
name. Karuna told the Isleworth Crown Court in West London that he had
received the false diplomatic passport from the Sri Lankan Government. He
said Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, who is also the brother of
President Mahinda Rajapakse, had arranged the documents for him. Karuna, who
founded the Tamil Makkal Vidhuthalai Pullikal (TMVP), was sentenced to nine
months in jail under the Identity Cards Act after he pleaded guilty.
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January 26
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The troops launched an artillery attack on a group of LTTE
militants in the jungle north of Palamoddai in the Mannar district and killed
six of them and wounded nine others.
Troops deployed south of Madhu area in the Mannar district
launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them. Two
militants were injured.
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an
encounter near the Kiriibbanwewa FDL of Vavuniya district.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides at
Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE
militants.
Troops attacked a LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area of
Jaffna district and killed three militants.
Three militants were killed and an unspecified number of them
injured by the troops during their attack on an LTTE bunker line in the
Vavuniya district. One bunker was also destroyed.
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January 27
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At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified
number of them injured when clashes erupted between the two sides following
militant’s fire towards the troops in the Pantrichurichan area of Mannar
district.
Troops after observing the LTTE militants constructing a new
bunker line in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district launched an
assault towards them and killed six militants.
Troops in an encounter killed four LTTE militants in the
Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops at
Vankalacheddikulam in the Mannar district.
Troops killed three LTTE cadres who attempted to enter into
the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the
incident.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a clash
ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. One soldier sustained injuries
in this incident.
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January 28
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Troops destroyed six LTTE bunkers in the Pallikuli area of
Mannar district and killed seven militants. One soldier was killed and two
others sustained injuries during the clashes.
Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a clash
in the area south of Adampan in the Mannar district.
During six separate clashes with the LTTE, the troops killed
nine militants and injured five others in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura
areas of Vavuniya district. At Janakapura, militants fired artillery towards
the troops killing one soldier.
Troops at Umayaratuvarankulam in the Vavuniya district launched
an attack on an LTTE gathering and killed six militants.
During two encounters in the Villattikulam and Kallikulam
areas, the troops killed six militants and injured four others. One soldier
was injured at Villattikulam.
Troops fired mortar and small arms towards an LTTE bunker line
in the Andankulam area of Mannar district and in the ensuing gun-battle,
three militants and a soldier were killed while one soldier was injured. In
another clash between the two sides in the same area, one soldier was killed
and another wounded.
Troops opened fire on a line of LTTE bunkers in the Kilaly
area of Jaffna district and destroyed four of them, killing four militants.
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January 29
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17 civilians, including 11 children, were killed in a claymore
mine attack on a school bus in the Mannar district. The military and the LTTE
blamed each other for the incident. A military spokesperson said the forces
did not operate in the area, adding, "The blame for the attack on the
military is a cheap propaganda tactic by the Tigers cornered in the
battlefield." However, the LTTE claimed that 20 civilians, including 11
school children, a teacher of Thadchanaamaruthamadu Roman Catholic Tamil
Mixed School, the driver, conductor and two hospital workers were killed and
14 wounded when a Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lanka Army triggered a
claymore mine targeting the bus carrying school children in Madu division of
the LTTE-controlled territory.
The last village of Vaiyttankulam in Adampan under the LTTE
control fell to the SFs following heavy fighting in Mannar. The SFs destroyed
10 bunkers and killed 10 militants during the operation. Military spokesman
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Vaiyttankulam was located 1-km
towards the west of Adampan and the Security Forces destroyed 10 LTTE bunkers
while killing 10 Tiger cadres," he said, adding, the fight lasted for
two hours and the SFs successfully retaliated the outfit’s resistance forcing
them to flee the area.
The SFs neutralized six LTTE bunkers and killed 12 militants
in the area south of Pallikuli.
Army snipers killed seven LTTE militants when they were fired
upon by the militants in the Karampaikkulam and Parappakandal areas of Mannar
district.
During another confrontation between the two sides at
Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed seven militants. Two
soldiers were also injured in the incident.
Five LTTE militants who infiltrated into the general areas
(areas under government control) at the Kokkuthuduvai FDL in the Vavuniya
district were killed in an encounter by the troops.
Troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants moving
in the Villattikulam area in of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.
At Andankulam FDL in the in the Vavuniya district, the troops
killed four more LTTE militants during two separate attacks.
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January 30
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The SFs captured the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilali FDLs of
the LTTE in the Jaffna district destroying 35 bunkers of the outfit on
January 30. 30 militants were killed and an unspecified number of them were
injured during the operations in which seven soldiers also sustained
injuries.
Brigadier Nanayakkara urged the public to be vigilant since
the LTTE had planned to carry out attacks by disguising their men as ice
cream vendors. "We have reliable information that the LTTE cadres are
planning to carry out an attack posing off as ice cream vendors and we are
asking the public to be extra vigilant," he said.
At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed during an encounter with
the security forces in the Adampan area of Mannar district. The location,
believed to be one of the outfit’s command posts, had been heavily fortified
with a three-layer concrete slab.
Troops opened fire on a group of LTTE militants in the
Kallikulam area of Mannar district and killed at least five cadres and
injured several others.
Three civilians belonging to the same family were shot dead by
suspected LTTE cadres at Chawakachcheri, defense sources said. The outfit had
earlier issued death warrants to the civilians who it accused of acting as
security forces’ informers. The Sri Lanka Army report identified the victims
as B. Thalikalan (30), K. Baleshwari (28) and B. Pradeepan (17).
The LTTE have urged the UN to recognize 'Tamil sovereignty' to
end the 25-year-old ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, accusing the Sri Lankan
government of committing excesses against the minority community in the
country. The LTTE political head B. Nadesan in a letter to the UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-Moon that the Sri Lankan army was involved in the attack on
January 28 at Madhu in the Mannar district that led to the death of 18
civilians, including 12 school children. He also accused the Sri Lankan
military of being responsible for aerial bombing of a village in Mullaitivu
in which seven children were killed on January 4. "Since the present
President of Sri Lanka (Mahinda Rajapakse) assumed office in November 2005,
as many as 2,056 Tamil civilians including 132 Tamil children have been
massacred by the Sri Lankan State Forces," he claimed.
The government spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella
strongly denied any military involvement in the January 28 bomb blast and
reiterated that Sri Lanka Army being a professional military would not
operate in a no-war-zone proclaimed by the government. The Minister pointed
out that the military has so far refrained form wresting control over the
territory despite it being a relatively easy task, due to its respect for the
existence of the no-war-zone.
The Army said that the LTTE transmissions, closely monitored
and transcribed by members of the security forces, now consolidating in and
around Mannar areas, affirmed that many conscripted minors, school children
and teachers were being sent to the LTTE defence line to the north of Madhu
with sinister motives and plans.
Women are being forced into joining the LTTE, according to
letters purportedly recovered from slain woman militants in Sri Lanka.
"Every LTTE cadre is anxious to see his or her parents and I will come
home for pongal (harvest festival – January 14) though I do not know what my
fate will be," said one letter recovered by security forces from a slain
woman militant. "Amma, what can I do? When all those at home in the area
were taken away, I too had to go with them (LTTE)," said the letter,
which was released by the Media Centre for National Security. Another
militant said she was forced to join the LTTE by her parents in spite of her
objections.
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January 31
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Troops stormed an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of
Vavuniya district and killed at least eight militants. An unspecified number
militants sustained injuries in the incident.
Troops clashed with the LTTE militants at Welioya in the
Vavuniya district and killed four of them.
A LTTE suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself at Thinnaveli
in the Jaffna district killing three civilians and injuring 17 others, the
military said. Authorities, however, said that the explosion was premature
since there was no target in the area.
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused the LTTE and its
breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna of recruiting children from North
and the East in a report looking at Children in War. The UN
Secretary-General's latest report on children and armed conflict, covering
the period from October 2006 to August 2007, said the LTTE had recruited or
re-recruited 339 children. It says that 41% of them were from Batticaloa. The
UNICEF has also received confirmed reports that 246 children had been
recruited or re-recruited by Karuna group during the reporting period.
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February 1
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Troops killed 10 LTTE militants and neutralized 10 of their
bunkers in an attack at the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers
were killed six others were injured in the incident.
At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops
attacked a group of the outfit’s militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya
district.
Troops attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Janakapura and
Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.
Troops in the Sirukulam and Chettukulam areas of Mannar
district during an encounter killed three militants.
Two civilians were killed by the LTTE militants in the
Kachchai and Kodikamam areas of Jaffna district.
Troops recovered the dead bodies of four LTTE militants lying
in shrubs in the Vavuniya district.
Five soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE
booby trap at Mullikulam in the Mannar district.
Three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an anti
personnel mine at Mullikulam and Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.
Nine LTTE militants surrendered to the troops at Murunkan in
the Mannar district. Eight of those militants were active in the jungles
surrounding Mannar while the remaining one was active in the Vavuniya
district.
The Sri Lanka Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda claimed that
the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was not capable of leading his
organization due to immense pressure from the armed forces. With reference to
intelligence reports the Commander said that Prabhakaran is either injured or
indisposed, adding, "The victory is coming soon but I don’t want to
indicate an exact time frame."
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February 2
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At least 20 passengers aboard a bus were killed and 50 others
injured when the LTTE militants detonated an explosive device at Dambulla bus
stand in the Matale district. The bus was to play on the Kandy - Anuradhapura
road. Initial reports quoting Dambulla police said that many Buddhist
devotees on a pilgrimage to the sacred Anuradhapura city were among the dead
and injured.
Troops killed 16 LTTE militants during separate confrontations
in the Sirukulam, Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya. Two soldiers
sustained injuries during the confrontation at Kokkuthuduvai.
10 LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the
troops in the Parappakandal and Vannakulam areas of Mannar district. Troops
also neutralized three bunkers of the outfit.
Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an
encounter in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.
During another confrontation between the two sides in the
Periyapanchurichchan and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district, troops killed
seven LTTE militants.
Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the
confrontation.
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February 3
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At least 12 persons were killed and around 100 injured, 10 of
them critically, when an LTTE female suicide militant blew herself inside the
Colombo Fort Railway Station. The bomber who apparently arrived at the
railway station in a train blew herself opposite the station cafeteria on
platform number three at 2.10pm. The head of the suicide cadre was lying on
the platform along with a cellular phone connected to a handsfree kit.
"They (LTTE) would have targeted Security Forces personnel who were
returning to their bases after rehearsals at the Galle Face Green," an
unnamed military official said.
Earlier in the day, at least seven civilians, including two
children, were injured in a low intensity grenade explosion inside the
Dehiwala Zoological Garden on the outskirts of Colombo.
Troops attacked a LTTE bunker line in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar
district and killed eight militants. One of the outfit’s bunkers was also
destroyed in the incident.
Three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers
were neutralized by the troops during two separate attacks in the Muhamalai
area of Jaffna district.
Three LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a gun
battle in the Periyapanchurichchan area of Vavuniya district.
Troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam
area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.
In the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district, troops killed
four militants.
Four more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an
encounter in the Madu area of Vavuniya district.
Troops killed four LTTE militants who were roaming in the
jungle areas of Karampaikkulam and Adampan in the Mannar district.
Troops on a search operation shot dead four LTTE militants in
the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district.
At least three LTTE militants were killed and three of their
bunkers destroyed by the troops during two separate clashes in the Muhamalai
area of Jaffna district.
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February 4
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At least 13 persons were killed and 17 others inured when LTTE
militants detonated a claymore mine targeting a civilian bus, plying from
Parakaramapura to Janakapura, at Kobbekaduwa junction in Welioya, 200-metres
away from the 223 Brigade headquarters. The dead include five soldiers and
two women.
Three soldiers were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine
at Galge in the Buttala area of Badulla district. One of the inured soldiers
died later.
An explosion occurred at Dandeniyawatta in the Moratuwa area
of Colombo District. Separately, an IED that had been planted at the foot of
an electricity transformer at Wijesiriwardane Mawatha in the Mt Lavinia went
off damaging the transformer. However, no casualties were reported in the
incidents.
Troops in a series of clashes with the LTTE militants at
Andankulam in the Vavuniya district killed at least 12 of them.
Troops killed at least six LTTE militants during clashes in
the Andankulam, Kaddutaddamalai and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya district.
One soldier was injured during the clashes.
LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the
Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district and in the ensuing
gun-battle, two soldiers and a militant were killed while another soldier
sustained injuries.
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February 5
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The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the
Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed nine of them and injured nine
others.
During an encounter in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya
district, four militants and three soldiers were killed while 14 soldiers
sustained injuries.
During a clash between the two sides at Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead at least six militants. One soldier
sustained injuries during the clash.
At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops
attacked and captured a LTTE bunker killing five militants.
The troops stormed the LTTE trench line in the Periyathampane
area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.
Two soldiers and a militant were killed when clashes erupted
between the two sides at Adampan in the Mannar district.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Kaduthodamalai area of Vavuniya district.
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February 6
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12 LTTE militants were killed when the troops deployed at the
FDLs in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district stormed the outfit’s bunkers
at about 5.30am. Five soldiers were also injured during the clash. Troops
with the assistance of T-55 battle tanks completely destroyed 30 bunkers -
four in the Nagarkovil area, 10 in the area north of A-9 and 16 in the Kilaly
area.
At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and several others
wounded when troops confronted a group of militants in the Welioya and
Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district.
Six SLN personnel were killed and one was rescued when the Sea
Tigers [cadres of the sea wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE)] attacked the SLN vessel in the seas off Thalaimannar.
Two groups of soldiers who were on an ambush in the
Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district shot dead four LTTE
militants and injured at least nine others.
At Kokkuthuduvai, the troops killed four more LTTE militants
during another clash.
Army snipers killed three LTTE militants in two separate
incidents in the Parappanikulam and Sirukulam areas of Mannar district.
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February 7
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Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the
Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least 10 of them.
Five LTTE militants, including an area leader, were killed and
10 others injured by the troops during an encounter in the Muhamalai and
Nagarkovil areas along the A-9 road in the Jaffna district. One soldier was
killed and five others sustained injuries during the clash.
At Periyapanndivirichchan in the Vavuniya district, the troops
attacked a LTTE bunker and killed four militants while injuring six others.
Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.
Two LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a
gun-battle between the two sides in the Janakapura area Vavuniya district. 10
militants and a soldier were injured in the incident.
An army captain, a soldier and a Buddhist monk were arrested
for having close links with a top LTTE leader named Ramesh alias Charles, who
was reportedly involved in the recent bomb blasts in Colombo and the suburbs.
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February 8
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The Army captured a one-square kilometer area to the south of
Adampan Tank in the Mannar district after clashes with the LTTE militants. 12
militants and two soldiers were killed during the clashes. Five more soldiers
sustained injuries in the operation.
Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in
the Sinnapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.
Eight LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during a
gun-battle between the two sides at Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.
Three soldiers were injured in the incident.
Five LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops in the
Sirukulam, Kallikulam and Adampan areas of Mannar district.
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February 9
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15 LTTE militants and three soldiers were killed during a
gun-battle between the two sides at Periyapantrichurichchan in the Vavuniya
district. Seven soldiers were also injured.
Six militants were killed during three separate incidents at
Mullikulam in the Mannar district.
The troops launched an attack towards a group of LTTE
militants constructing a bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district
and killed five militants.
Troops killed four LTTE militants during separate encounters
in the Chettukulam, Ittikandal and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.
During an encounter at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district,
the troops killed three militants.
Three LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops during
separate encounters in the Koilmoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya
district.
The troops shot dead three LTTE militants in the
Periyapantrichurichchan and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops launched two separate attacks on the LTTE militants
at Periyapantrichurichchan areas of Vavuniya district and killed three
militants.
Three separate attacks launched by the troops at LTTE
militants operating in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district
caused the death of three militants.
The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had no option but to
give up arms and join the political mainstream as the Sri Lankan forces were
marching ahead remarkably against the outfit, Army Chief Sarath Fonseka said.
"LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran should realize that he cannot go ahead with
his military campaign. They have no option other than to give up their
struggle and enter the political mainstream," he told the
state-run Sunday Observer.
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February 10
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11 LTTE militants were killed during separate clashes with the
troops in the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam, Adampan and Parappakandal areas of
Mannar district.
The troops killed eight LTTE militants and destroyed two of
their bunkers at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district.
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Janakapura
area of Vavuniya district.
Troops operating ahead of the Mullikulam FDL in the Mannar
district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them.
Troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants
in the Sivarayankulam area of Vavuniya and killed three militants.
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February 11
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Six LTTE militants
were killed by the troops during two separate encounters between the two
sides in the area south of A-9 in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district.
At least 13 LTTE militants and 10 soldiers were killed during
a gun-battle between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya
district. The troops destroyed 12 LTTE bunkers and also injured an
unspecified number of militants. 25 soldiers were reportedly injured in the
incident.
At Udayanathankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked
and neutralised a LTTE bunker, killing at least eight militants.
The troops killed five LTTE militants during an encounter at
Periyapandirichchan in the Vavuniya district.
The troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants in
the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and
killed five of them.
The troops during a raid on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam
area of Vavuniya district killed four militants.
At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, during a clash with
the LTTE cadres the troops killed four militants while destroying one of
their bunkers.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides at
Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops killed three LTTE militants.
One soldier was wounded in the incident.
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February 12
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During an encounter between the two sides at Villattikulam in
the Vavuniya district, the troops killed at least seven LTTE militants and
subsequently recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants.
Six soldiers were killed and 10 others injured when LTTE
militants fired artillery shells at the densely populated Thalladi town
damaging the St. Sebastian Church in Mannar.
Four LTTE militants were killed when the troops opened fire
towards them in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.
At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops clashed
with some infiltrating LTTE militants killing at least three of them while
injuring six others.
The LTTE are reportedly among six blatant violators of human
rights singled out by the UN for recruiting underage children in armed
conflict and using rape and other forms of sexual violence against them. The
UN Security Council criticised the continuing recruitment and use of children
in armed conflict and deplored the systematic use of rape and other forms of
sexual violence against them.
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February 13
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At least 13 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Parikariperiyakulam and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district. A
soldier was injured during the incident.
The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the
Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed at least seven militants.
Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes
erupted between the two sides in the Thaddankulam area of Mannar district.
Three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers
destroyed when the troops stormed the LTTE bunker line in the Sirukulam area
of Mannar district.
The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured nine others
in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo the military spokesman
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said in the period between January 30 and
February 12, 475 LTTE militants were killed and many more injured during the
fighting between the SFs and the militants in the North. He put SFs losses at
39 killed and 178 injured. 46 civilians were also killed during the two-week
period while 179 civilians sustained injuries.
The ICRC said it was deeply concerned about the growing number
of civilian casualties, including children, as the security situation across
Sri Lanka deteriorates due to indiscriminate LTTE attacks on civilian
targets. Issuing a statement, the ICRC said that in the first six weeks of
2008, more than 180 civilians were reported killed and almost 270 injured in
a series of attacks on civilian buses, railway stations and individuals in
Colombo, Dambula, Kebhitigollewa, Madhu, Okkampitiya and Welli Oya.
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February 16
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Reacting to the frequent claims by the Sri Lankan government
that the LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has been injured in a military
raid, the outfit’s political head B. Nadesan told the Tamil daily Thinakkural in
an interview, "A false propaganda saying our leader Prabhakaran is
injured is being carried. Nobody can approach our leader. People of Sri Lanka
will realise the futility of such a claim in times to come."
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February 18
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Troops advancing into the LTTE held areas in the eastern part
of Mannar district, captured an area of about 600 square metre with an LTTE
defence line and a strongly-built bund in the Andankulam area. 10 militants
were killed and an equal number of them sustained injuries in the attack. One
soldier was also killed while four others were wounded in the fighting.
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February 19
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Troops foiled an LTTE attempt to dislodge the consolidating
troops in the newly captured Sirukulam area in the Mannar district. In the
gun-battle that started around midnight and continued for about four hours
troops inflicted heavy casualties on the militants forcing them to retreat.
The exact details of the casualties are, however, yet to be ascertained,
though it is believed at least 35-40 militants have either been injured or
killed.
Sri Lanka has said a proposal for providing a safe haven for
the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has been there "for some
time", but felt he would be apprehended by India the moment he leaves
the island country. "Yes, that is his problem. If he (Prabhakaran)
leaves Kilinochchi, then India will get him for sure," Foreign Secretary
Palitha Kohona told Asian Tribune.
The Sri Lankan government said that it would open a 'gateway'
for trapped civilians in the Wanni area to crossover to the government
controlled areas. "We would open an escape rout for civilians in the
Wanni area and would give necessary accommodation," said Minister
Keheliya Rambukwella.
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February 20
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At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured
during encounters with the troops in the areas west of Parappakandal and
north of Pallikuli in the Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed in
the LTTE attacks.
At least 13 LTTE militants were killed when the troops
launched an attack towards a group of militants in the Janakapura area of
Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained
injuries in the incident.
The troops attacked a group of LTTE militants in the area
north of Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed eight of them.
Three militants and a soldier were injured in the gun-fight.
At Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized
a LTTE bunker and killed six militants.
Three soldiers were killed when the LTTE militants opened fire
on an Army picket point at Dambakote in the Buttala district. Troops
retaliated and injured at least one militant.
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February 21
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At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops
neutralised a bunker of the outfit in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
Three soldiers were also injured while three T-56 weapons and one Icom radio
set were recovered from the incident site.
During an attack launched by the troops targeting a heavily
fortified LTTE bunker in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, four
militants were killed while several others were injured. Two soldiers were
also killed while four more sustained injuries in the gun fire.
Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in two different
attacks in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.
Four LTTE militants were killed as a group of outfit’s
militants attempting to infiltrate newly captured areas in the Parappakandal
area of Mannar district were attacked by the troops.
Troops attacked another group of LTTE militants moving in the
Mullikulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.
The troops attacked a few LTTE bunkers in the Mantota area of
Mannar district and killed three militants.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in separate
encounters in the Kokkuthuduvai and Adampan areas of Mannar district.
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February 22
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A fierce gun battle erupted between the two sides when the troops
assaulted a group of LTTE militants who were manning a bunker in the
Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. At least seven militants were killed
and three others were injured in the incident.
Six LTTE militants were killed when a fierce gun battle erupted
between the two sides in the area north of Welioya sector in the Vavuniya
district. Subsequently, the troops recovered dead bodies of the six slain
militants along with a Multi Purpose Machine Gun, five T-56 weapons and two
radio sets.
In the Mankindamulai area of Vavuniya district, troops over
ran a line of LTTE bunkers while killing at least five militants. One soldier
also died in the incident.
Troops attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of
Vavuniya district and killed four militants. One soldier was injured in the
incident. Another attack on a LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of the
same district area by the troops resulted in the death of four militants.
Troops in the Mantota area of Mannar district launched an
attack on a LTTE camp in the jungle and shot dead four militants.
President Mahinda Rajapakse asserted that following the local
government elections due to be held shortly in the East, his government will
also take steps to establish democracy and rights to all communities in the
land, inclusive of those in the North.
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February 23
|
The troops stormed an LTTE bunker line ahead of them in the
Koilmoddai area of Mannar district and killed at least 11 militants while
destroying three bunkers. Five soldiers were reportedly injured in the
incident.
At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops
stormed one of the outfit’s camps in the jungle north of Janakapura in
Vavuniya district.
The troops launched several attacks on a LTTE bunker line at
Mullikulam and killed seven militants while neutralising a number of their
bunkers.
The troops stormed a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai
area of Vavuniya district and killed seven militants. One soldier was injured
in the incident.
The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants on two
occasions in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four
militants.
Four LTTE militants were killed and one of their bunkers was
neutralised by the troops in the Perankulam area of Mannar district. One T-56
weapon was also recovered from the area.
The troops during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar
district killed four LTTE militants.
At Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops attacked LTTE
bunkers ahead of them and killed two militants. One soldier who sustained
injuries in the incident died later.
Troops operating in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district shot
dead three LTTE militants.
Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed
three of them in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district.
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February 24
|
The troops operating in the Mannar battle front advanced
further into the LTTE-held territory on three fronts from Thiruketheeshvaran,
Uyilankulam and Pallikuli, an unnamed senior Army official said. "At
least 15 to 20 Tiger cadres were killed in these confrontations," the
official added.
At least 17 LTTE militants were killed when the troops overran
their line of bunkers in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Six
soldiers were killed and 16 others sustained injuries in the clashes.
The Naval intelligence revealed that three senior Sea Tiger
[sea wing of the LTTE] women leaders, including self-styled ‘Lt. Colonel
Kalai Arasi’, a woman Sea Tiger instructor and six others had been killed in
the air raids carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeting
women’s Sea Tiger training camp at Kiranchi in the Kilinochchi district.
The troops launched an operation to capture LTTE bunkers in
the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed five militants and
injured two others.
Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes that erupted
between the two sides in the Villattikulam, Chanakakulam and
Periyapanndivirichchan areas of Vavuniya district.
Two TMVP cadres were killed as a LTTE suicide cadre blew
himself opposite the Kali Kovil (Temple) in the
Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district. The suicide cadre had apparently
jumped onto the motor bike on which the two persons were traveling near
Satyavilan road, some 17- kilometers from Batticaloa town.
Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona in an interview to Asian
Tribune said that there is no group left that could be described as
Karuna Group because they have splintered into many factions over the last
year.
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February 25
|
At least six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
clashes in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district.
During a clash that erupted between the two sides when the
troops launched an attack on three LTTE bunkers at Koilmoddai in the Mannar
district, five militants and a soldier were killed. Two soldiers and two
militants were also injured.
Three LTTE militants were killed during clashes between the
two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
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February 26
|
Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Muhamalai area
of Jaffna district. Troops also neutralized at least six bunkers of the
outfit.
The United Nations and Non Governmental Organisations working
in the conflict-ridden north and east are warning of a mounting humanitarian
toll in 2008 due to the escalation in hostilities. Agencies should be
prepared to assist "up to 500,000 conflict-affected individuals
comprising IDPs, returnees and economically affected persons", according
to the CHAP 2008, prepared by the Inter Agency Standing Committee country
team for Sri Lanka and released on 22 February.
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February 27
|
During clashes between the two sides in the Perankulam,
Parappakandal, Karukkakulam, Adampan and Mannar town areas of Mannar
district, the troops killed at least 14 LTTE militants.
At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops
neutralised LTTE bunkers and killed eight militants.
The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the
Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district and killed at least four militants.
One soldier is reported to have died in the incident.
The military said that since 2006, a total of 6,486 LTTE
militants, 1196 military personnel and 982 civilians have been killed,
estimating there are now only around 5,000 militants still alive.
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February 28
|
The troops captured the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates and its
adjacent areas north of Giant Tank in the Mannar district after an encounter
erupted between the security forces and LTTE militants. At least 14 militants
were killed and six T-56 weapons were recovered during the incident. Two
soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
Seven LTTE militants were killed in three separate attacks
carried out by the troops in the Navakkulam and Periyapantrichurichchan areas
of Vavuniya district.
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February 29
|
Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes
in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
The troops neutralized four LTTE bunkers in the Kokkuthuduvai
and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.
The troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter at
Vallaikulam in the Vavuniya district.
The troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker line at
Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and destroyed eight bunkers killing five
militants.
Troops neutralized eight newly-erected LTTE bunkers in the
Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants.
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March 1
|
Nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
encounters between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Mullikulam and Kallikulam
areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Kilaly,
Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed five militants.
One soldier was also killed during the incident.
During a clash between the two sides in the Janakapura area of
Vavuniya district, the troops killed two LTTE militants. One soldier was
killed while another sustained injuries during the incident.
The troops attacked an LTTE strong point in the area north of
Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed two militants. During the
exchange of fire, one soldier was killed while four others were wounded.
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March 2
|
Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in a clash in
the general area of Kokkuthuduwai in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were
killed while 10 others sustained injuries during the clash.
The troops at Kallikulam in the Mannar district attacked a
LTTE hideout with Rocket Propeller Grenades and killed at least six
militants. One soldier was also killed in the incident.
Troops attacked a group of militants in the Kovilmadu area of
Vavuniya district and killed five of them. At least nine more militants were
reportedly wounded in the incident.
President Mahinda Rajapakse reiterated that until such time
every inch of land is captured and the last terrorist is neutralised, his
government will not cease its liberation operations against the LTTE.
Sri Lankan authorities urged the British government to ban
fund-raising activities of what they described as LTTE’s front organisations
alleging that the money collected by these groups "ostensibly" for
charitable purposes went into the "coffers" of the outfit.
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March 3
|
The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in Chettikulam in the
Vavuniya district and killed five cadres. Four soldiers are reported to have
been wounded in the incident.
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March 4
|
Army troops took under control Pallaikuli east and a LTTE
cross-loading point on the Uyilankulam-Andankulam road in Mannar district
(about 2.5 sq km in total). Troops reportedly broke into the LTTE dominated
Pallaikuli east area and killed seven militants, including three women
cadres, and injured five others.
The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Palaimodai area of
Mannar district and killed at least three militants.
The troops neutralized another LTTE bunker in the Vilattikulam
area of Vavuniya district, killing three militants.
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March 5
|
The troops attacked an identified LTTE bunker in the Manthota
area of Mannar district and killed five militants. One soldier was also
killed while three more sustained injuries in the incident.
The troops attacked another LTTE bunker in the
Periyapantichchan area of Vavuniya district and killed five more militants.
One soldier was injured in the incident.
The troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter in
the Karampaikulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries
during the clash.
During an encounter between the two sides at Andankulam in the
Vavuniya district, the troops killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was
injured in the incident.
The Sri Lanka government said that more than 100 soldiers were
killed and 800 were wounded in the fighting against the LTTE during February
2008. Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament, "The
number of security personnel killed last month was 104, while another 822
soldiers and police were wounded. Some 80 civilians were killed and 201
wounded in February."
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March 6
|
The TNA parliamentarian K. Siwaneshan, representing the Jaffna
district was killed in an explosion in the Kanagarayankulam area on the
Mankulam-Mallavi road of Kilinochchi district. The pro-LTTE Website Tamil
Net alleged that he was killed in a claymore mine attack carried out
by the Sri Lanka Army’s Deep Penetration Unit. His driver was also killed in
the attack. The military, however, said no operations were being carried out
there at that time.
At least 12 LTTE militants were killed during a gun-battle
between the two sides in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. Two
soldiers were also killed while 10 others sustained injuries.
12 more LTTE militants were killed and their trench line
destroyed by the troops during an operation to capture Parappakandal in the
Mannar district.
The troops killed seven LTTE militants in the
Periyapantrichurichchan, Kallikulam and Mundimurippu areas of Mannar
district.
Four LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed when the troops
confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers were injured during the clash.
The troops attacked and destroyed one LTTE bunker ahead of
their FDL (at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district and killed three militants.
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March 7
|
Six LTTE militants were killed during sporadic clashes in the
Veddamkulam, Karampikulam, Madhu camp area, Periyawalandykulam,
Tiruketishwara in the Mannar district.
Four LTTE militants were reported killed during an attack by
the troops at Kollmoddai in the Vavuniya district.
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March 8
|
The troops killed 13 LTTE militants during clashes in the
Udayanatankulam, Karampaikkulam, Palaimoddai, Palaikuli,
Periyavalayankaddukulam and Perankulam areas of Vavuniya district.
10 LTTE militants were killed during a gun-battle with the
troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed
and four others were wounded in the incident.
Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kilaly
and Muhamale areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers sustained injuries during
the encounters.
Three soldiers were killed during clashes with the LTTE
militants at Udayanatankulam, Sulainamarutamadu and Ampan areas of Mannar
district.
Three LTTE militants were killed and one of their gun
positions and two bunkers were neutralized by the troops in the Muhamalai and
Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.
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March 9
|
At least 15 LTTE militants were killed by troops during
clashes in the Umayarathuwarankulam, Vilathikulam, Venkalacheddikulam,
Adampan, Pulmoddai, Ilantaivan and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district.
Five soldiers were also killed during the clashes.
The LTTE released two pictures of its leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran paying his respects to the TNA parliamentarian K. Sivanesan, who
was killed in an explosion on March 6, at an undisclosed destination in the
outfit’s-controlled Wanni area.
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March 10
|
In a pre-dawn attack on an LTTE bunker line in the
Illanthaivan area of Mannar district, the troops killed 10 militants and
injured an equal number of them. Troops also captured eight bunkers. Three
soldiers were also killed while 12 others were injured.
Intelligence sources have revealed that the LTTE is attempting
to poison VIPs as they are unable to reach them, said Prime Minister
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
At least 26 LTTE militants, mostly females, were killed and
three others injured by the troops during clashes in the Puliyankulam area of
Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while 13 others were wounded during
the clashes.
The troops attacked a LTTE camp in the Karampaikulam area of
Mannar district and neutralized two of their bunkers and cleared a few
trenches. Ground troops confirmed that four soldiers were killed while two
others sustained injuries during the clash.
The LTTE militants directed 60-mm mortar fire on troop
positions in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring two
soldiers. In the retaliatory fire, the troops killed at least four militants.
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March 11
|
The TMVP, a breakaway faction of the LTTE, won eight out of
nine local councils while the ruling UFPA won the Batticaloa Municipal
Council with 11 out of 19 seats. Polling for the local body elections in
Batticaloa went off peacefully on March 10, though there were some
allegations of vote rigging. There were nine political parties and 22
independent groups fielding 831 candidates for 101 posts in nine Pradeshiya
Sabhas (local councils) and the Batticaloa town municipality.
The troops operating ahead of the Maruthamadu FDL in the
Vavuniya district killed five LTTE militants.
The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the immediate
surroundings adjacent to the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates under their control
after advancing about 500 meter to the east. Four militants were killed while
three soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Umayaratuvarankulam
area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants, including the team
leader Tallavan.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an
encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.
A case was filed against LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran,
its Intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman and another three former cadres
before the Colombo High Court in connection with the former Foreign Minister
Laxman Kadirgamar assassination.
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March 12
|
Nine LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them
injured when the troops attacked three bunkers of the outfit in the
Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers sustained injuries
in the incident.
The troops fired on a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the
Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district and completely destroyed the
tractor, killing six militants.
Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.
The troops killed three LTTE militants during an encounter in
the Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district.
At Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized
a LTTE bunker and killed three militants.
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March 13
|
11 LTTE militants were killed during several encounters
between the troops and militants in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal, Vannakulam
and Ilantaivan areas of Mannar district.
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the
incident.
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes
erupted between the two sides in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.
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March 14
|
The troops during two separate attacks captured four LTTE
bunkers and killed four militants in the Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas
of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.
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March 15
|
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a clash in
the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
Four soldiers were killed and three others injured during an
encounter with the LTTE militants at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.
The troops killed four LTTE militants during clashes in the
Adampan and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district. One soldier also
sustained injuries in the Malikaittidal incident.
The troops killed four LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and
Kirchudankulam areas of Vavuniya district.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops at
Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the
incident.
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March 16
|
At least 12 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
separate clashes in the Pandivirichchen, Villattikulam, Kallikulam,
Kappankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Periyakulam area of Mannar
district. A few LTTE bunkers used for artillery, RPG and mortar firing were
also destroyed during the clashes.
The troops attacked and captured a LTTE camp in the Andankulam
area of Vavuniya district, killing five militants and injuring 20 others. Two
soldiers were also killed during the clashes while eight others sustained
injuries.
The troops foiled two infiltration attempts by the LTTE
towards the second line of the defense of the troops in the Muhamalai area of
Jaffna district and killed three militants.
Three militants were killed as clashes erupted between the
troops and a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.
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March 17
|
Troops killed two LTTE militants during an encounter in the
Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.
The Sri Lanka Defence Ministry said it had opened a green
channel for the doctors at the main roadblock at Madavachchiya from March
17-onwards. "The measure has been taken to reduce the delays and
complexities faced by the doctors traveling to Mannar and Vavuniya," it
said.
At least five LTTE militants, including a close ally of an
LTTE leader, Jeyam, were killed and another sustained injuries during an
encounter in the Munkilmurichchan area of Vavuniya district.
Four LTTE militants were killed during an encounter in the
Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.
The troops attacked and neutralised a LTTE bunker in the
jungles northwest of Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district, killing three
militants, identified as Kuilan, Virasailan and Kuvilmaran.
One soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries
when the LTTE militants triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting a foot
patrol of the troops in the Murunkan area of Mannar district.
At Kaduthodamalai in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed
a LTTE militant and injured two others during an encounter.
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March 18
|
At least four LTTE militants were killed when the troops
neutralised a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.
The troops attacked two LTTE camps in the Kokkuthuduvai area
of Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring another.
The troops recovered decomposed dead bodies of nine LTTE
militants, including five females, from dense jungles in the Periyapanndivirichchan
area of Vavuniya district.
President Mahinda Rajapakse announced that democracy given to
the people in the Eastern Province will soon be given to the North as well.
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March 19
|
11 LTTE militants were killed and two of their bunkers destroyed
in an ambush carried out by the Army Special Infantrymen at Kottakkarankulam
in the Vavuniya district.
The troops repulsed an attack by the LTTE in the Kallikulam
area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants while injuring an equal
number of them.
The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the
Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.
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March 20
|
The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Pandivirichchen area
of Vavuniya district and killed at least four LTTE militants.
During an attack in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya
district, the troops killed at least four LTTE militants.
The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants and killed four
of them while injuring three others in the area of north of Janakapura. Two
soldiers were also injured in the incident.
Three LTTE militants were killed while two others sustained
injuries by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.
The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has reportedly ordered
its proxy political party, the TNA, not to contest the forthcoming Provincial
Council elections in the Eastern Province.
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March 21
|
The troops attacked and captured a LTTE camp and bunker
complex north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing three
militants. Six soldiers were injured in the incident.
Three LTTE militants were killed and 22 others injured during
a clash between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of
Vavuniya district.
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March 22
|
At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of
them injured as the troops successfully responding to heavy resistance by the
militants moved forward and captured an area of about one square kilometre in
the Periyakulam and Ilantaivan regions, north of Uyilankulam in the Mannar
district. Four soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries.
At least 13 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
areas southwest of Madhu and Kallikulam in Mannar district.
Seven LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by the
troops during clashes between the two sides in the Kiriibbanwewa area of
Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed while seven others sustained
injuries during the incident.
During two separate encounters, the troops killed four LTTE
militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.
At Kokkuthuduvai and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the
troops killed three LTTE militants.
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March 23
|
10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during clashes in the
Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. Six of the slain militants were inside
a bunker when the Rocket Propeller Gun fire completely destroyed it.
The troops killed at least six LTTE militants during
intermittent fighting that erupted in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and
Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops killed five LTTE militants in the Periyakulam area
of Mannar district.
Two LTTE militants trying to launch an attack on the troops
were shot dead in the Kathankulam area of Vavuniya district.
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March 24
|
The troops killed seven LTTE militants in the area south of
Madhu in the Mannar district.
The Colombo High Court Judge, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe issued
notices to the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, Intelligence Wing leader
Pottu Amman, Charles Master and Komadee Manimekala in connection with the
assassination (August 12, 2005) of former Foreign Minister Lakshman
Kadirgamar.
According to the Defence Ministry, over 2500 LTTE militants
have been killed by the military since January 1, 2008. More than 7200
militants have been killed since December 2005.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake stated that the LTTE
maintains links with international terrorist groups such as the PKK and
certain affiliates of al Qaeda. He also said that certain reports mentioned
about Tamil youths receiving training in Palestinian camps in Syria and
Lebanon.
The Elections Department said that all measures had been
finalized to receive nominations for the Eastern Province election from March
27. The deadline for filing nominations is April 3. All major political
parties are expected to join the fray in a contest where 37 members which
includes two bonus seats, would be chosen out of a total of 44 from three
districts, namely Batticaloa (11), Trincomalee (10) and Ampara (14) for the
Provincial Council of the de-merged East.
The TULF has urged Sri Lankan leaders to disarm all militant
groups before the eastern provincial council elections. In a letter to
President Mahinda Rajapakse, TULF leader Veerasingham Anandasangaree said the
existence of armed groups in the east is an obstacle to free and fair
elections.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an
encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were
injured in the incident.
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March 25
|
The 11 sailors, who went missing when a locally–built fast
attack craft of the Sri Lanka Navy was caught in a LTTE-triggered sea mine
explosion in the Nayaru Sea off Mullaitivu coast on March 22, have reportedly
died.
Five LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during an encounter
in the Adampan area of Mannar district.
The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in the jungles north of
Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing at least four militants who were
inside the bunker.
Air Force Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya reiterated that
intelligence sources confirmed three LTTE militants were killed and eight
others injured in an air raid carried out by the SLAF at the Sea Tiger
Coordinating Centre located in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district
on March 22.
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara informed that more than 501 LTTE
militants have been killed in the last 20 days and that an unknown number of
militants and 223 soldiers have been injured in clashes from March 5 to March
24. 50 soldiers died during this period. Nanayakkara also said military
operations were continuing in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna district's
Muhamalai area. "The Security Forces have been successful in capturing
31 square kilometres of territory south of the A14 road in Mannar," he
added. He said so far this year some 115 bodies of militants have been handed
over with 11 more bodies to be delivered to the International Committee of
the Red Cross.
The Sri Lanka Government said that all IDPs in the Eastern
Province will be resettled before the coming provincial council election.
There are over 6000 IDPs still sheltered in welfare camps in the Eravur,
Pattu and Kiran areas. Resettlement of IDPs from the Trincomalee district
started on March 25. Some 464 people belonging to 132 families from the
Pallikudiruppu and Muttur area have been resettled. Meanwhile, there are IDPs
from five more villages in the Muttur area still living in welfare camps in
the Batticaloa district, sources said.
The UNP has decided to contest the EP elections, UNP Secretary
General Tissa Attanayake said. The SLMC has also decided to independently
contest the polls, SLMC General Secretary Hussan Ali said.
Muslim civilians who survived mass ethnic cleansing campaigns
by the LTTE during 1990s and who are living in refugee camps in the Puttalam
district at present plan to form a political party. Sources said that this
measure is intended to find a solution to the problems faced by the large
number of Muslims living in the refugee camps or with their relatives for the
past 18 years.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told a gathering in
Jerusalem in Israel that "India will never allow a separate independent
state for Tamils in Sri Lanka because such a development will have a
disastrous effect in India. India has always been committed to Sri Lanka’s
territorial integrity," he added and claimed that the LTTE leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran wanted to create a Tamil state by "including
certain parts of India as well."
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March 26
|
The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the
Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed seven of them. One soldier
sustained injuries in the incident.
Four soldiers were killed and eight others sustained injuries
following accidental explosions of APMs in the Sulanamaruthamadu, Adampan and
Koilmoddai areas of Mannar district.
At Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the troops
confronted two groups of LTTE militants and killed at least two of them. Two
soldiers were killed while three others sustained injuries during the
clashes.
The SFs retaliated and rescued eight fishermen when they
detected a group of people trying to come out of a jungle patch
three-kilometer east of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district under heavy small
arms fire by the LTTE militants. Three of the escapees were killed while
another three sustained injuries in the LTTE attack.
The troops shot dead three LTTE militants at Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district.
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March 27
|
At least nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops when
clashes erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district. One army officer was also killed while three soldiers were
injured in the incident.
The troops neutralised an LTTE hideout in the Janakapura area
of Vavuniya district, killing four militants. One soldier was also killed
while three others sustained injuries in the incident.
Five LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised an
LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was
injured in the incident.
The troops retaliated to an LTTE attack in the Nagarkovil area
of Jaffna district and killed at least three militants. Two of the outfit’s
bunkers were also destroyed in the operation.
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March 28
|
Nine militants were killed during two clashes in the
Kaduruvitankulam and Periyathampane areas of Vavuniya district.
During two encounters in the Nagarkovil and Eluttumadduwal
areas of Jaffna district, the troops killed seven militants. A female
militant was among the slain militants, troops at Eluttumadduwal stated.
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March 29
|
At least 11 LTTE militants were killed during separate clashes
with the troops in the Madhu area of Mannar district. One soldier was also
killed while four others were injured in these clashes.
Approximately 10 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured
an area of about 700-metre in the Ilantaivan region of Mannar district. Two
of the outfit’s bunkers were also neutralised in the incident.
Three soldiers were killed and four others injured during
clashes with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of
Vavuniya district. One militant was also killed while an unspecified number
of them sustained injuries during the clashes.
Four militants were killed by the troops in the Navathkulama
area of Vavuniya district.
The Deputy Chairman of the Moneragala local council, Dr. A.
Muththulingam, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his clinic in the
Moneragala town.
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March 30
|
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during three
separate encounters in the Malikaittidal, Veddayamurippu and Adampan areas of
Mannar district.
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March 31
|
A tractor carrying LTTE militants was fired upon by the troops
in the Mundimurichchikulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops confirmed that
six militants were killed in the incident.
Four militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted
between the two sides in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One
soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.
At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, at least four female
LTTE militants were killed by the troops.
The troops captured two LTTE bunkers in the Malikaittidal area
of Mannar district, killing two militants.
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April 1
|
At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and 12 soldiers wounded
when the troops attacked a bunker line of the outfit at Pikkulam in the
Mannar district.
21 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops
at Puthukulam in the Mannar district.
The troops in the Sulanamaruthamadu and other areas of
Vavuniya and Mannar district killed 12 LTTE militants. Five soldiers were
also injured due to the explosion of LTTE laid booby traps.
The SFs neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Malikaittidal area of
Vavuniya district and killed at least five militants.
During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of
Manthai in the Mannar district, the troops killed four LTTE militants.
A pro-LTTE Website claimed that the outfit’s chief Velupillai
Prabhakaran met his "elite" Black Sea Tigers suicide squad before
they triggered an explosion on a Sri Lankan Navy craft that killed 10 sailors
in Mullaitivu on March 22. The three militants identified by the Website as
‘Lt’ Anbumaran, ‘Major’ Niranjan and ‘Major’ Kananeela were photographed with
Prabhakaran before the operation.
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April 2
|
The troops advanced another 800 meters into the LTTE-held
territory neutralizing the outfit’s FDLs in the Kaliaddanchan village of
Mannar district, said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
"The fierce fire fight lasted for an hour and a half and troops
advancing on the LTTE frontlines gained 800 meters of Tiger territory in the
confrontation. Thirteen Tiger cadres were injured in the confrontation",
he added. One soldier was also killed while 12 others were injured during the
clashes.
The SFs in the newly captured Sinapandivirichchan area of
Vavuniya district foiled an attempt by the LTTE to re-capture one of their
bunkers in the area. In retaliatory action, the troops killed at least 11
militants and injured five others. Two soldiers were also killed while 15
others sustained injuries during the encounter.
The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Nikawewa area of
Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring two others.
Three militants were either killed or injured by the troops
when they attacked an LTTE hideout in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa area of
Vavuniya district.
Suspected LTTE militants killed a man and his son when they
had gone to collect firewood in the Anuradhapura district.
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April 3
|
At least 11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
clashes in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.
During a clash between the two sides in the Janakapura and
Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed four LTTE militants.
One soldier also died of gunshot injuries while four others sustained
injuries.
The troops shot dead three LTTE militants near the Omanthe
Entry/Exit point area of Vavuniya district.
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April 4
|
The troops neutralised an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers
at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed eight militants.
A. M. Razick, secretary to the Ministry of Re-settlement, said
that over 50,000 families displaced in clashes in the east during 2006 have
now been resettled. "During the last 10 months we have managed to
resettle 17,938 families in Trincomalee and 31,343 families in
Batticaloa," Razick said, adding, this represents over 150,000
individuals. Over 8,000 families are yet to be resettled, he stated. The
government's resettlement of the internally displaced people began after it
secured the entire Eastern Province from the LTTE in July 2007.
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April 5
|
The troops clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in
the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and
killed at least 14 militants. Four soldiers were injured in these clashes.
11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in
the Palampiddi, Madhu, Mundipurippu, Nedunkerni and Thirukethiswaram areas of
Mannar district. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.
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April 6
|
Highway Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj
Fernandopulle and 13 persons were killed and 90 persons injured in a suicide
attack carried out by the LTTE at a sporting event in the Weliweriya area,
about 25-km north of capital Colombo, of Gampaha district.
At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured
by the troops during clashes between the two sides in the Kallikulam area of
Vavuniya district.
The troops killed eight LTTE militants in the Adampan,
Manikilmarichchi, Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar
districts.
Four LTTE militants, including two females, and a soldier were
killed in clashes between the two sides in the Madhu camp area of Mannar
district. One soldier was injured during one of the clashes.
The troops neutralised three LTTE bunkers and killed four
militants in the Malikaittidal area of Vavuniya district.
During an encounter between the two sides, the SFs killed
three LTTE militants in the Chanakakulam area of Vavuniya district.
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April 7
|
The Washington Times reported that the LTTE’s political wing has established its
branches in at least 12 countries, including the United States. Citing
federal law-enforcement authorities, the report said that the LTTE have
quietly established a presence in the US to help bankroll and equip its
secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka. "As part of a global expansion to
purchase millions of dollars worth of anti-aircraft weapons, automatic
rifles, grenade launchers, ammunition and other military equipment, the LTTE has
set up its branches," it reported, adding, the expansion includes
operations in Maryland, New York and New Jersey.
Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in
the Palampiddi area of Mannar district.
In another ambush at Chennmaniattuaru, the troops killed four
LTTE militants.
The troops killed three LTTE militants, including one female,
in two separate incidents at Thirukethiswaram and Perankulam areas of Mannar
district.
The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa area
of Vavuniya district.
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April 8
|
Seven LTTE militants, including two females, were killed by
the SFs in the Madhu, Adampan and Veddayamurippu areas of Mannar district.
Two soldiers and a civilian were killed and one soldier was
wounded when a team of army soldiers on a patrol were wrongly identified to
be LTTE militants and fired upon by the STF personnel at Komari in the Ampara
district.
The Colombo magistrate has allowed police to detain a Singapore
national suspected of having links with the LTTE until May 7. The magistrate
also ordered the police to produce the suspect, Muttusamy Ilangovan, believed
to be a senior leader of the LTTE's international naval operations.
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April 9
|
The troops killed at least seven LTTE militants during clashes
in the Janakapura jungles and Kiriibbanwewa.
During another encounter between the two sides in the Adampan
and areas north of Parappakandal in the Mannar district, the security forces
(SFs) killed at least four LTTE militants. Three soldiers sustained injuries
in the clashes.
Election to the Eastern Provincial Council would be held as
scheduled on May 10 and the Election Commission has agreed to a request by
political parties to invite representatives from foreign countries to monitor
it. Dayananda Dissanayake, Commissioner of Elections, told representatives of
registered parties that the election would not be postponed. The Commission
has also declared April 28 and 29 as the dates for postal voting.
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April 10
|
Five LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised
outfit’s bunkers at Udaiyadi in the Mannar district.
During another confrontation between the two sides in the
Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs neutralised
an unspecified number of outfits’ bunkers, killing three militants while
injuring 14 others. Five soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.
The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the
Ilampiddi area of Mannar district and killed three militants while injuring
seven others.
The troops attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area
of Jaffna district and killed three militants. Three more militants got
injured in the incident.
Two more LTTE bunkers were neutralised by the troops in the
Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district, killing three militants.
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April 11
|
The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the
Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.
Norway does not support the formation of an independent Tamil
State in Sri Lanka, Norway's special envoy to Colombo, Jon Hanssen-Bauer,
told the United National Party (UNP) Member of Parliament (MP) Jayalath
Jayawardene and to two leading Sinhalese and Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka on
the sidelines of an international conference that ended in Oslo on April 11.
"Norway will not support the establishment of Tamil Eelam," the MP
quoted Hanssen-Bauer as saying.
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April 12
|
The troops extended their defence line in the areas north of
Giant Tank, north Kathankulam, south east of Adampan and Periyakulam in the
Mannar district after fierce clashes with the LTTE. At least 66 militants
were killed while over 50 others sustained injuries in the clashes. 10
soldiers were also killed and 20 others got injured in the incident.
Five LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in
clashes with the SFs in the Villattikulam, Vinayagapuram, north of Madhu and
Chinnavalayankulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were
wounded in the incident.
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April 14
|
More than 25,000 people, including 6,000 students, in the
LTTE-held areas in the north-western region of the Mannar district face
displacement due to the intensified fighting, according to A. Nicholaspillai,
the Mannar District Collector. "The entire population of the LTTE-held
Madhu and Manthai west assistant government agent division, numbering over
25,000, face displacement due to recent fighting in the area," he said.
According to him, the people have moved further north into LTTE-held
Kilinochchi.
The SFs launched attacks on a few LTTE hideouts in the area
east of Madhu in the Mannar district. Seven militants were killed in one of
these attacks.
During a clash between the two sides in the area north of
Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, five LTTE
militants were killed while 11 others were injured. Two soldiers were also
killed and seven others sustained injuries in the incident.
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April 15
|
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in
the Paleipperumalkadu, Kaddupulan, Vettukkuly, Veddayamurippu and Veppankulam
areas of Mannar district. One soldier sustained injuries in one of the
clashes.
Three militants were killed when the troops clashes with LTTE
militants in the Navakkulam, Narrikkulam and east of Madhu areas of Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.
The United States Agency for International Development
announced that it has awarded a five-year $12 million contract to support
regional Government in Sri Lanka's eastern and north central provinces.
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April 16
|
The troops killed six LTTE militants and injured nine others
during clashes in the Andankulam, Palampiddi, Vinayakankulam, Palamoddai,
Kanne Karappu and Periyakulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was
also killed while eight others sustained injuries in the clashes.
The SFs killed five LTTE militants while injuring 47 others
during clashes in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of
Vavuniya district. Nine soldiers were also wounded during the clashes.
During clashes between the two sides in the Kaliaddanchan,
Manthotam and Vediya Murippu areas of Mannar district, the SFs killed four
LTTE militants and injured three others. Two soldiers were injured in these
incidents.
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April 17
|
The troops during clashes with the LTTE in the Andankulam east
area of Vavuniya district killed four militants and injured eight others. Two
soldiers were also killed while five more sustained injuries in the clashes.
Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Andankulam
east area of Vavuniya district.
During an encounter between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in
the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed at least four militants. One trooper
was also killed while another sustained injuries in the clash.
Four more LTTE militants, including two female cadres, were
killed by the troops in the Kattikulam and Tenvadaiyan areas of Mannar
district.
The Sri Lankan Government said that it will be ready for talks
with the LTTE if they eschewed terrorism but has not made any formal contact
with the Norwegian peace facilitators on resuming the process of stalled
negotiations.
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April 18
|
13 militants were killed and three others injured as the
troops launched attacks on LTTE hideouts at Kathankulam and Malikaittidal in
the Mannar district. One soldier was wounded in the incident.
The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the area east of
Madhu and killed 12 of them while injuring eight others.
Three LTTE militants and a soldier were killed and 21
militants were wounded during clashes in the area north of Janakapura, north
of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.
The French relief organization - Action contre la Faim (ACF or
Action against Hunger) - that operated in conflict areas in Sri Lanka and
lost 17 of its local workers in a single incident at Muttur in the
Trincomalee district on August 4, 2006 has decided to withdraw, a statement
from the organization said. The AFC cited the slow progress of the
investigations carried out by the Presidential commission for its decision to
pull out.
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April 19
|
Four militants were killed when clashes erupted between the
LTTE and SFs in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.
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April 20
|
13 LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters with
the troops in the Kathankulam, Veddayapiru, Veddayampuramkulam, Adampan and
Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district.
MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE
mortar location and one of the outfit’s forward command posts in the area
east of Adampan in the Mannar district. 12 militants were killed and an equal
number of them were wounded in the attack.
The troops captured two LTTE trenches and shot dead at least
five militants during clashes in the Andankulam and Puttankulam areas of
Vavuniya district.
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April 21
|
The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the LTTE main
operation base in Mannar, codenamed "Lima-3", located east of
Kathankulam. A stretch of about 1,300 meters also came under the troops’
control while seven militants were killed in the operation. Four soldiers
were wounded in the incident.
Six LTTE cadres, including two female militants, were killed
during clashes with the troops in the Palampiddi, Kathankulam and Mantota
areas of Mannar district.
The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area of
Vavuniya district and killed two militants while injuring two others.
The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area of
Vavuniya district, killing one militant and injuring two others.
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April 22
|
The SFs killed six LTTE militants at different places in the
Welioya area of Vavuniya district. Over 20 militants and five soldiers were
injured in these clashes.
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April 23
|
169 militants and 43 soldiers are reported to have died in a
fierce gun-battle between the SFs and the LTTE cadres in and around Muhamalai
FDL in the Jaffna district. While 120 soldiers were wounded in the encounter,
33 soldiers were reported missing. "LTTE terrorists came and attacked
our forward line this morning, we have retaliated and captured about 400 to
500-metres of LTTE area in Muhamalai," said military spokesman Brigadier
Udaya Nanayakkara.
At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and more than 31 others
injured during encounters in the area north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa
in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others
sustained injuries during the incidents.
Five LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters in
the Navakkulam, Thachchanamarudamadu, Kirichchuddan and Palampiddi areas of
Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
Nine militants were killed and three others were wounded
during encounters in the Veddayamurippu, Mantota, Mankadu and Pullekyarkulam
areas of Mannar district.
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April 24
|
At least 27 militants were killed and 12 others injured as
heavy fighting erupted between the LTTE and the troops in the Malikaittidal
area of Mannar district when the troops attacked and captured outfit’s
fortified bunker line and a trench line. Three soldiers were killed and seven
more injured in the clashes.
At Parayanakulam in the Mannar district, the SFs attacked a
LTTE bunker with small arms and killed four militants.
Three LTTE militants were killed and 12 others wounded during
clashes with the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in
the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were injured in these incidents.
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Aril 25
|
26 civilians, including seven women, were killed and 40 others
injured when the LTTE detonated a bomb inside a Ceylon Transport Board bus
parked at the public bus stand in Piliyandala suburb of Colombo, at around
7:00 pm.
At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and several others
wounded when the troops attacked several LTTE hideouts and captured their
trench lines at different places in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.
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April 26
|
21 militants and seven soldiers were killed when the troops
retaliated to an LTTE attempt to storm the SFs defence lines in the area
north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.
At least 25 militants were killed when clashes erupted between
the troops and the LTTE militants at several places in the Vavuniya and
Mannar districts. 11 soldiers were wounded in the clashes.
The troops killed four LTTE militants who were moving ahead of
the security forces FDLs in the areas south of Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in
Jaffna district.
The troops attacked a group of LTTE militants in the area
north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed three of them.
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April 27
|
An LTTE light aircraft bombed military FDLs in Welioya, the
military said. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said three
bombs were dropped by the LTTE at the military FDLs in Welioya but caused no
damages to property or personnel. "At about 1:35 a.m. they came and
dropped three bombs on the Welioya Forward Defence line. Nobody was hurt, and
no damage to any property," he stated.
At least 14 LTTE militants were killed during clashes between
the troops and militants at several places in the Vavuniya and Mannar
districts. Two soldiers were also killed while four of them sustained
injuries.
Security forces killed five militants in the area north of
Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district area and
recovered a large number of anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive
devices. 12 soldiers were injured in these clashes.
Five LTTE militants, identified as Yavili, Malarini,
Wellappan, Malarmadhi and Manalan, were killed by the troops in the
Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.
The troops in an ambush in the Palampiddi area of Mannar
district killed four LTTE militants.
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April 28
|
Three LTTE militants were killed by the in the Kaddupulan and
Kattikulam areas of Mannar district.
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April 29
|
Seven LTTE militants, including six senior cadres, were killed
when the troops neutralised two of the outfit’s bunkers in the Manipullaukulam
area of Mannar district.
The SFs attacked an LTTE camp in the Muttlamadittakulam area
of Vavuniya district and killed six militants while injuring four others.
The troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the
Muttlamadittakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four of them. One
soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the exchange of
fire.
At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district, the troops
neutralized an LTTE bunker and killed three militants.
London's Metropolitan Police arrested three suspects in London
and Wales for allegedly supporting the LTTE in Sri Lanka as a part of an
investigation into the funding of the terrorist group.
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April 30
|
At least 40 LTTE militants, including a leader, were killed
and several others wounded as the troops captured the outfit’s 18-Base in the
Veppankulam and Kallikulam areas of Mannar district. Six soldiers were
injured in the operation. Subsequently, two MI-24 fighter crafts of the Sri
Lanka Air Force providing aerial cover to the advancing ground troops bombed
two LTTE camps in the Karukkakulam and Chalampaikulam areas.
11 militants were killed and 21 soldiers were injured in
fighting between the two sides in the LTTE-held areas of Periyakulam,
Karukkakulam and Kathankulam in the Mannar district.
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May 1
|
Troops captured the LTTE-held Karukkakulam town in the Mannar
district, killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was also killed in the
incident.
The SFs neutralized four LTTE bunkers and killed 11 militants
while injuring an equal number of them during attacks in the Navathkulama,
Muttiramadittakulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district.
During an encounter in the area north of Janakapura and
Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed five militants.
At Veddayamurippu in the Mannar district, the troops destroyed
a LTTE bunker line killing five militants and injuring at least seven others.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the
Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal and Veddayamurippu areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar
districts.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said that the LTTE domination in
the northern part of the country would end soon. "The security forces
are advancing step by step in the northern theatre too. Soon the people there
too would be liberated," Rajapakse said in his May Day rally at
Dehiattakandiya in Ampara district of eastern Sri Lanka.
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May 2
|
An unspecified number of LTTE bunkers in the Veddayamurippu,
Allikulam, Palamoddai, Manthai and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar
districts were captured by the troops during clashes in which 19 militants
were killed and 15 others were injured. Two soldiers were killed while three
others sustained injuries in the clashes.
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May 3
|
At least 15 LTTE militants, most of whom were from the
"Imran Pandian regiment" – said to be LTTE’s most acclaimed
regiment - were killed in an offensive launched by the troops in the
Chettiyarkattaiadampan area of Mannar district.
12 LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured
during clashes with the troops in the Palampiddi, Adampan and Nedunkandal
areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. One soldier was also killed while
six others sustained injuries in the clashes.
The troops captured about 1.5 sq km stretch of land in the
LTTE-held territory of Periyakulam in the Mannar district killing 10
militants while injuring 10 others. Two soldiers were wounded during the
clashes.
During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of
Janakapura in Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven militants while more
than 20 others were injured. Two soldiers were killed and four others
sustained injuries in the incident.
The SFs clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in the
Ethawatunuwewa, Kokkuthuduvai, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of
Vavuniya district and killed four of them. Five soldiers were also killed in
the incidents while three others were wounded.
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May 4
|
During clashes between the SFs and LTTE militants in the
Navakkulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed three
militants.
The military said that approximately 245 soldiers were killed
in clashes with the LTTE in 2007 while over 240 lost their lives in the four
months of this year, military spokesman Udaya Nanayakara. He added that 2500
LTTE cadres were killed during 2007. According to the military, over 3300
LTTE militants and over 240 soldiers have been killed in fighting till April
this year.
Despite the Sri Lankan Navy's claim that it had destroyed all
10 arms ships of the LTTE, the country's intelligence agencies have revealed
that the outfit has unloaded at least three shiploads of military hardware in
the last two months.
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May 5
|
10 LTTE militants, including two area leaders, were killed and
52 others injured by the SFs in an encounter at the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna
district. Two soldiers were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in the
LTTE attack. One soldier, meanwhile, was reported missing.
At least nine LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured
in intermittent clashes between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Palampiddi
and Maruthamadu areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops clashed with LTTE militants and killed five of them
while injuring 12 others in Welioya area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers
were reportedly injured in the clash.
The SFs in Mannar killed five LTTE militants when they
launched an operation and captured one square kilometer of land in the
Chalampaikkulam area.
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May 6
|
The troops captured about 400-600 square metres stretch of
land in the LTTE-held territory of Alankulam in the Mannar district and
killed seven militants while injuring 10 others. Five soldiers were also
injured in the operation. Also, the troops foiled an LTTE attempt to re-enter
into the same area later and during the ensuing encounter killed six more
militants.
The troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE
militants through a jungle path in the area north of Periyamadu in Vavuniya
district killing six militants aboard the vehicle.
The SFs attacked a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palampiddi area
and neutralised six bunkers. Six militants were killed and a soldier injured
during the incident.
The SFs in the Manthotam area of Mannar district in two
separate attacks destroyed three LTTE bunkers killing five militants. 10
militants and two soldiers were reported wounded in the confrontation.
In the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, SFs
opened fire towards a tractor carrying three militants and killed all of
them. One LTTE bunker was also neutralised in the area.
The troops captured the Palampiddi Bridge in the LTTE-held
area of Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district following a fierce gun-battle.
Providing support to the ground troops the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets
bombed an LTTE target located one-km north of Palampiddi junction in the same
area. Citing intercepted LTTE communication, defence sources said the outfit
suffered heavy casualties though the details are yet to be ascertained.
Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias A. C. Shanthan (51), the
de-facto leader of the LTTE in the United Kingdom, was re-arrested in
connection with terrorist funding and procurement activities.
The RCMP counterterrorism investigators in Toronto have seized
a letter signed by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran directing Canadian
Tamils to send him Canadian $3-million, according to police files released on
May 6 by the Federal Court.
Speaking in the Parliament, Prime Minister Ratnasiri
Wickremanayake said 120 SF personnel from the Army, Navy and the Air force
were killed and another 945 were injured in clashes during April 2008. He
also said 56 civilians were also killed while 145 others were injured.
President Mahinda Rajapakse challenged the LTTE leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran to 'clash with him directly' and declared that his
Government would continue in its bid to flush rebels out of their stronghold
in the north.
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May 7
|
During intermittent clashes between the two sides in the areas
north of Parappakandal, Kathankulam, Alankulam, Chalampaikkulam, Nedunkandal
and Adampampekkulam in the Mannar district, the SFs killed 12 militants. Six
soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.
Three LTTE militants were killed by the SFs in the Palampiddi
area of Vavuniya district.
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May 8
|
10 LTTE militants were killed as the Army captured a two
square kilometer stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory, about 5-6 km
south of Adampan town in the Mannar district. One soldier was also killed
while another was wounded in the incident.
During clashes with the LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam,
Alkaddivalikulam, Palampiddi, Villiyakulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya
district, the troops killed three militants while injuring five others.
Three LTTE militants were killed and nine others wounded by
the troops in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya
district.
The British police have charged four men with conspiring to
support the LTTE, Scotland Yard said. The four were arrested under
anti-terrorism laws and are accused of owning computers, radio equipment and
high-power magnets for terrorist purposes, AFP reported from
London. The four men were identified as Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias AC
Shanthan, 51; Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan alias Muralee Tharan, 46;
Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan alias Vithy Tharan, 39; and Murugesu
Jegatheeswaran alias M Jegan, 33.
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May 9
|
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the
SFs captured one square km. area in Alankulam of Mannar. "33 LTTE cadres
were killed and 40 injured in the confrontation", Nanayakkara stated.
One soldier was killed and five others wounded in the clashes. Five soldiers
were reported missing in action.
The troops captured the strategic Adampan town in Mannar
district. "At least 15 LTTE cadres were killed and many others injured
when troops marched forward and confronted the Tiger cadres resulting in the
capture of the Adampan junction and it’s liberation from the LTTE’s grip at
around 8.30 a.m.", military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.
Two soldiers were killed and seven others injured in the incident.
14 LTTE militants were killed in the general (area under
Government control) of Vavuniya district.
11 persons, including two women, were killed and 29 others
injured in a bomb blast at the City Cafe Hotel near the Ampara Clock tower in
Ampara town.
During an encounter between the two sides in the areas north
of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed 12 militants. Three soldiers
were reportedly injured in the clashes.
In Mannar, clashes erupted between the two sides in the
Manipullkulam, Nedunkandal and Mantota areas in which 11 militants were
killed and five wounded. Troops also captured two bunkers connected to LTTE
trenches during clearing operations in the Manipullkulam.
Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan alias Karuna Amman, founder of
the TMVP, a break way faction of the LTTE, was released following his
imprisonment for possessing false documents, contrary to Section 25 of the
Control of Identification Documents (offences) Act 2005. He now remains under
immigration detention powers, a British High Commission statement said.
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May 10
|
18 LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked the
outfit’s hideouts in the areas north of Palampiddi, Vedamakilam, Kurukkandai,
north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.
Voting in the elections for the Eastern Provincial Council in
Sri Lanka ended at 4.00pm (local time) amid accusations of violence, attacks
and rigging. Elections officials said the estimated voter turnout was
approximately 65% in Ampara, 55% in Batticaloa and 60% in Trincomalee.
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May 11
|
10 LTTE militants were killed and more than five others
injured during clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai, Palampiddi and
Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.
Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
encounters in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district.
One soldier sustained injuries during the clash in Janakapura.
The UPFA won the first ever Provincial Council Election in the
East, securing 20 (18+02 bonus seats) out of 37 seats on offer, while polling
52.21 per cent of the total votes. The UNP which obtained 42.38 per cent of
the total valid votes got 15 seats while the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and
the Tamil Democratic National Alliance secured one seat each. The UPFA won
two out of the three districts, - Batticaloa and Ampara while the Trincomalee
district was won by the UNP. A total number of 591,676 (65.78 per cent)
voters exercised their franchise out of a total of 982,721. However, the
number of rejected votes was quite high with 54,780 (8.47 per cent) getting
annulled.
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May 12
|
Five militants were killed in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya
district as the troops destroyed four LTTE bunkers.
SFs killed five LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of
Vavuniya district.
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May 13
|
Four LTTE militants were killed and 11 others injured during
clashes with the troops in the Andankulam, Vadukkanari and Janakapura areas
of the Vavuniya district. Five soldiers were reportedly injured during these
clashes.
Four militants, including a female cadre, are reported to have
died and five soldiers were wounded during clashes in the Sivarayankulam,
Mundumrippu, Navvi, Chinnavahayankaddu, Nedunkandal and Palamoddai areas of
the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
A senior leader of the EPDP, Maheshwari Velyanthan, was shot
dead by the LTTE militants at her residence at Karaweddi in the Nelliadi area
of Jaffna district.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said that his Government was ready
for talks with the LTTE, provided the latter is ready to give up arms and
demonstrate "genuine intent" to evolve a political solution.
Speaking at the Oxford Union, Rajapakse referred to the recently-concluded
elections for the Eastern Provincial Council and said though many observers
said the LTTE was invincible, the Government had freed the province from
"terror".
The Government will not enter into any kind of cease-fire
agreement or temporary pacts with the LTTE in the future under any
circumstances, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said.
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May 14
|
14 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in
the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya in Vavuniya
district.
The SFs attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Kallikulam area of
Vavuniya district and killed at least six militants.
During an encounter in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya
district, the SFs killed four militants while one soldier died during the
clash.
Troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants killing three of
them while injuring three others in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.
While four soldiers were wounded in the incident, one soldier reportedly went
missing.
Sri Lanka Army spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara
revealed that the LTTE have started to conscript children in the Mullaitivu
and Kilinochchi districts who failed the GCE ordinary level examinations in
2007. Citing military intelligence sources, he said the outfit has banned all
children in areas still under its control from sitting for the examination
for a second time.
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May 15
|
18 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in
the Vairapuliyankulam, Vilakkavatti Kulam, Palampiddi, Periyamadu and
Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while
three others sustained injuries in these clashes.
Nine LTTE militants were killed in encounters with the troops
in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district. One soldier was
injured in the clashes.
During a series of clashes with the LTTE militants in the
areas north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district,
the troops killed seven militants. One soldier who was injured in the
explosion of an LTTE laid improvised explosive device in the area died later.
The Government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has
said that the law of the land will be applied to Vinayagamoorthy
Muraleetharan alias ‘Colonel’ Karuna Amman, founder of the TMVP if he returns
to Sri Lanka.
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May 16
|
10 persons, including seven police personnel, were killed and
95 others were injured as a LTTE suicide bomber on a motorcycle laden with
explosives rammed into a bus carrying police officers around 12.05 pm at the
Colombo Fort.
The troops killed seven militants, including six women, were
killed by the troops during clearing operations in the Periyamadu area of the
Vavuniya district.
During an encounter between the two sides in the Periyamadu,
Palampiddi and Palamoddai areas, the troops killed five militants.
President Mahinda Rajapakse appointed S. Chandrakanthan a.k.a.
Pillayan as the first Chief Minister of the EPC.
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May 17
|
The troops captured Palampiddi junction in the Mannar
district, killing 13 LTTE militants. The junction is strategically important
as it connects Vedithalthivu in northwest, Madhu in south, Mullikulam in
southeast and Nedunkandal in northeast.
The troops killed seven LTTE militants and injured 10 others
in clashes at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and areas north of
Murunkan, Devolkandan, Veddayamurippu, north of Uyilankulam and Periyakulam
in the Mannar district. Two soldiers were injured during the clash in the
north of Uyilankulam. Two soldiers were wounded in LTTE-triggered APM
explosions at Devolkandan. The troops also recovered 25 APMs during
subsequent clearing operations.
Six LTTE militants were killed and three others wounded by the
security forces during clashes at Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the
Vavuniya district.
India has "too many problems" of its own and cannot
bear the "extra burden" from backing a separate Tamil State to be
carved out from Sri Lanka, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
The ruling UPFA named two TMVP members who contested from the
Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the EPC polls and were unable to
secure any seats, for the two bonus seats awarded to the party. Former
Batticaloa Government Agent R. Maunagurusami who contested in the Batticaloa
district and Priyantha Premakumara who contested in the Trincomalee district
had been named for the bonus seats.
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May 18
|
26 LTTE militants and five soldiers were killed while three
soldiers sustained injuries as the troops foiled two attempts by the
militants to capture SFs defence line at Nedunkandal in the Mannar district.
The SFs captured a LTTE bunker line at Kurukkandai in the
Mannar district killing seven militants. Four soldiers were also killed in
the clash while three others sustained injuries in the incident. Three more
soldiers went missing during the clash.
During clashes between the two sides in the Navakkulam,
Marudhakulam, Palamoddai, Mundipurippu and Kallikulam areas of Vavuniya
district, troops killed 10 militants while injuring six others.
Seven militants were killed while more than 12 others were
injured in clashes with the troops in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of
Mannar district. One soldier was killed while another was wounded in the
clashes.
At Ampaddankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed six
militants.
Three militants were killed while 13 others sustained injuries
during clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura,
Kokkuthuduvai, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Three
soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.
The Army has extended an amnesty deadline for its deserters by
two more weeks, as nearly 4,000 deserters had reported back during the first
two weeks, the military said. The army headquarters said that some 3,709 army
deserters had reported back for duty since May 2 under the amnesty period
ended May 16 which was extended later. The decision was reportedly taken
following requests from several sections, including the deserters urging more
time to rejoin the force.
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May 19
|
Four LTTE militants were killed and 20 others injured by the
troops during separate incidents in the Kokkuthuduvai, Janakapura and
Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district on May 19, reports SLA.
During an encounter in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district,
the troops killed two militants. One soldier was also killed while another
sustained injuries in the incident.
The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the
Periyamadu area of the Vavuniya district and killed three of them.
The TMVP insisted that its leader Pillayan would remain the
Chief Minister of the Eastern Province even if Karuna Amman is deported to
Sri Lanka, despite the leadership title still being held by Karuna.
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May 20
|
At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured
during an encounter with the troops in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya
district.
Five LTTE militants were killed and 15 others sustained
injuries during clashes with the troops in the Palaiandankulam,
Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Thunukkakulam and Pattankulam areas of the same
district.
A senior ‘commander’ of the LTTE, identified as
"Brigadier Balraj", who had led several attacks against the Sri
Lankan military died of a heart attack in Kilinochchi, the LTTE announced.
Balraj was the "first commander of the LTTE's conventional fighting
formation, Charles Antony Brigade, established in 1991."
The French police detained two LTTE leaders who evaded arrest
in 2007 and fled the country when police closed in on them during the major
round up of top outfit’s leaders operating in Paris. The Sous-Directorate
Anti-Terrorism of France announced that the duo, Subramanium Muhundan and
Yogarasa Sivarasan, were arrested in Paris on May 13 after investigations
lasting several months.
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May 21
|
17 LTTE militants were killed and 26 others injured during
clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in
the Vavuniya district.
SFs killed three LTTE militants during encounters in the
Mundipurippu and Palamoddai areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.
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May 22
|
11 LTTE militants were killed and 12 others injured during
clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa and
surrounding areas of Welioya in the Vavuniya district.
Two TMPVP members and three civilians were killed and four
persons were wounded by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents.
"Two TMVP cadres, including the party's chief organiser for Katankudi,
were shot dead by unidentified gunmen around 11.15 a.m. In a separate incident,
also at Arayampathi in Katankudi area, three Muslim civilians were killed by
unidentified gunmen around 12.45 p.m.," said military spokesman
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, troops neutralised an
LTTE bunker line and killed five militants while injuring four others.
Five LTTE militants were killed during an encounter with the
troops in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district.
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May 23
|
16 civilians, including six children, were killed in a SLA
Deep Penetration Unit (DPU)-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting a
Hiace van returning from Muzhangkaavil hospital to Kilinochchi on the
Murikandi - Akkaraayan Road at around 2:15pm, claimed the pro-LTTE
Website Tamil Net. Earlier, Assistant Director of Fisheries in
Mannar, J.G.Jujin, and another civilian were killed when a DPU triggered
claymore mine explosion targeted an ambulance of the Kilinochchi hospital at
Muzhangkaavil at around at 8:00 am. The SLA, however, denying its involvement
and said that the areas alleged lie about 100-km away from the northern most
Omanthai Entry/Exit point and defence lines under the Government control in
Vavuniya.
Four LTTE militants were killed and more than a dozen injured
by the troops during separate encounters in the Periyamadu, Navathkulama,
Nedunkandal, Wedimurippu and Kurukkandai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya
districts.
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May 24
|
Five LTTE militants were killed and 14 others wounded by the
troops during clashes in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya
district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries in
the clashes.
During encounters between the two sides in the Mundipurippu,
Veddayamurippu, Malikaittidal and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar and Vavuniya
districts, the troops killed two LTTE militants and injured eight others. One
soldier was reportedly killed in the incident.
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May 25
|
10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during an encounter
in the Mundipurippu area of the Vavuniya district.
10 militants were killed and a dozen others injured during
clashes with the troops in the Kurukkandai, Paleipperumalkadu, Pediyaarippu,
Nedunkandal, Maravitikannadi and Welioya north areas of the Mannar and
Vavuniya districts.
In clashes between the two sides in the Palampiddi, Arsamadu
and Periyamadu areas of the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six
militants and injured three others.
The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the area north of
Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district.
The US has asked the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to give
up the demand for a separate Tamil State saying the community wanted a
solution to the over two-decade-old ethnic conflict within a
"united" Sri Lanka. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake, said
that giving up the idea of a separate State, would give Prabhakaran
"lots of credibility to respond to lots of scepticism here in the South
(Sri Lanka) that the LTTE would never negotiate with the government."
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May 26
|
Eight passengers, including four women, were killed when a
LTTE parcel bomb with a timer exploded in a crowded train near Dehiwala, a
suburb of capital Colombo, at around 4.50pm (SLT). More than 70 persons were
injured in the explosion which occurred in the fifth compartment of the
Kalutara district-bound train, Senior Superintendent of Police R. Gunasekara
said.
The IED expert of the LTTE in Mannar, identified as Dhora, was
killed in an air strike carried out by the SLAF MI-24 fighter craft in the
area north of Adampan in the Mannar. An explosive dump of the LTTE was also
destroyed in the attack.
The TMVP leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan admitted that members of his organisation were
responsible for the recent abductions at Eravur in Batticaloa.
13 LTTE militants were killed and a dozen others were injured
in clashes between the militants and troops in the Mannar and Vavuniya
districts.
Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the area
north of Janakapura and Andankulam jungle areas in the Vavuniya district.
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May 27
|
SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded 14 others during
encounters in the Janakapura, Andankulam, Punnankulam and Palaiandankulam
areas of the Vavuniya district.
The troops clashed with two groups of LTTE militants in the
Nelukkulama and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district and killed four of
them.
Four LTTE militants were killed and 20 others sustained
injuries during encounters with the troops in the Kuddeadi, Alankulam,
Karankuddi, Piriyanweli, Veddayamurippu, Minnukandi and Mankadu areas of
Mannar district.
President Mahinda Rajapakse declared that his Government will
not stop the drive against terrorism under any circumstances. He said
"There will be no room for terrorism. We will not stop the campaign
against terror…This is a war against terrorism, not against the Tamil people.
I will not stop until terrorism is defeated."
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May 28
|
11 militants were killed and seven others injured during
clashes with the SFs in the Olumaduwai, Periyamadu, Sinnamalayankaddu and
Kappankulam areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.
During a clash between the two sides in the Nedunkandal area
of Mannar district, the SFs killed four more militants while injuring three
others.
Four LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured in
clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas
of Vavuniya district.
Paramarupasingham Devakumar, the Jaffna area correspondent for
SIRASA, MTV and SHAKTHI TV channels, and his associate Mahendran Varathan,
employee at the Jaffna District Secretariat, were hacked to death by
suspected LTTE militants in the Navali area of Jaffna district.
The LTTE has targeted civilians on 21 occasions killing 149
persons and injuring 560 others so far in 2008, according to military
figures. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara informed the media on
May 28 that from January 1, 2008 to date, the LTTE has staged 21 attacks on
civilians in the form of claymore mine explosions, suicide attacks, parcel
bombs and shooting incidents. Since March 2007, the 57 division of the Sri
Lanka Army has been successful in capturing 600 square kilometres of
LTTE-held territory in the North, he revealed. The LTTE has shifted their
defence lines to Mallavi and Tharukkui areas 45-km behind the Army Defence
Lines in Mannar, he added.
The Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai
Chandrakanthan agreed to remove the TMVP camp at Puthukudirippu, a village in
the border area between the Tamil and Muslim sectors at Eravur in Batticaloa
district, as a measure towards restoring normalcy in the East.
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May 29
|
The SFs foiled a pre-dawn sea attack by the LTTE sinking three
Sea Tiger boats and killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was killed
while two others sustained injuries during the clash between the LTTE and
troops at the Chiraththivu islet of Jaffna district.
14 LTTE militants were killed and 42 others injured as SFs
captured one of the outfit’s major strategic bases known as
"Munnagam" in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.
LTTE militants opened artillery fire towards Jaffna town
centre from their bases in Pooneryn which struck 18 people sleeping in their
houses. While six of the civilians died in the attack, 12 others were
injured.
Six LTTE militants were killed as the SLN launched an attack
on two Sea Tiger boats transporting fuel barrels to un-cleared areas (area
not under Government control) via the seas off Uddimukkanthurai in the
Mannar.
Six militants were killed and more than 20 others wounded as
the troops launched attacks in the jungle areas of Periyamadu Kulam,
Palamoddai, Andankulam, Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district.
Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident at Andankulam.
Three persons, including a woman, were killed by the militants
at the Zone 18 village in Anuradhapura district.
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May 30
|
19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured
during clashes with the troops in the Kodikamam, Nedunkandal and
Pullekyarkulam areas of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also killed
while 10 others sustained injuries in these clashes.
Three LTTE militants were killed and four others injured by
the troops during encounters in the Navathkulama, Periyamadu Kulam,
Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura
and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district and killed three militants and
wounded two others.
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May 31
|
Three soldiers and two LTTE militants were killed during
clashes in the area north of Janakapura and Andankulam in the Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers and an equal number of militants were injured in the
clashes.
Five militants were killed and two others injured during
clashes with the SFs in the Andankulam, Chandamandankulam, Panikkaneru,
Periyamandankulam, Olumaduwai and west of Navavi areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar
districts. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.
Three LTTE militants were killed in encounters with the SFs in
the Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.
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June 1
|
Eight LTTE militants were killed by the security forces during
encounters in the Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.
At least three militants were killed by the troops near
Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs of Jaffna district.
A negotiated end to the conflict is still possible but not
before the LTTE is "verifiably demilitarised and democratised,"
said Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN.
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June 2
|
The TMVP Eravurpattu Pradeshiya Sabha Deputy Chairman,
Aiyathurai Pushpanadan alias Kattan, and his bodyguard, Arsakoon Pullai
Mohandas alias Amburaj, were shot dead by suspected ‘pistol gang’ militants
of the LTTE at Eruvur in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.
Seevaratnam Prabaharan alias Pulidevan, chief of the LTTE
Peace Secretariat, has been placed under arrest on the direct orders of the
outfit’s leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Defence Ministry said. "The
arrest has been made as a result of a worsening internal dispute among key
LTTE… An armed gang led by LTTE's intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman had
made the arrest few days back," the statement said.
The Government has said that the LTTE has shown no indication
to enter into a dialogue in order to end the conflict. "We are looking
for a negotiated end to this conflict... so far they have shown no
inclination to enter into any constructive dialogue with a view to ending
this conflict," Foreign Ministry Secretary Palitha Kohona said. "The
LTTE is free to come back to the negotiating table but... must do so
genuinely with a commitment to negotiating a sustainable peace and for that
it must also leave aside its weaponry," he added.
At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 17 others injured
during clashes with the troops in the Chunnikadukulam, Koddeikulam,
Mullikannady, Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. While
two soldiers were killed and two others injured in the fighting at
Janakapura, two more soldiers were reported wounded elsewhere.
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June 3
|
16 LTTE militants were killed and at least 10 others injured
as the troops attacked several LTTE camps and bunkers in the Navathkulama,
Periyamadu Kulam, Kowitkuchdu, Udaiyadi and Nedunkandal areas of the Vavuniya
and Mannar districts.
The LTTE has said that the national question cannot be
resolved by killing innocent civilians or political leaders. In an interview
with BBC Sandeshaya, head of the outfit’s political wing, Balasingham
Nadesan, said, "You cannot resolve the Tamil ethnic issue by killing the
president or innocent civilians." He also denied any knowledge of
killing civilians in the south and said that many other elements are
operating in the south. Stating that it is the responsibility of the
Government to initiate a fresh dialogue he accused the Government of
launching military offensives against the LTTE and denied that the outfit is
being defeated by the military in the north.
He also denied media reports that head of organisation’s peace
secretariat, Seevarathnam Pulidevan, has been arrested by the outfit’s
leadership. Separately, denying media reports of his arrest Pulidevan himself
accused the Sri Lanka military of ‘fabricating stories when they cannot
achieve military victories’. He also dismissed reports of an internal dispute
within the LTTE, insisting that the organization continued to function as
usual. Pulidevan also ruled out the possibility of having peace talks with
the Government without the participation of Norwegian facilitators and added,
"The LTTE has no problems. Our only intention is to receive the
Norwegians in Kilinochchi as they are the official facilitators. Till then we
will not discuss anything."
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that India’s
maritime surveillance has helped Sri Lanka in a big way in facing the
challenge from the LTTE. He said, "The navies of India and Sri Lanka are
cooperating to the extent at which the interests of both countries are
safeguarded vis-à-vis the threat that can emanate from the [maritime] movement
of terrorists led by the LTTE."
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June 4
|
The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the
Villattikulam and Navavi areas of Vavuniya district killing 11 militants
while injuring at least 15 others. Three soldiers also received injuries in
action.
11 more LTTE militants were killed in confrontations with the
troops in the Kaddupulan, Kurukkandai, Nedunkandal and Parappakandattan areas
of Mannar district. Seven more militants and a soldier were reportedly
received injuries during the clashes.
As clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kokkutoduvai,
Andankulam, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district the SFs killed
five LTTE militants and wounded an equal number of them.
At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead
at least six militants and injured three others in two separate clashes.
The SFs at Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district opened fire
towards a tractor with LTTE militants on board and killed three militants
while others managed to escape.
At least 17 persons were injured in a bomb blast along the
coastal railway track at Dehiwala, a suburb of capital Colombo, police said.
Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said that an unidentified assailant
attempted to lob a parcel at the Colombo bound train from Panadura, but failed
as civilians in the area prevented it by screaming. "After noticing that
the people had seen him, the suspect had thrown the parcel towards the
railway track and ran away from the scene," he added. The railway track
was slightly damaged due to the blast. The security forces later arrested the
prime suspect, identified as Jatheesan Balasubramaniyam, who was behind the
bomb blast. He was arrested near Irattaperiyakulama road block while he was
attempting to pass through towards Vavuniya.
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June 5
|
30 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured one
kilometre stretch of the main defence line of the LTTE covering the Mannar
'Rice Bowl' by reaching the edge of the 'Rice Bowl' north of Adampan on June
4-evening, military sources said. "This was the first time the troops in
Mannar front captured a stretch of LTTE main defence line stretching from
Pappamoddai in the north of Manthai from the seaside towards Parappakandattan
in the north of Giant Tank for more than 11 Kilometres covering the Mannar
'Rice Bowl'," an unnamed senior military official said. The LTTE
constructed this defence line with a six to eight feet high earth bund, a
water canal and a trench line forcibly using the civilians living in the
un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) a few months back to
face the advancing troops.
Four LTTE militants were killed and eight others inured during
separate clashes with the troops in the Periyamadu, Periyamandankulam,
Kopilkurunala and Villamadukulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was
also killed while eight others received injuries during these confrontations.
The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the area north of
Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed four more militants. One
soldier was also killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.
The Sri Lanka Parliament extended the emergency law that comes
in to force under the Public Security Ordnance for another one month.
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June 6
|
21 persons were killed and 40 others injured in a
LTTE-triggered a powerful explosion on a public bus near Katubedda
Shailabimbaramaya temple on the Katubedda – Piliyandala main road in Colombo.
Eight women and 13 men were among the dead in the explosion in the bus which
was proceeding to Mt. Lavinia from Kottawa.
At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 21 others
injured by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the
Ichchalankai, Nedunkandal, Periyamadu, Kovitkanchikulam, Itkanchikulam,
Palamoddai, Alankulam and Kurukkallimotai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts.
Nine soldiers were also reported wounded in the incidents.
Troops conducting search and clear operations in the
Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district
killed four LTTE militants and injured at least 13 others.
The LTTE in the latest release by its Hero’s department has
claimed that the outfit has lost 21,051 carders in the quest for a separate
state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 21,051 cadres include 16,516 males and
4,535 females. The period cited for the deaths cover 26 years from November
27, 1982 to May 31, 2008. Since the current pace of the war intensified in
2006 the outfit has lost 1004 carders, of which 745 males and 259 and in 2007
they had lost 1196 carders including 1037 males and 159 females. The Hero’s
Department also claimed they never hide the deaths of the LTTE cadres,
announcing the heroes name over the radio broadcast, and updating figures on
a monthly basis.
The Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry has recently formulated
guidelines for media on war news coverage in the form of an advisory that is
posted on its website, www.defence.lk, under the heading, "Deriding the
war heroes for a living — the ugly face of 'defence analysts' in Sri
Lanka". The guidelines address four main issues the Defence Ministry is
most concerned over. Criticism of military operations, promotion schemes,
procurement and unethical methods used to obtain sensitive information are
the issues of main concern and they are classified as acts of ‘treason’.
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June 7
|
The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam,
Periyamadu, Cheddiyankulam and Periyapallemullkaduu areas of Vavuniya
district and killed seven militants while injured two others. Five soldiers
were also injured while the SFs recovered the dead body of one female LTTE
cadre after clashes in Periyamadu.
In similar confrontations that erupted between the two sides
in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five militants
and injured at least 19 others.
Three more LTTE militants were killed and two others wounded
by the troops destroyed an LTTE bunker in the area north of Ethawatunuwewa in
Vavuniya district.
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June 8
|
At least 17 LTTE militants and six soldiers were killed as the
troops stormed the outfit’s One-Four base at five places and captured 500-600
meters stretch of land in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district. 35
militants and 18 soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting which
lasted for eight hours.
The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai,
Mankumban, Ponnar and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed an
unspecified number of militants. Three soldiers were also killed during the
clashes. Six soldiers and an equal number of militants were reported injured
in the incidents. Some of the soldiers were injured in LTTE triggered
remote-controlled blasts in the area.
Five LTTE militants were killed and another five wounded by
the troops during an encounter in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya
district. One soldier also sustained injuries during the clash.
Three more LTTE militants were killed by SFs in another
confrontation in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district.
Acknowledging the contribution of Sri Lanka's armed forces in
fighting international terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapakse has said giving
democratic rights to the Tamils in the LTTE strongholds was vital for ending
militancy in the region. He said it was not possible to win a war with
weapons alone. For this it is necessary for the soldier who goes into battle
to have trust and confidence in his leadership, he said. "We have the
need to give the Tamil people in (the rebel stronghold) of Kilinochchi and
Mullaitivu their democratic rights, as we did for the people in the
East," the President said.
At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 33 others
injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the
Manipullkulam, Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and
Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Wedimurippu, Thalaweddi and Palampiddi areas of
Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while about 19 others received
injuries during these clashes.
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June 9
|
At least nine LTTE militants were killed as the troops stormed
the outfit’s FDL in the Alankulam area, about 2-km north to the north bund of
the Giant Tank, of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while 15
others sustained injuries during the clash that lasted nearly for four hours.
Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three female militants from the
area.
Sri Lankan Minister for Community Development and Social
Inequity Eradication P. Chandrasekaran has said he had received positive
signals from the LTTE to indicate that it would be open to talks. Claiming to
be on a mission to meet political leaders in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi to
create an atmosphere conducive for Indian intervention he said that India
should play the role of a mediator to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
He also that the LTTE had also evinced interest in Indian intervention and
favourable signals had emanated from the outfit in this regard.
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June 10
|
At least four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during
confrontations in the Periyamadu, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers were also injured during these clashes.
Three ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE were gunned down
during a Police and Army combined cordon and search operation at
Pallikudiruppu in the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district. Reports said that
a group of three militants had opened fire and lobbed a hand grenade at the
SF personnel engaged in the search operation. The SF personnel had retaliated
killing two militants on the spot while the other who had managed to escape
was chased and shot dead later.
A little known Sri Lankan rebel group, Ellalan Force claimed
responsibility for recent bomb attacks on transport vehicles as revenge for
what it said were Government attacks and aerial bombings on Tamil civilians.
The military said that the outfit is a LTTE-linked group.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that the State
intelligence sleuths have uncovered a LTTE plot to assassinate VIPs in the
South by infiltrating public functions attended by them. The terrorist plan
was to get their cadres to attend such functions unarmed as normal civilians
and assassinate VIPs attending them after grabbing weapons from the SF
personnel detailed to cover such events.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, delivering a lecture at
the Carlton Club (London), said that the military victories can provide the
space for political and economic solutions to be found and without military
power the result can be more bloodshed.
The LTTE has vowed to attack government troops if they enter
the outfit’s-controlled area. In an interview with a news agency, the LTTE
Peace Secretariat Head, S. Puleedevan, has said, "Sri Lanka armed forces
are losing a lot of soldiers. If they enter into LTTE area the losses will be
much more. The heavy fighting is going on at the forward defence line and we
have managed to inflict considerable damages to Sri Lankan armed forces. They
are unable to gain any new territory." Puleedevan also blamed that the
Government is not willing to have peace talks and is evident by denying
access to international mediators.
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June 11
|
At least seven LTTE militants were killed in the Nedunkandal
and the west of Navvi areas in Mannar district. Two LTTE bunkers were also
neutralised in the Nedunkandal area.
Five more LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others
injured during clashes with the troops in the north of Janakapura,
Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were
killed and four others sustained injuries, the troops captured one bunker in
the fighting in Janakapura area.
At least four LTTE militants and three sailors were killed as
the SLN personnel foiled an LTTE attack on a SLN outpost at Erukkalampiddi in
the Mannar Island. According to the defence sources, a group of outfit’s
cadres who had come in six boats launched the attack at around 2.15 am
(SLST). The SLN personnel defended the post effectively destroying a Sea
Tiger boat in a counter-attack killing four militants, including their leader
Sirimaran, sources added. However, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net admitting
their loss said the outfit destroyed the camp and captured key weapons and
radar equipment.
The security forces are attacking Mullaitivu, the LTTE chief
Velupillai Prabhakaran’s hideout, from several directions, said Army
Commander Sarath Fonseka. Commander Fonseka said the Army's aim is to capture
Prabhakaran, who is holed up in a bunker, alive. He said the 56, 57, 58 and
59 divisions are taking part in the operations and Task Force 2 will also be
inducted to expedite the operation. Troops are presently attacking the LTTE's
1-4 Base complex in a preliminary bid to reach Mullaitivu. Forces have
already regained several hundred square kilometres previously under the
control of the LTTE and they still need to march forward another 21
kilometers to achieve the final goals, he said.
Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called upon the EU to list
the TRO and other LTTE front organisations, which have been clearly
identified, including by the US Government, as raising funds for the LTTE. He
said a request to this effect has recently been made by the Government to the
European Union. French Ambassador in Sri Lanka Michel Lummaux representing
the current EU Presidency held by Slovenia, who led the EU delegation,
categorically expressed the opposition of the EU to a separate State for
Tamils in Sri Lanka. He said the EU does not consider the LTTE to be the sole
representative of Sri Lankan Tamils.
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June 12
|
The SFs killed five LTTE militants and injured six others
during separate encounters in the Janakapura and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya
district. One soldier was also killed while six others received injuries
during the clashes.
At Kiraddikulam in Vavuniya district, the SFs confronted a
group of LTTE militants and killed three of them on the spot. Two more
militants and one soldier received injuries in the incident.
Secretary General of the SCOPP, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha,
responding to a statement made by the LTTE’s ‘Peace’ Secretariat chief,
Seewaratnam Pulidevan, that he wishes to meet with Norwegian peace-brokers,
said that the team headed by Norway's Special Peace Envoy John Hansen Bauer,
would, for now, not be allowed to visit the Wanni. Prof. Wijesinha dismissed
the LTTE request as a meaningless propaganda exercise in the absence of a
roadmap to ending the 25-year conflict.
President Mahinda Rajapakse has asserted that in spite of the
cost in lives and damage inflicted to Sri Lanka's tourist trade he would not
resume peace talks with the LTTE until the organisation agreed to disarm.
"When they are weak they call on the international community to arrange
a ceasefire. During this period they train and rearm and then fight back.
This time if they want to talk, they should disarm first," he said.
Commenting on concluding a peace deal with Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE
chief, he said, "This man and the three or four henchmen around him are
blood-thirsty killers. They have no feelings. It is very difficult to deal
with them."
India cannot make 'any healthy, fruitful contribution' to
resolving Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict until it changes its mind on the LTTE’s
struggle for an independent State, K.V. Balakumaran, a senior leader of the
outfit told an Australian Tamil radio. "Our regret is that the Indian
policy makers are viewing (the) Tamil people's struggle through the lens of
their country's political warfare. Until the Indian central government
approaches this intellectually and recognises that ours is a struggle for
survival by an oppressed people in the land of their birth, India cannot make
any healthy, fruitful contribution," the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net
quoted Balakumaran as saying.
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June 13
|
At least seven LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed
during confrontations that erupted in the north of Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai
and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. At least 15 militants and five
soldiers were injured during these confrontations.
During another confrontation between the two sides in the
Periyamandankulam, Palampiddi, Kovitakunchu, Nedunkandal, Alankulam and
Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts the troops killed five
militants while injured eight others. Three soldiers were also reported
killed and four others got injured. 500 T-56 ammunitions were recovered by
the troops in the Palampiddi area.
The LTTE had released 27 more child soldiers, and contested a
United Nations estimate that over 1,000 child soldiers were still in their
ranks. The outfit said that they were also working to discharge 30 or so
children who are still with them.
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June 14
|
At least eight LTTE militants were killed and eight others
injured as the troops in a fierce offensive operation captured a strategically
important LTTE-held area in the Mannar district and brought the whole tank
area under their control, the military said. Seven soldiers got injured in
the confrontations. Capture of the entire perimeter of this strategically
important tank area is a major setback to the LTTE, defence officials said.
The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the
Komankulam, Mundipurippu, Keevelikulam, Minukkal, Nedunkandal and
Irathawelliyakulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts and killed four
militants while injured four others. Two soldiers were also killed and five
others received injuries during the clashes.
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June 15
|
At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others
injured by the SFs as confrontations occurred between the sides in the
Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ranabapura and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya
district. Three SF personnel were killed while four others sustained injuries
during the clashes. The SFs also recovered one hand grenade from the area
north of Kiriibbanwewa.
Six more LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the troops
in the Navathkulama, north of Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya
and Mannar districts. One soldier was killed while four others were injured
in LTTE fire.
The troops confronted with a group of LTTE militants and
killed five of them in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier
was injured in action.
Three LTTE militants were eliminated by the SFs during two
separate confrontations in the Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district.
The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of the three slain militants along
with two T-56 weapons.
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June 16
|
A suspected LTTE suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up
in front of a Police building in Vavuniya, killing 12 police personnel,
including three female Police officers and wounding 23 others, the military
said,. The suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the SSP office complex
in Vavuniya targeting the Police personnel leaving the SSP office for their
duties at around 7:10am (SLST).
The Canadian Cabinet has outlawed the Toronto-based front
organization of the LTTE, the WTM, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. "The
Anti-Terrorism Act, passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, allows federal
Cabinet to prepare a list of ‘entities’ whose activities are proscribed by
Canadian law due to their involvement in terrorist violence," the report
added. The directive issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial
Institutions advised banks and insurance companies to notify the Royal Canadian
Mountain Police or Canadian Security Intelligence Service if they held any
accounts linked to the WTM.
At least eight LTTE militants were killed and more than 10
others injured when clashes erupted between the two sides in the
Echchalarakkai, Vannakulam, Pandiyankulam Periyamadu, Mullikkandy,
Parappakandal, Palamoddai and south of Kovitkuchchikulam areas in Vavuniya
district. Four soldiers were injured in these clashes.
Three LTTE militants were killed and at least 24 others
injured by the troops during encounters in the areas north of Janakapura and
north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed
while three others were injured in the LTTE mortar fire.
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June 17
|
14 LTTE militants were killed and three others injured during
clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai, Karukkakulam, Kovitkanchikulam and
south of Navavi areas in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
During an encounter between the two sides in the areas north
of Janakapura, Andankulam and Ethawatunuwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the
SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded at least six others. Three
soldiers were injured in the clashes.
Three soldiers were killed in a LTTE attack in the Kayamodai
Wanni area of Vavuniya district.
Sri Lanka is planning to establish an all party Security
Council under the directions of President Mahinda Rajapakse to prevent LTTE
attacks on the civilians in the country, the Government said. The council is
based on a proposal put forward by the members of the newly formed breakaway
Marxist party, the National Freedom Front.
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June 18
|
Seven militants were killed as troops attacked LTTE camps in
the Kiraddikulam and Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya district.
The LTTE has rejected the Government's request to lay down
their weapons before peace talks. "Any approach that disturbs the
balance of power and parity of status (between the government and rebels) are
counter-productive to the peace process," said the group’s political
head B. Nadesan.
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June 19
|
17 LTTE militants were killed and 14 others wounded during
clashes with the troops in the Vedamakilam, Periyamadu, Kayamunai,
Nedunkandal, Eachalarakkai, Kuranchatalav and Andankulam areas of Mannar and
Vavuniya districts. Three soldiers were also killed while nine others
sustained injuries.
Six soldiers were killed and 20 others were injured in
encounters with the LTTE in the Mankindamulai, Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and
Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district.
Basil Rajapakse, the presidential advisor of President Mahinda
Rajapakse, admitted that the LTTE represented a ‘fair number of Tamils’ but
ruled out any quick truce with the outfit.
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June 21
|
Seven LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured
during encounters with the SFs in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Weddakulam
areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.
SFs captured three LTTE bunkers killing four militants while
injuring two others in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district. Three
soldiers were injured in the incident.
Four LTTE militants were killed as the Army troops serving in
the Poovarasankulam area of Vavuniya district observed these militants, two
males and two females, busy constructing a hut near a bunker.
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June 22
|
10 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others injured as the
troops captured an LTTE line of six bunkers built in the Palamoddai area of
Vavuniya district. Four solders were killed while seven others were injured
in the clashes. One more soldier was reported missing in action.
10 LTTE militants were killed by the SFs as clashes erupted
between the two sides in the Chalampan, Veddayamurippu, Kiraddikulam and
Kovitakunchu area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while
another was wounded in these clashes.
The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Muppankulam area of
Vavuniya district on June 21-night and June 22-morning killing six militants
and injuring a few others.
During an encounter between the two sides in the areas north
of Janakapura, Mani Kindamalai and Veddankerni, the SFs killed three
militants while injuring 30 others. Nine soldiers were reported injured in
the explosions of improvised explosive devices and LTTE attacks.
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June 23
|
Three policemen were killed and another injured when suspected
LTTE militants carried out a bomb explosion near the Aiyththamalai Police
post in the Batticaloa district.
President Mahinda Rajapakse stated that his Government would
seek to establish ‘Peace Zones’ not only in the precincts of sacred sites,
but also in the whole country.
At least 12 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed during
separate clashes in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. 11 more
militants and four soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.
At least 10 more LTTE militants were killed and six others
wounded during separate confrontations with the SFs in the Periyamadu,
Nedunkandal, Andankulam, Palamoddai and Werapiliyathura areas of Mannar
district. Troops also recovered ammunition and explosives from the possession
of the slain and injured persons.
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June 24
|
The troops operating in the Mannar front captured several key
locations in the North and North East of Adampan securing Mavilakkandi,
Minnanirachchan and Marattikannaddi areas, Military sources said. At least 10
LTTE militants were killed in the confrontation that erupted from early hours
of the day. Five soldiers also sustained injuries during these
confrontations.
The SFs killed six LTTE militants and injured three others in
the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while
three others got injured in the incident.
At least five LTTE militants were killed and 24 others injured
during confrontation with the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya
district. One soldier also died in an anti personnel mine explosion during
the clash.
The troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Mullikandal area
of Mannar district killing three militants. One soldier was also killed in
action.
President Mahinda Rajapakse reiterated that the LTTE should
lay down arms if they expect to negotiate with the Government for a political
solution to the crisis, according to Ministry of Defence Website. "The
Government would not hesitate to work with the LTTE if the Tigers were ready
to lay down arms," the President said. The President assured that he was
not at all prepared to compromise the security of the country and the safety
of the people and was not ready to hand over the country to a terrorist organisation.
The President further said, "I don’t wish at all to wage war against the
people of the country. My determination is to defeat terrorism. If the LTTE
lay down arms at any moment I am ready to work with them to achieve
peace," adds Colombo Page.
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June 25
|
The troops killed five LTTE militants and injured more than 20
others in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also
killed and seven others got injured. Troops captured three trenches and
recovered 3500 rounds of ammunition.
Four more LTTE militants were killed and five soldiers
received injuries during confrontations in the Sirumollakandi and Navavi
areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops captured an LTTE camp with 120-mm gun positions at
Kattikulam in the Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring
three others. LTTE transmissions later confirmed that one area leader was
among the injured. One soldier also sustained injuries in action.
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June 26
|
Troops operating on the Mannar front captured two and half
square kilometres of land between Chalampan and Marattikannaddi on the
Andankulam-Vedithalthivu road in Mannar district. "Twelve Tiger cadres
were killed during the confrontation between 8 am to 3 pm yesterday to
capture this terrain," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara
said, adding, "With the capture of this key location all supply routes
from Mannar Northwards to the Pooneryn road has been totally cut off to the
LTTE."
Six LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the
troops at Pandayan, according to Sri Lanka Army. Four soldiers were also
injured during the clash.
The troops also eliminated five LTTE militants and injured
eight others in the Morathandaman area of Mannar district. One soldier was
also wounded in the incident.
The troops captured one more LTTE bunker in the
Kanapputtukulam area of Mannar district and killed five militants while
injuring six others. One T-56 weapon was also recovered from the incident
site.
Four more LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured
in an encounter with the troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.
Four soldiers also sustained injuries in action.
Troops of the 57 Division who entered the Periyamadu village
in Vavuniya district on June 24 and consolidated its position by capturing seven
square kilometres surrounding the village by June 26-noon.
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June 27
|
At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified
number of them injured as security forces captured the outfit’s strategic
"54-Base", said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
25 more LTTE militants were killed and two soldiers sustained
injuries as the SFs engaged in operation ‘Rice Bowl’ on the Mannar Front
fully captured the Andankulam area and 13 square kilometres surrounding it,
an unnamed senior military official said.
At least 20 LTTE militants were killed more than 40 others
injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam, north of
Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also
killed while two more sustained injuries in the confrontations.
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June 28
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At least 20 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured
when troops opened fire on their positions in Ambaddankulam, Naddankulam,
Navatkulam, Panichchanmadu, Naouarampu and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya
district. Two soldiers were also killed and two others injured in the fight.
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June 29
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The 58 Division of the Sri Lanka Army operating on the Mannar
successfully completed operation ‘Rice Bowl’ after capturing over 120 square
kilometres, including 105 square kilometres of the most fertile land in the
country.
10 militants were killed and 32 others injured when the troops
attacked LTTE camps north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya
district.
Six more LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured
during a confrontation with the troops in the area north of Navavi area of
Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got
injured. One more soldier was reportedly missing in the confrontation.
During separate clashes between the two sides in the
Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs
killed seven LTTE militants and injured four others.
The troops captured one LTTE bunker ahead of the Muhamalai FDL
in the Jaffna district killing four militants.
President Mahinda Rajapakse expressed no interest in easing
off his military's offensive against the LTTE. "There are calls for a
cease-fire when the terrorists face defeat. I will not allow anyone to
curtail the forward march of the troops," Rajapakse said.
Amid claims of major advances into the LTTE- controlled
territory in the Mannar district in the north, the Sri Lankan military
reported influx of civilians from LTTE-held areas into the
government-controlled side. In a statement in Colombo, the Defence Ministry
said, "It is observed that Tamil civilians fleeing LTTE-held areas
continuously reaching towards security forces seeing protection for their
lives as they are living under severe life risk in LTTE areas. As the troops
captured almost all the terror strongholds in Mannar front, an escalation of
civilian movement towards government-controlled areas can be observed".
The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured four others
near the Navakkulam FDL in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also
injured in the LTTE fire.
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June 30
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The security forces engaged in the Wanni liberation operation,
entered a decisive phase as the troops created the biggest ever military
front to the LTTE in the western flank of Wanni with two Army divisions that
independently operated in Mannar and Vavuniya linking together from southeast
of Periyamadu.
The LTTE has "lost their capability of fighting as a
conventional army" because of the offensive the military is waging
against them, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said.
Five LTTE militants were killed while 11 others injured during
confrontations with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and north of
Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.
Three soldiers were killed and two others injured in
LTTE-triggered IED explosions at Palamoddai and Kovitkanchikulam in Vavuniya
district.
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