LTTE no longr have qualitative edge in the battlefield- strategy page

The US based military strategy website, Strategy Page said, The LTTE attacks against the offensive campaign by the Sri Lankan security forces in their Northern stronghold so far failed , unlike during the last five to ten years, because the LTTE troops do not have a qualitative edge in the battlefield any longer.

In an analytical piece the website in a December 30 issue said, attempts to push back the army with the LTTE's best soldiers left failed as "the soldiers stood their ground and stopped the LTTE attackers. That didn't happen 5-10 years ago, and is one reason why the LTTE are on their last legs. The rebels no longer have a qualitative edge on the battlefield." The website also added, "There are only a few bits of coastline where the LTTE can land stuff, so it's easier for the navy to catch the smuggling attempts."

The website said, LTTE defenses consist of recently recruited fighters holding out in recently built bunkers. The morale of the LTTE fighters is rapidly declining, as is their battlefield effectiveness, the website warned. The following is the full text of the comment:

"The navy blockade continues unbroken, despite desperate LTTE attempts to ship weapons and munitions in. There are only a few bits of coastline where the LTTE can land stuff, so it's easier for the navy to catch the smuggling attempts.

"The fighting around the LTTE capital of Kilinochchi is apparently attracting the best fighters the LTTE has left. That's because some army units have been hit with well prepared and led counterattacks. These were attempts to push the army back, but these offensive operations failed. Sometimes there were heavy army casualties, but the soldiers stood their ground and stopped the LTTE attackers. That didn't happen 5-10 years ago, and is one reason why the LTTE are on their last legs. The rebels no longer have a qualitative edge on the battlefield. "Advancing troops have captured an LTTE airstrip, hidden under nets and foliage. The army is advancing up the east coast, past the town of Mullaitivu, and down the east coast along the Jaffna peninsula. The LTTE defenses consist of recently recruited fighters holding out in recently built bunkers. The morale of the LTTE fighters is rapidly declining, as is their battlefield effectiveness.

"The government is also getting more information on the day-to-day whereabouts of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran. The air force is bombing these locations, hoping to kill or wound Prabakaran (whose death would be a major blow to the LTTE). In any event, the army believes they will have Prabakaran, dead or alive, with six weeks. While there's always a chance that Prabakaran will flee the island and attempt to keep up a terror campaign from exile, that is considered unlikely. Sri Lankan diplomatic efforts have gotten the LTTE declared an international terrorist organization, and it's unlikely any nation would allow Prabakaran to operate within their borders."

(By Walter Jayawardhana)

Troops closing in on Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Intense fighting broke out on December 16 with the Security Forces launching their final battle to capture Kilinochchi and Paranthan. It continued for the past ten days in the same breath as troops expanded their positions along the Tiger earth bund despite some drawbacks due to intense counter attacks by the LTTE.

Both sides exchanged heavy artillery and mortar shelling as the battlefront took a new turn, most probably due to renewed fire power of the LTTE. But troops managed to advance into Tiger territory amidst all these obstacles with improved weather conditions. This enabled the troops to face the battle in a relatively better environment compared to the situation that prevailed last week.

What is most significant is that, Task Force I troops under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva continued to take the upper hand in the Paranthan front expanding the 1.5 kilometres stretch of the earth bund they captured on December 16 in the North of Pooneryn-Paranthan road to more than three kilometres as of yesterday effectively foiling all Tiger counter attacks to recapture it.

Troops braved the flooded and muddy terrains in the Paranthan front adjoining the Jaffna largoon front to expand their positions along the earth bund towards Pooneryn-Paranthan road whilst columns of troops advanced more than three kilometres ahead of the Tiger earth bund and captured Sinnaparanthan, one of the important locations ahead of Paranthan.

Troops attached to the 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment under the command of Kithsiri Ekanayake and 17 Gemunu Watch under the command of Lt. Colonel Kottawatta achieved this victory whilst troops of the 8 Gemunu Watch under the command of Lt. Colonel Vajira Welagedara expanded positions on the ditch cum earth bund towards Adampan south of Pooneryn-Paranthan road.

With this move the Paranthan AG office area came under control of troops that are some six kilometres West of Paranthan junction.

The capture of Sinnaparanthan area is vital for the troops as it opens the gateways towards Paranthan, Kilinochchi and even towards Elephant Pass which are vital locations for the LTTE at present.

Troops of Task Force I are now operating in the same area they were operating in 1997 during the Sath Jaya operation to capture Kilinochchi from the Tigers. Therefore, every move by the Task Force I troops between Kilinochchi and the Jaffna peninsula is vital as they are moving to grab the neck of the Tiger territory that links the body and the head through vital arteries across Paranthan.

As troops were consolidating their positions in Sinnaparanthan which was captured on Tuesday LTTE launched a massive artillery and mortar fire towards the area on Wednesday morning commencing from 5.30 a.m. in their bid to recapture the area. But this attack was effectively foiled by Task Force I with close support given by the Sri Lanka Air Force and directing barrages of artillery and mortars into Tiger positions compelling the Tiger cadres who arrived to recapture the earth bund leaving behind their wounded.

The artillery radars at Task Force I detected three 130 mm artillery guns located in Iyakachchi area that were directing fire towards the defences of the troops whilst 122 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars were falling to the front from the North of Kilinochchi.

It was a clear indication that the LTTE had received fresh stocks of artillery and mortar rounds to intensify their thrust towards the advancing Security Forces. It is apparent that they have managed to unload a significant stock of artillery and mortar on board the medium size Tiger vessel that was destroyed in the sea off Mullaitivu by the Sri Lanka Navy last Saturday morning.

Therefore, it is vital for the Sri Lanka Navy to intensify the patrolling in the narrow stretch of Eastern seas now available for the LTTE to smuggle arms and ammunition into their territory.

Though the LTTE tried to display their massive fire power it seems they have failed to muster the manpower needed to launch counter attacks to recapture the terrain now dominated by the troops. It was because massive number of Tiger cadres fell victim to the Security Forces over the past one week in their bid to fight back the Security Forces.

In the Paranthan front alone troops managed to kill at least 15 Tiger cadres a day by launching assaults on their bunker lines and taking sniper targets.

As troops of Task Force I are heading towards paranthan, troops attached to the 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias also made a significant improvement in the battlefront facing Kilinochchi.

If there were any lapses on the part of the Security Forces during the battle that erupted on December 16 and during the subsequent counter attacks the troops attached to the 57 Division too managed to recapture the Tiger earth bund after the fresh combined operation launched by Task Force I and the 57 Division on December 22.

The 571 Brigade overcame Major drawbacks during the December 16 offensive, capturing two kilometres of vital section of the earth bund facing the West of Kilinochchi on December 22. 571 Brigade is now under the command of Lt. Colonel Harendra Ranasinghe who earlier acted as the Colonel General Staff of the Task Force I. He filled the vacancy created by the appointment of Colonel G. V. Ravipriya as the Commander of the Mannar Area Headquarters. Monday’s assault on the Tiger defences on the Kilinochchi front turned into a debacle for the LTTE as troops of the 571 Brigade managed to capture two kilometres stretch of the earth bund with minimum number of casualties but causing maximum casualties to the LTTE.

At 5.30 a.m. on Monday troops attached to 9 Gajaba Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Chandana Somaweera 4 Sinha Regiment under the Acting Command of Major Wasantha Hewage and the 12 Sinha Regiment under the command of Major Weerasinghe (Second in Command of the Sinha Regiment) launched this massive assault on the Tiger earth bund backed by Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships.

Within one hour they captured two kilometres stretch of the earth bund which is located just five kilometres west of Kilinochchi centre. They went on to consolidate their positions foiling all the counter attacks launched by the LTTE killing at least 50 Tiger cadres ahead of their defences.

As of yesterday, troops were in the process of clearing the area ahead of them as LTTE failed to even evacuate the casualties and dead bodies from the area.

The troops attached to the 572 Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Dhammika Jayasundera also moved ahead of the Tiger earth bund to establish their defences ahead of the earth bund during the December 22 attack.

The troops attached to the 574 Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Senaka Wijesuriya operating in the South of Kilinochchi also caused heavy damages to the LTTE but did not hold the earth bund.

The earth bund captured by the 574 Brigade on December 16 was recaptured by the LTTE last Saturday in a massive counter attack on the troops operating there. Though troops had to give up the earth bund intercepted radio transmissions have confirmed that 24 hardcore Tiger cadres were killed and 30 others injured during the fierce battle.

Therefore, after ten days of intense battles the Security Forces have once again taken complete control of the battle in the Kilinochchi and Paranthan battlefront strengthening their future moves to capture the de-facto Tiger capital Kilinochchi.

Yet it is not an easy task for the Security Forces as Tigers are preparing for a do or die battle in Kilinochchi deploying their hardcore cadres to the front.

Therefore, fierce battles are expected on the Kilinochchi front as they move further towards Kilinochchi which is a matter of only a few moves for the troops operating in the edges of build up area.

The LTTE is on the back foot with depleted ranks which is a drawback to hold their positions in Kilinochchi and Paranthan against the full strength of the troops.

As the main battle continues in the edges of Kilinochchi, the newly formed Task Force IV under the command of Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi, managed to capture Nedunkerni in the South of Oddusudan taking a vital area in the Mullaitivu district.

The Task Force I troops linked with the Task Force II troops under the command of Brigadier Rohana Bandara in Nedunkerni area. Once Task Force IV troops links up with the 59 Division troops now operating just four and half Kilometres South West of Mullaitivu, it will create the biggest ever front against the LTTE from Jaffna lagoon to the Mullaitivu coast. As of yesterday, the 59 Division troops managed to take Mulliyavali village and Thanniattu villages South West of Mullaitivu after capturing three defence lines created by the LTTE to stop the troops advance towards Mullaitivu.

Troops of the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa took control of the Thanniattu village by Thursday evening. The area is now being cleared as it was infected with booby traps and mines.

Amidst these progresses the Task Force III, operating under the command of Brigadier Satyapriya Liyanage, also captured second airstrip of the LTTE North of Ampakamam in the East of A-9 road and South East of Iranamadu.

The troops of the 632 Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Subhashana Welikala achieved this victory and are heading towards the main airstrip of the LTTE located East of Iranamadu tank marching through a booby traps and land mined stretch. These moves will definitely pave the way for troops to reach the areas where the LTTE is keeping innocent civilians as hostages. Though the number of civilians fleeing from the Tigers saw a significant increase, a large number of civilians is yet to be freed by the Security Forces.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a fervent appeal to the LTTE to release these innocent civilians giving an indication that the LTTE would be proscribed if they do not adhere to this request.So, it is obvious that exactly a year after withdrawing from the ceasefire, the Government is heading towards proscribing the LTTE if they continue to harass the Tamil civilians further.

The year which is going to dawn next Thursday, would be a challenging one for the Security Forces.

The increased support of the common masses is vital at this juncture of the war against terror as they are the real strength behind the Security Forces’ victories.

Courtesy : http://www.sundayobserver.lk

Terrorists to face another shocking maneuver from Army 59 Div

Troops of Sri Lanka Army 59 Division are in the process of making another shocking maneuver on the battlefield dragging the LTTE further closer to its certain defeat. Battlefield reports reveal that troops of 593 Brigade are steadily marching towards North of Mulliyawalai, entering into the jungle area lying between Puthukkudiyiruppu and Mulliyawali.

Heavy clashes have been reported between Army infantrymen and the terrorists in the North of Mulliyawali from 9 AM to 2.30 PM on Monday (Dec 29) as troop extended their forward boundaries further northwards. Intercepted terrorist radio transmissions have confirmed heavy damages to the terrorists during these clashes.

Meanwhile, troops of 592 Brigade operating in the western flank of the 593 Brigade has made further headway on their flanking movement. Infantrymen of 12 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (12 SLLI) and the 14 Gajaba Regiment (14 GR) attacked terrorist groups in the North of Karurelankandal and Kulamuripu areas during daytime yesterday as they extended their forward boundaries further northwards of the A-34 road (Mankulam- Mullaittivu)

Troops 591 Brigade engaged in a northward move along the Alampil- Mullaittivu road confronted with a group of terrorists in the South of Chilawatte area around 9, last morning.

Army 59 Division is currently operating closest to the LTTE's main military bastion in Mullaittivu town. The strategic focus of the Wanni counter terrorist operation shifted from the Kilinochchi front to the Mullaittivu front once troops gained total control over the western shores of the island. At present, LTTE terrorists are mainly confined to a right-triangular area edged by the A-9 road from the West, A-34 road from the South and the northeastern coastal belt stretching from Mullaittivu to Nagarkovil.

Police seek civilian cooperation

Police seek civilian cooperation to identify the alleged suicide bomber.

LTTE suicide bomb blast near Catholic Church ; 8 killed, 17 injured - Wattala

LTTE terrorists have carried out a suicide bomb attack near the sacred St Ann's church, Hekitta, Wattla in the north of Sri Lankan capital  this morning (Dec 28). According to  police sources, a male suicide bomber has exploded himself around 9 AM in front of the Civil Defence Force office on the church road.

Eight people have been killed and 17 others suffered injuries in the attack. An Army officer and 6 other CDF personnel were among those killed in the bomb blast. 13 CDF personnel and 4 civilians including a women  were reported injured due to the bomb blast.

The injured have been admitted to Teaching Hospital, Ragama and National Hospital, Colombo. Sources in the Ragama hospital said that 2 of the 10 injured admitted to the hospital are in serious condition.  Later, a CDF guard and a civilian who were among injured admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo had succumbed to injuries. 

According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber had exploded himself when he was stopped by the security personnel on guard from entering the CDF office. 

Navy destroys LTTE logistic Boat killing four LTTE carders North East of Point Pedro

Sri Lanka Navy destroyed an LTTE logistic boat killing four LTTE carders in the Northern seas 12 nautical miles North East of Point Pedro on the 28th of December 2008 around 0020 hrs.

Navy intercepted an LTTE logistic boat off Point Pedro at midnight and opened heavy fire destroying its fleeing attempt upon interception. Four LTTE sea tiger cadres were also reported to have been killed due to the fierce naval fire directed at the enemy.

Courtesy : Sri Lanka Navy

Air Force goes for terror leadership while army closing in LTTE HQ

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets have carried out air strikes this morning (Dec 27) targeting two locations frequented by terrorist chief V. Prbhakaran.

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told defence.lk that the jets have targeted a hiding place of the terror chief located in thick jungle 1 km southeast of Vishwamadhu tank around 8.45 AM. Then, the jets have pounded a secret meeting place of the senior LTTE leaders located 1.5 km southeast Puthukkudiyiruppu at 12.45 PM, he said. The second target was also a boat modifying workshop of the LTTE, he added.

Speaking further, Wing Commander Nanayakkara said that the jets have launched another mission at 9.30 AM targeting a gathering of the LTTE cadres in the West of Iranamadhu tank bund. The air strike has been launched in support of the Army 57 Divisions and the Task Force 1 steadily marching towards Kilinochchi, the former administrative hub of the LTTE.

Meanwhile, Air Force MI 24 helicopter gunships have carried out two successful close air support mission for the Army 59 Division soldiers in Mullaittivu at  8.45 AM and 1.30 PM. According Wing Commander Nanayakkara, the helicopters have targeted an LTTE gathering detected 5 km South of Mullaittivu on the Mullaittivu- Alampil road. Ground troops have confirmed a destruction of a tractor transporting LTTE cadres in these air raid.

Army 59 division soldiers are in the process of dominating Mulliyaweli, Tanniyattu and Chilawatte areas, reveal the latest reports form the battlefield. Heavy clashes are reported in the Mullaittivu suburbs with the terrorists making a desperate attempt to defend their main military bastion.

According to the intelligence reports, the LTTE leader has been faced with a serious problem with finding a safe hiding place with the shrinking of his tyranny. The terror chief overwhelmed with fears for his life due to increasing threats from his own outfit as well as from the advancing soldiers is reportedly shifting his hiding place in quick successions.

Double blow to LTTE on 'boxing day': Mulliyawalai captured, Tanniyuttu under siege - Mullaittivu

59 Division troops have gained total control over the Mulliawalai township along the A-34 Mankulam- Mullaittivu main road Friday(Dec 26), following a fierce gun battle with LTTE that raged for over 36 hours, military sources said.

According to latest reports received from the battlefield, 16 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (16 SLLI) regiment troops have now gained total control of Mulliawalai, after breaking into the remaining LTTE resistance points in the area, yesterday (Dec 26).

Search and clearing operations are now under progress in the area, ground sources further said.

More information will follow.

Pottu Amman relieved of duties

Internal conflict among top Tiger leaders

The internal conflict among the

 top leadership of the

 LTTE came to a head recently when the Tiger Intelligence Unit (TOSI) and the Black Tigers (Karum Puligal)

 Chief

 Shanmugaligam Sivashanker, better known as Pottu Amman,

 was removed from the post by the LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The differences among the Tiger hierarchy at the moment

 is similar to the internal

 conflicts that arose with the breakaway of its Eastern Leader Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna four

 years ago.

Pottu Amman had been

 replaced b

y another senior leader Rutnam Master, who is in-charge of Prabhakaran’s personal

 security as well as being the

 head of the LTTE’s Special Force – Radha Regiment and the Air Wing. His

 personal details are not available, as he has functioned as one of the most secretive operatives within the

 LTTE.

State intelligence units had uncovered that Pottu Amman,

 of whom nothing much is known about, had been removed by the LTTE Leader

 for failing to carry out any attacks on the military as well as VIP targets tasked to him in

 recent years. Among them were the assassination attempts on Army Commander Sarath Fonseka

 and Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Two lorries laden with a large

 amount of explosives, that were recovered by the defence authorities were also among the failed attempts of Pottu

 Amman.

Wanted by the Interpol for terrorism, Pottu Amman has

 been a man of mystery within the LTTE even more than its Leader Prabhakaran. He headed

 almost all the operations outside the North

 and East and masterminded many of the suicide attacks

 against the country’s political leaders and anti-LTTE Tamil political party members as well as senior military officials.

 He is one of the most wanted by the Indian defence authorities for the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv

 Gandhi.

The removal of Pottu Amman from the Intelligence Unit had

 been done in mid this year and soon after he had been sent to Muhamalai  for three months by the LTTE Leadership. It is

 revealed that he was called back to Mullaitivu by the LTTE leadership and had

 not been assigned for any work thereafter.

With the removal of Pottu Amman the effectiveness of the

 LTTE intelligence section had seen drastic come down. However, the LTTE leader did not publicise the removal of Pottu

 Amman as it would directly affect the ground level intelligence operatives, who have direct or indirect contacts with Pottu

 Amman. Since Pottu Amman’s removal, Rutnam Master had been overlooking the spy section of the organization alongwith the LTTE Leader

 himself. With the taking over, Prabhakran and Rutnam Master carried out successful attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base, where a large number of

 military air craft were destroyed.

However, the second such type of attack on the Vavuniya Air Force base and the Wanni Security Forces

 Headquarters was a failure. Since then no successful attacks were carried out by the LTTE, except a few bomb

 explosions in public passenger transport buses.

Although the removal of Pottu Amman did not come to light for a long time, it had taken its toll

 on the ground level cadres in a bad way. The lack of ground

 support to carry out any attacks including suicide attacks were the main disadvantage of his removal. In recent times when LTTE suicide cadres had come to carry out attacks in the south

, they had not received support from LTTE sympathisers due to the tight security in the country as well as the heavy setbacks suffered

 by the Tigers in the battle field.

After receiving the training, suicide cadres travel from the Wanni without anything in their posession.

 When they arrive at the target areas, they have to be provided with accommodation, suicide kits, etc. by others who are assigned to handle them. But in the

 recent past there had been almost no one to provide such assistance to any of the suicide cadres. The recovery of

 explosives, suicide kits and ammunition in large amounts was a result of it.

Intelligence agencies also revealed that most of such

 agents, who provided accommodation, suicide kits etc. had fled the country with a large amount of money, that

 had been given to them by the LTTE.

Pottu

 Amman had joined the LTTE in the early 80s after a long stint abroad. His wife is from Sandiweli, near the Eastern

 University and they have two children-- a girl and a boy.  He is said to have been in charge of the LTTE camps in Tamil Nadu coastal areas during the early

 days of the LTTE.

In 1985 he was kidnapped by PLOTE cadres in Mahalingapuram, Chennai; and was released in exchange for

 Kannan, abducted by the LTTE.

Pottu Amman had been a threat to almost all second level leaders of the LTTE. Slain LTTE Political

 Leader S.P. Thamilchelvan, LTTE Sea Tiger Leader Soosai, then Eastern Military Leader Karuna were constantly complaining to the

 LTTE Leader about Pottu Amman and his activities, as these leaders eyed the second in Command position of the organization. Pottu Amman was virtually functioning as the

 second in command of the LTTE and used his ‘spy section’ to keep other senior leaders in check. Soon after the air strike on the LTTE Leader’s hideout

 in Kilinochchi, where Thamilchelvan got killed, it was suspected that the information

 about the whereabouts of Thamilchelvan had been leaked out to the

 military by Pottu Amman.

However, knowing these matters, Prabhakaran did not want to appoint any

 deputies for him.

Despite this development, Prabhakaran had virtually removed most of his senior commanders from their

 posts including Sea Tiger Leader Soosai and Swarnam for continuous failures in the battlefield. Though they are still in their posts, several other

 senior leaders have been appointed to overlook them.

‘Colonel’ Bhanu who was the Special Leader of the Charles

 Anthony Brigade and ‘Colonel’ Velavan, who was the Special Leader of the Impran Pandiya Brigade were also removed from their posts and deployed in the battle field.Soosai also

 failed several attacks on the Navy in the seas in the recent past. The Sea Tiger unit had lost a large number of cadres and boats as well.

Wanni battlefield

Following days of heavy and intense fighting between troops and the LTTE in the borders of the Kilinochchi town, west of Paranthan, Adampan, Nevil

, Puthumurrippukulam and Iranamadu, troops of the Task

 Force -1 now engaged in West of Paranthan, on Tuesday consolidated 300metres further southwards along the LTTE built earth bund cum ditch and

 captured an LTTE strongpoint, Sinna-Paranthan.

During the fighting over 20 LTTE cadres were killed and

 many injured. Troops have recovered five LTTE bodies, a similar number of T-56 assault riffles and an I-com set while

 consolidating defences in the area.

Troops faced stiff resistance from the LTTE in the battle in Sinna-Paranthan, which is located along the A-35 main road, 6km West of the Paranthan Township

.

With the battle closing on the LTTE’s administrative town of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, the LTTE leadership has called

 almost all the Sea Tigers to the battlefield. Most of the guns that were mounted on the Sea Tiger boats were also removed and

 brought to the battle front with the intensification of fighting.

According to intercepted LTTE communications ground cadres were ordered to put maximum efforts to prevent the military

 entering the Kilinochchi town.

However, the LTTE had hinted that they would lose Kilinochchi town and its

 adjoining areas. LTTE’s Political Wing Leader P.Nadeshan in a recent interview had said that

Even though Kilinochchi falls they would continue fighting.

Earlier, LTTE

 chief Prabakaran in mid-November assured to defend its main garrison town, while promising to stall the surging

 military offensives aimed at Kilinochchi. But now the troops had entered the northern part of the Kilinochchi town.

Secret operation to attack BIA revealed

 

Details of a covert operation to raid the Bandaranaike International Airport was revealed on the Christmas Day night, by a special intelligence team.

Accordingly, two LTTE suspects one from Vavuniya and Negombo had been arrested. They had told the defence authorities that while launching an attack using LTTE air craft, a simultaneous the ground attack was planned using more than 20 suicide cadres to raid the Airport and adjoining air force military complex, where the Kfir and Mig fighter jets are housed.

It is learnt that already some of those LTTE cadres for the attack had arrived in the Katunayake area. Their main objective had been to destroy air force fighter jets, that continuously target the LTTE military positions in the Wanni and to isolate the airport internationally.

The weapons and suicide kits for this planned operation had reportedly been brought to the Katunayake area already, according to the arrested suspects.

Police believe that several military items, including explosives and suicide kits that were recovered from Kimbulapitiya in Negombo had been brought to carry out the attack on the airport.

The attack had reportedly been planned to be carried out in a similar fashion as of the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base. The plan had been to send two LTTE light aircraft to the Katunayake airport to divert the attention of the defence authorities and launch a ground attack at that moment.

With this development, the security at the airport had been strengthened and the entering of Cars and Vans to the air port had been stopped. Action is to be taken to stop all vehicles entering the airport.

Courtesywww.dailymirror.lk

The Great Sacrifice

Free innocent Tamils or face ban - President to LTTE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today(Dec 22) called on the LTTE that to release all innocent Tamils it is holding hostage, in bondage and using them as human shields, with the dawn of 2009, and allow them to come to the safe areas provided for them by the Government and the Security Forces.

Failure to do this would lead the Government to proscribing the LTTE with all its consequences for the terrorist organization and will ensure that 2009 is the true Year of Heroism for the troops and also see the wiping out of LTTE terrorism from the pages of history.

He said the only enemy faced by the people is the terrorism of LTTE, and that he will not agree to any ceasefire that will strengthen the LTTE in any form.

President Rajapaksa was addressing religious dignitaries, ministers, senior administrators and leading members of the private sector to thank them for the cooperation extended to the government in this year and to inform them of the progress of the military operations against the terrorism of the LTTE and state of the economy of the country. The meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo.

There is only one enemy in the country, and that is terrorism. The Sinhala people are not the enemies of the Tamils, as the Tamils are not the enemy of the Sinhalese. Separatism and terror is the enemy of all, be they Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or Buddhists; Hindus, Christians and followers of Islam. All people should come together in unity to fight the savagery of terrorism.

He told the audience that the people of the country had given him and the government the strength top fight terrorism, and bring the LTTE to the weak position it is in today; the strength to free the motherland from the grip of terror.

"I will not agree to any ceasefire that will strengthen the LTTE in any form" he said.

"The New Year 2009 will be the fourth year with the country under my leadership. There will be very decisive challenges in 2009, to face which there will be the need for the widest unity among all people. 2009 will be the year when the country will be freed from the menace of tiger terrorism. Many evil forces will conspire to prevent the victory against terrorism, but we shall overcome them all. There will be many attempts to create division, crisis and unrest in the country, all of which are targeted at helping the cause of tiger terror. Attempts will be made to create a negative public mood in the battle against terror. But, we will face the biggest challenges and obstacles to make 2009 the Year of Heroic Victory against Terrorism," the President said.

He called on all political parties and forces to unite with the government to defeat terrorism and take the country towards development. This is the message as to the NFF that voted with the government in the last budget, to the JVP that helped me in the victory in the last presidential election and to all patriotic sections within the UNP, too, who should preserve the honour and dignity of their party by joining the government in the great patriotic tasks that lay ahead.

Courtesy: priu.gov.lk

Over 16000 Tamils in Jaffna protest against LTTE terrorism

Tamil civilians in Jaffna today (Dec 21) staged a massive protest against atrocities committed against them by the LTTE terrorists. According to the defence.lk special correspondent in Jaffna, over 16000 civilians marched peacefully from Kaithadi to Chawakachcheri this morning displaying banners and placards with slogans against the LTTE.

The protestors demanded the LTTE to let them live in peace and to free the Tamils held hostage in Wanni LTTE hiding areas.

One participant to the march speaking to defence.lk called the LTTE leader a coward, who is trying to save his life by hiding under shield of innocent civilians.

"All the civilians are in the view that the damaged caused to the Sri Lankan Tamils by the LTTE is irrecoverable. They say that the graveyards are the only achievement of the LTTE" said our correspondent.

"There were many elderly parents who called LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, a curse upon Tamils that devoured generations of Tamil children" he added.

Meanwhile, the protestors took a special note of the support received by the LTTE from the Tamil Diaspora.

"There were many banners requesting the Tamils living aboard to stop funding LTTE and let the Sri Lankan Tamils to live in peace"

"'We are not pawns of your game of tribalism' was the message they wanted to convey to those who support the LTTE", said our correspondent citing the organizers of the protest.

Also, the organizers told defence.lk that the true voice of Sri Lankan Tamils is barred by LTTE hired hands in the international media. They added the world should recognize that the true aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils have nothing to do with fanatic ambitions of the LTTE leader.

"Our protest will continue until the world realizes that Sri Lankan Tamils do not want to be a property of a terrorists outfit" they added.

Army Bags Nadunkerni ; TF4 scores its first battlefield victory

The latest offensive element of Sri Lanka Army, the Task Force 4 has liberated the Nadunkerni town, defence sources reveal. According to the sources, troops following a successful offensive (Dec 20) launched last morning has wrested total control of the town which was under terror clutches for years.

In the line of duty - 2

Successive air strikes rattle LTTE Wanni defences: Retreating sea tigers suffer heavy casualties

Sri Lankan Air force fighter jets made 7 successive air strikes targeting LTTE defences and strategic locations in Wanni, since early this morning (Dec 20), as military sources confirmed heavy damages to terrorists. Heavy payloads were dropped with precision at identified LTTE positions, Air force sources said adding that the sorties were launched in support of Navy and the advancing Task Force -1 and 57 Division troops at the Wa​nni battlefront.

SLAF MIG and K'Fir jets roared in the Eastern Mullaittivu skies since 4.30a.m., as close-combat air strikes were taken at sea tigers who were fleeing for shelter after withdrawing from a pre-dawn major sea battle with Navy off Mullaittivu today. An LTTE arms carrying vessel and 4 attack craft were reported destroyed in the sea confrontation with Navy this morning.

Another air strike was launched at terrorists, 3km North of the Mullaittivu lagoon at around 5.30a.m., Air force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nananyakkara said.

Meanwhile, the Air force strikers made more decisive bombings at terrorist strongpoints located East of Iranamadu junction at 7.20a.m., and 7.50a.m., respectively. At 8a.m., the jets raided another LTTE bunker line located west of Parantan supporting the surging TF-1 infantry battalions.

Later, the Air force jets made two successive air sorties, West and Southwest of Kilinochchi at around 2.30p.m, the Spokesperson further said.

Navy destroys LTTE Logistics Vessel carrying War-like Materials North-east of Mullaithivu

Sri Lanka Navy destroyed a medium-size LTTE logistics vessel carrying a large quantity of war like materials seventy (70) Nautical Miles North-east of Mullaithivu during the early hours today (20th December 2008). The Navy also intercepted a cluster of LTTE boats and destroyed four enemy attack craft, which were abortively attempting to support the enemy logistics vessel, in a separate confrontation off Mullaithivu.

The medium-size enemy logistics vessel had been detected by the Navy's Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) on surveillance mission in deep sea around 0130 hrs and subsequently, the Navy's patrol craft were deployed to intercept and destroy the enemy logistics vessel which was approximately 30 - 40 meters in length. In the ensuing naval fire that lasted for around 30 minutes, the enemy logistics vessel was completely destroyed. It is believed that the enemy vessel was carrying a large quantity of war like materials to the LTTE since it sank engulfed in a ball of fire under the heavy naval fire.

Four more LTTE attack craft, which were fleeing after having been abortively attempted to provide support to the enemy vessel, were also intercepted and destroyed by the Navy off Mullaithivu in a separate confrontation.

Courtesy : Sri Lanka Navy

Two LTTE sea tiger leaders killed in air raids

Two LTTE sea tiger leaders were killed in an air attack launched by the SLAF MI-24 helicopter gun ships targeting LTTE boat movement this morning, 19 December.

Air Force sources confirmed citing Electronic Warfare sources, two woman LTTE sea tiger leaders, Suhandini and Siran, were killed in the air attack launched around 11.45 am targeting LTTE boats in Kilaly lagoon area.

One LTTE boat was completely destroyed while several others sustained damages due to the bombardment, Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

In the line of duty