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* Sri Lanka government to open an escape route for civilians fleeing from Wanni
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 5:04 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 19, Colombo: As heavy fighting continue to escalate in the northern region, 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, media reports said.
“We would open an escape rout for civilians in the Wanni area and would give necessary accommodation,” government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukkwella told media.
He said that the government would create a ‘no war zone’ to facilitate the civilian movements. “We will drop leaflets to educate the public on our strategy which includes escape routes for them like we did when liberating Sampur,” the Minister has said.
Defence spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said some 100 civilians had already crossed over to cleared areas in Mannar and Vavuniya and they have been provided with food and shelter.
He said civilians could cross over to cleared areas using the Omanthai entry/exit point as well as by the sea route in Mannar.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka military said the Army had captured an LTTE bunker line in the Mannar battlefront following heavy clashes killing 10 Tigers and injuring another 20 cadres. Two soldiers were also killed and four were wounded from the fighting on Monday.
"Troops backed by artillery fire captured 600m of the LTTE's bunker line in Mannar," military spokesman Brigadier Nanayakkara said.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Australia being urged to ban LTTE
Prabhakaran is surrounded and has a back to the wall fight. India wants him extradited no sooner we capture him.
He also has the Idi Amin option of leaving Sri Lanka-like Idi Amin who took money and some women with him-he might be able to fade into the sunset. Some say that even Norway might provide him a safe haven. Some want us to encourage Prabhakaran to leave Sri Lanka.
We are now in a position to bring about finality to this crisis. It is also good to know that Australia is thinking seriously about banning the LTTE. Those were some of the thoughts Dr. Palitha Kohona Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs expressed when Asian Tribune interviewed him.
The excerpts of the interview with Dr. Palitha Kohona:
Q: It is said that so far no action has been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the appointment of nine new Consular Generals ?
A: Regarding this problem you should not blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry has done everything. Now the papers are with the Minister.
In fact I reminded them even on Friday. Furthermore it is not nine consuls but it is the appointment of 12 new consuls. I can't remember the name and other details of the 12 appointees right now, but I know there are persons appointed for Poland, Germany and a few other places.
The Minister has with him now 12 documents in his possession. The Ministry has done all its work. Got the clearance, done the recommendations and finally the Minister has to sign them.
Q : After signing, it has to be sent to the High Post Committee for clearance ?
A: No, appointments of Consuls are not sent to High Posts Committee, only Ambassadors go to that Committee.
Q: Is there any move, by the Sri Lankan Government to urge the government of Australia to ban the LTTE ? As you were also earlier a diplomat from the foreign ministry of Australia and the present Australian prime minister was also a diplomat from the ministry. I think it will be easy for you pursue this matter and to explain Sri Lanka's position.
A: We are working on it , in fact I was there in January, and I worked very hard on that subject. Although I was there in January, it was a private visit, but as a Foreign Secretary there is no privacy. People talk to you all the time, especially when they know you. This is the campaign I have been carrying on for some time. And I think we will succeed one of these days.
Q: But so far what are the indications?
A: Indications are good. You know that three Tigers in Australia are now prosecuted in Melbourne ? And if those prosecution succeed and it is quite likely they will prosecute some more. So once that happens, it will be only a matter of time before they are banned.
There was earlier a reason for delaying the banning. It was due to their Parliamentary elections.
The Tigers made it known that if they are banned they threatened the then Government that they will vote for the Labour Party. However the Labour Party has won anyway. I know there is lot of anti-Tigers that worked for the Labour Party. The Tiger influence may have diminished some what.
Q: We learnt that there is a move an international Non-government is trying to open fronts to provide space for LTTE in Australia ?
A: We have to be careful with organisations like this. Sometimes this people promote ideas which are not necessarily anti-Sri Lankan, but if you think in a global sense it is a good idea.
Corporate sector responsibilities are very broad concept. Environmental responsibilities, Labour responsibility, human rights responsibility, I mean it is a very huge and wide concept. So it is not necessarily anti- Sri Lankan.
So what we need to do is, we must make sure that these concepts are not hijacked by the anti-Sri Lankans elements. So we have to participate in conferences like this. Make sure that our views are expressed.
Q: Who is going to participate in these conferences. Some one should come forward ?
A: You are right. It is the very International Alert that funded the rebel movement in Sierra Leone. Not actually funded the rebel movement, but they gave a lot of money to them.
Due to, may be out of sympathy, but then it turned out that they were a bunch of thugs like the LTTE. But on the other hand, International Alert is also very much involved in highlighting corruption in this country. There are good sides to their existence, we should not forget that.
Q: It was said that it was Kumar Rupasinghe was the first Secretary General of the International Alert and he started this organisation ?
A: With the backing of Norway.
Q: There is another story to stay that Norway is making arrangements to provide safe havens to Tiger leader Prabhakaran in Eritrea ?
A: That is a good idea no?
Q: Is it true?
A: We must encourage it. I think it is a solution that I have been proposing for sometime and which is referred internationally as the Idi Amin Solution. You give a lot of money to a guy like that and send him to a country where he can live happily ever after.
Former Uganda's Dictator Idi Amin was given lot of money and was sent to Saudi Arabia with his wives and children.
Q: Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relationship with Eritrea. Is it not possible to find out from them whether it is true that they are going to provide safe haven to Prabhakaran?
A: We have, it does not mean that we are going to send an ambassador there. It means that we have established a diplomatic relationship. It is very hard and very difficult country, the conditions are similar to living in Killinochchi.
Q: If he leaves Sri Lanka to any other country, then he faces the danger of being apprehended by India?
A: Yes, that is his problem. If he leaves Killinochchi, then India will get him for sure.
Q: But if he stays somewhere, keeping a low profile, then he will not have any problem? Is it possible that Sri Lanka encourages him to leave the country by having an agreement with India not to touch him after that?
A: It will be difficult. You know that an Indian court wants him. India is a very legalistic country.
They are not going to ignore their courts. You know they regularly send us notes for Prabhakarn's extradition. And they keep on reminding us to extradite Prabhakaran to India to face charges in the India's Supreme Courts, as he is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi's murder case.
Q: When was the last time you got the note from India for the extradition of Prabhakaran?
A: About three or four months ago. If we catch him, we will send him as the President said, but we have not been able to catch him so far.
Q: Have you responded to them back ?
A: No, we did not, because we don't have the man with us.
Q: Any attempts to catch him with the help of the Indian Army ?
A: I mean there is no formal request as such, but everyone is trying. As a sovereign State we can't do that.
Q: With the help of a group of a 1000 or 2000 commando force from India, and jointly attack and catch him?
A: It is difficult because you know he is well guarded, well surrounded and I think we will need a lot more force than that. That is my assessment.
He also has the Idi Amin option of leaving Sri Lanka-like Idi Amin who took money and some women with him-he might be able to fade into the sunset. Some say that even Norway might provide him a safe haven. Some want us to encourage Prabhakaran to leave Sri Lanka.
We are now in a position to bring about finality to this crisis. It is also good to know that Australia is thinking seriously about banning the LTTE. Those were some of the thoughts Dr. Palitha Kohona Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs expressed when Asian Tribune interviewed him.
The excerpts of the interview with Dr. Palitha Kohona:
Q: It is said that so far no action has been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the appointment of nine new Consular Generals ?
A: Regarding this problem you should not blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry has done everything. Now the papers are with the Minister.
In fact I reminded them even on Friday. Furthermore it is not nine consuls but it is the appointment of 12 new consuls. I can't remember the name and other details of the 12 appointees right now, but I know there are persons appointed for Poland, Germany and a few other places.
The Minister has with him now 12 documents in his possession. The Ministry has done all its work. Got the clearance, done the recommendations and finally the Minister has to sign them.
Q : After signing, it has to be sent to the High Post Committee for clearance ?
A: No, appointments of Consuls are not sent to High Posts Committee, only Ambassadors go to that Committee.
Q: Is there any move, by the Sri Lankan Government to urge the government of Australia to ban the LTTE ? As you were also earlier a diplomat from the foreign ministry of Australia and the present Australian prime minister was also a diplomat from the ministry. I think it will be easy for you pursue this matter and to explain Sri Lanka's position.
A: We are working on it , in fact I was there in January, and I worked very hard on that subject. Although I was there in January, it was a private visit, but as a Foreign Secretary there is no privacy. People talk to you all the time, especially when they know you. This is the campaign I have been carrying on for some time. And I think we will succeed one of these days.
Q: But so far what are the indications?
A: Indications are good. You know that three Tigers in Australia are now prosecuted in Melbourne ? And if those prosecution succeed and it is quite likely they will prosecute some more. So once that happens, it will be only a matter of time before they are banned.
There was earlier a reason for delaying the banning. It was due to their Parliamentary elections.
The Tigers made it known that if they are banned they threatened the then Government that they will vote for the Labour Party. However the Labour Party has won anyway. I know there is lot of anti-Tigers that worked for the Labour Party. The Tiger influence may have diminished some what.
Q: We learnt that there is a move an international Non-government is trying to open fronts to provide space for LTTE in Australia ?
A: We have to be careful with organisations like this. Sometimes this people promote ideas which are not necessarily anti-Sri Lankan, but if you think in a global sense it is a good idea.
Corporate sector responsibilities are very broad concept. Environmental responsibilities, Labour responsibility, human rights responsibility, I mean it is a very huge and wide concept. So it is not necessarily anti- Sri Lankan.
So what we need to do is, we must make sure that these concepts are not hijacked by the anti-Sri Lankans elements. So we have to participate in conferences like this. Make sure that our views are expressed.
Q: Who is going to participate in these conferences. Some one should come forward ?
A: You are right. It is the very International Alert that funded the rebel movement in Sierra Leone. Not actually funded the rebel movement, but they gave a lot of money to them.
Due to, may be out of sympathy, but then it turned out that they were a bunch of thugs like the LTTE. But on the other hand, International Alert is also very much involved in highlighting corruption in this country. There are good sides to their existence, we should not forget that.
Q: It was said that it was Kumar Rupasinghe was the first Secretary General of the International Alert and he started this organisation ?
A: With the backing of Norway.
Q: There is another story to stay that Norway is making arrangements to provide safe havens to Tiger leader Prabhakaran in Eritrea ?
A: That is a good idea no?
Q: Is it true?
A: We must encourage it. I think it is a solution that I have been proposing for sometime and which is referred internationally as the Idi Amin Solution. You give a lot of money to a guy like that and send him to a country where he can live happily ever after.
Former Uganda's Dictator Idi Amin was given lot of money and was sent to Saudi Arabia with his wives and children.
Q: Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relationship with Eritrea. Is it not possible to find out from them whether it is true that they are going to provide safe haven to Prabhakaran?
A: We have, it does not mean that we are going to send an ambassador there. It means that we have established a diplomatic relationship. It is very hard and very difficult country, the conditions are similar to living in Killinochchi.
Q: If he leaves Sri Lanka to any other country, then he faces the danger of being apprehended by India?
A: Yes, that is his problem. If he leaves Killinochchi, then India will get him for sure.
Q: But if he stays somewhere, keeping a low profile, then he will not have any problem? Is it possible that Sri Lanka encourages him to leave the country by having an agreement with India not to touch him after that?
A: It will be difficult. You know that an Indian court wants him. India is a very legalistic country.
They are not going to ignore their courts. You know they regularly send us notes for Prabhakarn's extradition. And they keep on reminding us to extradite Prabhakaran to India to face charges in the India's Supreme Courts, as he is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi's murder case.
Q: When was the last time you got the note from India for the extradition of Prabhakaran?
A: About three or four months ago. If we catch him, we will send him as the President said, but we have not been able to catch him so far.
Q: Have you responded to them back ?
A: No, we did not, because we don't have the man with us.
Q: Any attempts to catch him with the help of the Indian Army ?
A: I mean there is no formal request as such, but everyone is trying. As a sovereign State we can't do that.
Q: With the help of a group of a 1000 or 2000 commando force from India, and jointly attack and catch him?
A: It is difficult because you know he is well guarded, well surrounded and I think we will need a lot more force than that. That is my assessment.
Animal rights group protests LTTE attack on zoo
An international animal rights organisation has protested the bombing of a zoo in Dehiwela in Sri Lanka, allegedly by Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this month.
'In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo,' said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
At least seven people, including two children, were injured, when a grenade kept near the birds' enclosure went off Feb 3.
Newkirk said that animals got caught in the cross fire of wars all over the world and countless animals were being killed either intentionally or accidentally in bomb attacks worldwide.
'In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo,' said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
At least seven people, including two children, were injured, when a grenade kept near the birds' enclosure went off Feb 3.
Newkirk said that animals got caught in the cross fire of wars all over the world and countless animals were being killed either intentionally or accidentally in bomb attacks worldwide.
Monday, February 11, 2008
US lawmakers - Tiger lobby links exposed
US: The US Treasury Department's recent clampdown on the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) accusing it of raising funds on behalf of the designated terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has once again thrown the spotlight on the shadowy 'LTTE lobby' whose access to powerful US lawmakers helped to legitimise this and other Tiger fronts allowing them to operate without let or hindrance for almost a decade, according to the US based Sri Lankan Express.
Investigations show that TRO operatives and individuals whose addresses or phone numbers are linked to the TRO, regularly made contributions to the campaign funds of the very legislators who have actively promoted the separatist cause and been harshly critical of Sri Lanka's war on the Tigers.
"TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), explaining the action taken November 15 to freeze the US held assets of the TRO.
The Treasury said the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of "individual representatives" and that it was the preferred conduit of funds from the US to the LTTE.
Since the TRO 'hung its shingles' in the US, almost 10 years ago, these individual representatives, many of them successful Tamil professionals, have been the LTTE's foot soldiers, active in several states, raising funds while establishing and developing political contacts.
As reported by the Associated Press some time ago, the Chicago Tribune had faxed three pages from a federal indictment involving money laundering to a US Congressman's office which indicated that the trips of two unidentified individuals to Sri Lanka in 2005 were paid with $13,150 laundered through a US bank.
The source of those funds - whether they were raised for 'charity' or extorted from the Tamil diaspora - is not known.
Investigations show that TRO operatives and individuals whose addresses or phone numbers are linked to the TRO, regularly made contributions to the campaign funds of the very legislators who have actively promoted the separatist cause and been harshly critical of Sri Lanka's war on the Tigers.
"TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), explaining the action taken November 15 to freeze the US held assets of the TRO.
The Treasury said the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of "individual representatives" and that it was the preferred conduit of funds from the US to the LTTE.
Since the TRO 'hung its shingles' in the US, almost 10 years ago, these individual representatives, many of them successful Tamil professionals, have been the LTTE's foot soldiers, active in several states, raising funds while establishing and developing political contacts.
As reported by the Associated Press some time ago, the Chicago Tribune had faxed three pages from a federal indictment involving money laundering to a US Congressman's office which indicated that the trips of two unidentified individuals to Sri Lanka in 2005 were paid with $13,150 laundered through a US bank.
The source of those funds - whether they were raised for 'charity' or extorted from the Tamil diaspora - is not known.
Petty Officer Bandara commended by Navy
The brave act and vigilance of Petty Officer NWSI Bandara of the Sri Lanka Navy, had averted a large-scale carnage and mayhem at the Sunday fair in Anuradhapura yesterday (10th February 2008). PO Bandara was commended by the Commander of the Navy for his brave act.
Petty Officer Bandara had made use of the expertise knowledge imparted to him by the Sri Lanka Navy during his qualifying courses leading to his present rank to perform his brave act. Armed with the expertise knowledge and the discipline and self-confidence instilled in him by the Navy instructors, he had carried out the delicate operation of defusing the deadly time bomb with meticulous attention to detail and patient adherence to procedure.
Spotting a time bomb planted by the terrorists at the Sunday fair, Petty Officer Bandara had swiftly cut off the two detonator cords fitted to the bomb seizing a pair of scissors lying near by. The improvised bomb, made with 1.5 kilograms of lethal C 4 explosives and 350 steel balls, was packed in to a plastic can and was wrapped in a shopping bag. It had been placed in between a fruit stall and a bags stall located inside the fair. The bomb was to explode within 05 minutes before its deactivation by the sailor.
The incident happened around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and approximately 4000 people had gathered at the fair to do their Sunday shopping. Petty Officer Bandra, who is attached to the Kondachchikudah Naval Sub Unit in Silawathura, had been at the fair with his wife shopping while on leave.
Petty Officer Bandara had made use of the expertise knowledge imparted to him by the Sri Lanka Navy during his qualifying courses leading to his present rank to perform his brave act. Armed with the expertise knowledge and the discipline and self-confidence instilled in him by the Navy instructors, he had carried out the delicate operation of defusing the deadly time bomb with meticulous attention to detail and patient adherence to procedure.
Spotting a time bomb planted by the terrorists at the Sunday fair, Petty Officer Bandara had swiftly cut off the two detonator cords fitted to the bomb seizing a pair of scissors lying near by. The improvised bomb, made with 1.5 kilograms of lethal C 4 explosives and 350 steel balls, was packed in to a plastic can and was wrapped in a shopping bag. It had been placed in between a fruit stall and a bags stall located inside the fair. The bomb was to explode within 05 minutes before its deactivation by the sailor.
The incident happened around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and approximately 4000 people had gathered at the fair to do their Sunday shopping. Petty Officer Bandra, who is attached to the Kondachchikudah Naval Sub Unit in Silawathura, had been at the fair with his wife shopping while on leave.
Tigers exploit Madhu No Fire Zone
The LTTE has reverted to the tactic of taking cover of the 'No Fire Zone' in the holy Madhu shrine area as they got a heavy beating in the Vavuniya and Mannar fronts losing a large number of their cadres, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday.
The LTTE resorted to this tactic on Saturday afternoon directing 81 mm mortar fire towards the troops in the Mannar sector taking the cover of the Madhu shrine area at 4.47 p.m. and 4.49 p.m.
However, troops refrained from retaliating in honour of their commitment to protect religious places during these confrontations.
This was amidst the LTTE was getting heavy beatings at the hand of the troops in Vavuniya, Mannar, Weli Oya and Jaffna battlefronts on Saturday.
"More than 15 Tiger cadres were killed on Saturday morning as troops were advancing toward Periyapandivirichchan," Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
The LTTE fired mortar at the troops hours after the heavy losses in Periyapandivirichchan close to Madhu area. Three soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in action during this fierce battle in Periyapandivirichchan which is located some three kilometres south of Madhu shrine.
Tiger cadres operating in Periyapandivirichchan had withdrawn from the area along with their casualties after this fierce battle.
According to military sources the LTTE seems to have been highly disturbed by this situation as the advancing troops are poised to take full control of the Madhu area after they capture Periyapandivirichchan area.
The troops in Mullikulam area also confronted with Tiger cadres in three different incidents killing at least nine Tiger cadres.
Six soldiers also sustained injuries due to LTTE anti-personnel mines LTTE in Mullikulam and Thalayankulam. Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted in Mannar sector too on Saturday as troops attached to Task Force-1 continued their advance in the Adampan area.
The troops in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in the Jaffna battle front also killed seven LTTE cadres after confronting them in three separate incidents on Saturday, Brigadier Nanayakkara added
The LTTE resorted to this tactic on Saturday afternoon directing 81 mm mortar fire towards the troops in the Mannar sector taking the cover of the Madhu shrine area at 4.47 p.m. and 4.49 p.m.
However, troops refrained from retaliating in honour of their commitment to protect religious places during these confrontations.
This was amidst the LTTE was getting heavy beatings at the hand of the troops in Vavuniya, Mannar, Weli Oya and Jaffna battlefronts on Saturday.
"More than 15 Tiger cadres were killed on Saturday morning as troops were advancing toward Periyapandivirichchan," Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
The LTTE fired mortar at the troops hours after the heavy losses in Periyapandivirichchan close to Madhu area. Three soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in action during this fierce battle in Periyapandivirichchan which is located some three kilometres south of Madhu shrine.
Tiger cadres operating in Periyapandivirichchan had withdrawn from the area along with their casualties after this fierce battle.
According to military sources the LTTE seems to have been highly disturbed by this situation as the advancing troops are poised to take full control of the Madhu area after they capture Periyapandivirichchan area.
The troops in Mullikulam area also confronted with Tiger cadres in three different incidents killing at least nine Tiger cadres.
Six soldiers also sustained injuries due to LTTE anti-personnel mines LTTE in Mullikulam and Thalayankulam. Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted in Mannar sector too on Saturday as troops attached to Task Force-1 continued their advance in the Adampan area.
The troops in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in the Jaffna battle front also killed seven LTTE cadres after confronting them in three separate incidents on Saturday, Brigadier Nanayakkara added
When will Prabhakaran understand human sorrow?
M. Wasantha faints ... murmurs ...cries and looks at the main door. She does not care about flashing cameras or microphones and journalists or TV crews, who time to time try to get her views. She is in the news. Her son who was her pet has made her prominent at the cost of his life.
Still unable to believe that her son is no more, she waits untill he comes running asking for his favourite dish which he did not eat that Friday, the day he worshipped and hugged her last.
Wasantha's 17-year-old son Rajarathnem Radeeswaran did not know any difference between Sinhalese and Tamils but knew that both were having red blood. Being the only Tamil member of the D.S. Senanayake baseball team he knew the warmth of friendship but not the enmity.
On that fateful day, this sportsman who brought to the family many hopes of a better future, breath his last when a suicide female bomber blew herself in front of him and his base ball buddies, at the Colombo railway station last Sunday. Proving that there are no differences between humanity, Radeeswaran played together with the Sinhala dominated base ball team of the school while so-called saviours of his own nationality blast bombs, attacking innocent children and also using children younger to him as human shields and soldiers in a desperate attempt to fence a piece of land in this country.
The LTTE terrorists, yes of course, do not care for their own people, whom they claim that the outfit is taking care of. Radeeswaran's family which mourns with their Sinhalese friends poses a question where the whole conflict will take a new dimension if the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabakaran can understand.
Still unable to believe that her son is no more, she waits untill he comes running asking for his favourite dish which he did not eat that Friday, the day he worshipped and hugged her last.
Wasantha's 17-year-old son Rajarathnem Radeeswaran did not know any difference between Sinhalese and Tamils but knew that both were having red blood. Being the only Tamil member of the D.S. Senanayake baseball team he knew the warmth of friendship but not the enmity.
On that fateful day, this sportsman who brought to the family many hopes of a better future, breath his last when a suicide female bomber blew herself in front of him and his base ball buddies, at the Colombo railway station last Sunday. Proving that there are no differences between humanity, Radeeswaran played together with the Sinhala dominated base ball team of the school while so-called saviours of his own nationality blast bombs, attacking innocent children and also using children younger to him as human shields and soldiers in a desperate attempt to fence a piece of land in this country.
The LTTE terrorists, yes of course, do not care for their own people, whom they claim that the outfit is taking care of. Radeeswaran's family which mourns with their Sinhalese friends poses a question where the whole conflict will take a new dimension if the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabakaran can understand.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Eight civilians killed and over 100 injured in LTTE bomb blast- Colombo
LTTE terrorists carried out cowardly bomb blast targeting innocent civilians at the Fort Railway station this afternoon (February 3). Eight people have been killed and over 100 others suffered injuries as a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up on the third platform of the railway station around 2.10 p.m, said the defence sources.
According to the sources in the Colombo National Hospital, eight bodies are lying at the hospital and 95 are presently under going treatment at the hospital. 10 of the injured are in critical conditions while four of them have been already taken to the theatre for immediate surgeries, the sources added.
According to the available information the explosion was carried out by a female suicide bomber who had get down from a train reached to the Fort railway station.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that fights for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. It operates on an ideology based on extreme tribalism and carries out genocides against Sri Lankan citizens by way of bomb blasts, ethnic cleansing raids, suicide attacks, assassinations etc. However, the outfit as a policy never claim responsibility for any of its egregious crimes and also uses its agents in media to turn the blame of the crimes towards some other party.
Defence observers say that the recent attacks by LTTE terrorist in the South bear clear indications of the outfit's desperation over the ignominious defeats that it is presently encountering at the Northern battlefronts. They also highlight the need of national solidarity at this crucial moment to bring an end this brutal terrorism.
Speaking to the defence.lk a senior defence official said that several thousand lives have already been saved due to the unstinting support given by the civilians to the security forces to discover huge amount of bombs that the terrorists tried to emplace in the South during last few years. Had it not for the vigilance of the civilians and for the stern measures that has been taken by the security forces to curb terrorism, the LTTE must have already massacred several thousands of civilians in the South, he added.
Speaking further he said that, it is so unfortunate that some terrorists' sympathisers were given the opportunity to restrict security forces' counter terrorists operations positing bogus fundamental right issues. He said that it is high time for the public to understand that it is the future of their nation and their lives that have been put at stake by these bogus "rights" activists who thrive on "blood money".
According to the sources in the Colombo National Hospital, eight bodies are lying at the hospital and 95 are presently under going treatment at the hospital. 10 of the injured are in critical conditions while four of them have been already taken to the theatre for immediate surgeries, the sources added.
According to the available information the explosion was carried out by a female suicide bomber who had get down from a train reached to the Fort railway station.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that fights for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. It operates on an ideology based on extreme tribalism and carries out genocides against Sri Lankan citizens by way of bomb blasts, ethnic cleansing raids, suicide attacks, assassinations etc. However, the outfit as a policy never claim responsibility for any of its egregious crimes and also uses its agents in media to turn the blame of the crimes towards some other party.
Defence observers say that the recent attacks by LTTE terrorist in the South bear clear indications of the outfit's desperation over the ignominious defeats that it is presently encountering at the Northern battlefronts. They also highlight the need of national solidarity at this crucial moment to bring an end this brutal terrorism.
Speaking to the defence.lk a senior defence official said that several thousand lives have already been saved due to the unstinting support given by the civilians to the security forces to discover huge amount of bombs that the terrorists tried to emplace in the South during last few years. Had it not for the vigilance of the civilians and for the stern measures that has been taken by the security forces to curb terrorism, the LTTE must have already massacred several thousands of civilians in the South, he added.
Speaking further he said that, it is so unfortunate that some terrorists' sympathisers were given the opportunity to restrict security forces' counter terrorists operations positing bogus fundamental right issues. He said that it is high time for the public to understand that it is the future of their nation and their lives that have been put at stake by these bogus "rights" activists who thrive on "blood money".
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Asian nations to interact on migrant worker rights
Regional heads in Asia have come up with a co-ordinated effort to protect migrant worker rights and welfare in the region, according to decisions taken at the recently concluded “Colombo Process” convention in Dubai.
According to Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, member countries had agreed to have better interaction to minimise abuse against migrant workers.
Accordingly a proper mechanism has been proposed to look into the work of private employment agencies, employers and tough measures have been proposed to deter possible offenders.
Also special emphasis has been laid on the proper payment of migrant worker wages and also regarding exorbitant fees charged by private employment agencies, with the members agreeing on Government intervention over such matters.
Also it has come up with several proposals to uplift foreign employment promotion in the region with the focus on better skilled manpower.
The Minister said the member countries had agreed to launch a co-ordinated effort to train skilled workers for various sectors considering the high demand for such manpower in the region and beyond.
According to Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, member countries had agreed to have better interaction to minimise abuse against migrant workers.
Accordingly a proper mechanism has been proposed to look into the work of private employment agencies, employers and tough measures have been proposed to deter possible offenders.
Also special emphasis has been laid on the proper payment of migrant worker wages and also regarding exorbitant fees charged by private employment agencies, with the members agreeing on Government intervention over such matters.
Also it has come up with several proposals to uplift foreign employment promotion in the region with the focus on better skilled manpower.
The Minister said the member countries had agreed to launch a co-ordinated effort to train skilled workers for various sectors considering the high demand for such manpower in the region and beyond.
Yachtsmen arrested for shooting at fishing boats
A fisherman was slightly injured when some foreigners on a yachting cruise fired warning shots towards some fishing boats, 30 nautical miles off Kirinda, Maharawana fort on Tuesday night.
A German couple and another German and Brazilian sailing on two yachts from the Andaman, Nicobar Islands to Kochin had observed some boats approaching towards their yachts, 30 nautical miles off Maharawana fort.
“The sailors on the two yachts fired warning shots but the boats failed to respond and were speeding towards the yachts. The sailors fired two warning shots below the fishing boats and had injured a fisherman in the arm”, Navy Spokesman Commander D.P.K.Dassanayake said.
The Navy later reached the location and arrested the fishermen and the sailors and handed them over to the police. “The injured fisherman was admitted to the Karapitiya hospital”, he added.
A German couple and another German and Brazilian sailing on two yachts from the Andaman, Nicobar Islands to Kochin had observed some boats approaching towards their yachts, 30 nautical miles off Maharawana fort.
“The sailors on the two yachts fired warning shots but the boats failed to respond and were speeding towards the yachts. The sailors fired two warning shots below the fishing boats and had injured a fisherman in the arm”, Navy Spokesman Commander D.P.K.Dassanayake said.
The Navy later reached the location and arrested the fishermen and the sailors and handed them over to the police. “The injured fisherman was admitted to the Karapitiya hospital”, he added.
Lanka sixth in Australia's immigrant intake
Australia's migrant intake is surging towards 200,000 a year, a quarter of whom head to Victoria.
New Zealanders, Britons and Indians are leading the boom, according to the latest Immigration Department figures.
Almost 192,000 permanent migrant visas were issued in 2006-07, up 6.7 per cent on 2005-06.
These included more than 51,000 visas given to those already living here, says the report, Immigration Update 2006-07.
The intake is the biggest since the mass migration of the late 1960s.
Australia arguably now has the world's highest per capita migrant programme.
Traditional rival Canada currently has a lower annual rate than Australia. Victoria welcomed more than 48,000 migrants last year, most settling in Melbourne.
About 55 per cent of this intake was Asian-born; fewer than 15 per cent of arrivals were from Europe.
The top source country by birthplace was India, followed by New Zealand, China and Britain, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sudan, and Iraq. Monash University migration expert Dr Bob Birrell said the influx was staggering, especially given that the figures didn't include foreigners living here on temporary visas.
Dr Birrell said the nation was experiencing a population "perfect storm" as high migration coincided with a baby boom.
"This is the legacy that the former Coalition Government has bequeathed to Labor," he said.
Dr Birrell said that while Sydney was still attracting more migrants than Melbourne, Victoria's capital was growing faster because far fewer people were leaving it to settle in other parts of Australia.
"Sydney has serious congestion problems and a high cost of doing business, which is slowing jobs growth," he said.
Of 48,861 migrant visas issued in Victoria last year, just over half were in the skilled category.
More than 10,000 visas went to spouses or fiancees of residents. About 3600 people arriving in Victoria won visas under the humanitarian program. Herald Sun
New Zealanders, Britons and Indians are leading the boom, according to the latest Immigration Department figures.
Almost 192,000 permanent migrant visas were issued in 2006-07, up 6.7 per cent on 2005-06.
These included more than 51,000 visas given to those already living here, says the report, Immigration Update 2006-07.
The intake is the biggest since the mass migration of the late 1960s.
Australia arguably now has the world's highest per capita migrant programme.
Traditional rival Canada currently has a lower annual rate than Australia. Victoria welcomed more than 48,000 migrants last year, most settling in Melbourne.
About 55 per cent of this intake was Asian-born; fewer than 15 per cent of arrivals were from Europe.
The top source country by birthplace was India, followed by New Zealand, China and Britain, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sudan, and Iraq. Monash University migration expert Dr Bob Birrell said the influx was staggering, especially given that the figures didn't include foreigners living here on temporary visas.
Dr Birrell said the nation was experiencing a population "perfect storm" as high migration coincided with a baby boom.
"This is the legacy that the former Coalition Government has bequeathed to Labor," he said.
Dr Birrell said that while Sydney was still attracting more migrants than Melbourne, Victoria's capital was growing faster because far fewer people were leaving it to settle in other parts of Australia.
"Sydney has serious congestion problems and a high cost of doing business, which is slowing jobs growth," he said.
Of 48,861 migrant visas issued in Victoria last year, just over half were in the skilled category.
More than 10,000 visas went to spouses or fiancees of residents. About 3600 people arriving in Victoria won visas under the humanitarian program. Herald Sun
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Japan, ADB to support rural road project in poorest districts in Sri Lanka
MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Japan and the Asian Development Bank are supporting a pilot project that will combine rural road work and the creation of income-generating opportunities in the poorest districts of Sri Lanka, the bank said in a release.
The project will be funded by a 2 mln usd grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to be managed by ADB and the Sri Lankan government and project beneficiaries will contribute 245,000 usd to complete the funding requirement, ADB added.
The improvement of rural access roads and livelihood development for the poor project will rehabilitate about 200 kilometres of rural access roads with community participation in Badulla, Monaragala and Ratnapura, the poorest districts in Sri Lanka.
The non-governmental organizations will also provide training for self-employment programs to 2,000 beneficiaries in the three target districts.
The assistance was in response to the request made by Sri Lanka to ADB for the development of an innovative project on a pilot basis to address the present poverty in the three target districts by improving their rural access roads.
'Although ADB finances the improvement of national and provincial roads, it has not yet financed improvement of rural access roads in Sri Lanka by generating income opportunities for poor village people,' said TM Tilakaratne, Implementation/Program Officer of ADB's Resident Mission in Sri Lanka.
'Lessons learned from the project could be applied to rural community development programs implemented by the government and other donors in other districts,' he added.
The project will be funded by a 2 mln usd grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to be managed by ADB and the Sri Lankan government and project beneficiaries will contribute 245,000 usd to complete the funding requirement, ADB added.
The improvement of rural access roads and livelihood development for the poor project will rehabilitate about 200 kilometres of rural access roads with community participation in Badulla, Monaragala and Ratnapura, the poorest districts in Sri Lanka.
The non-governmental organizations will also provide training for self-employment programs to 2,000 beneficiaries in the three target districts.
The assistance was in response to the request made by Sri Lanka to ADB for the development of an innovative project on a pilot basis to address the present poverty in the three target districts by improving their rural access roads.
'Although ADB finances the improvement of national and provincial roads, it has not yet financed improvement of rural access roads in Sri Lanka by generating income opportunities for poor village people,' said TM Tilakaratne, Implementation/Program Officer of ADB's Resident Mission in Sri Lanka.
'Lessons learned from the project could be applied to rural community development programs implemented by the government and other donors in other districts,' he added.
Sri Lanka’s Hatton wants 5 million customers
Rajendra Theagarajah, the managing director of Hatton National Bank (HNB), is keen to ride on the coattails of Sri Lankan banks going global.
More corporates from the island are beginning to explore overseas opportunities by sourcing materials from other countries and outsourcing production around Asia. This is good news for Theagarajah, as growing local corporates can provide more lucrative fee-based business.
“Once these guys go global, the diversity in terms of political and country risk becomes manageable and they become more sought after [by investors],” he says. “So, I think we have a strategy to follow some of these big players.” Although the bank is already the country’s fourth-largest with over SLR237 billion ($2.2 billion) in assets, it clearly has its eye on a bigger prize than the Sri Lankan market.
Theagarajah has his eye on commodity exporters. He says they are getting smarter about branding, marketing and distribution. “This is where we feel our investment banking and corporate finance expertise can come in to convince some of these private family-owned businesses to give up part of their ownership and pursue a public listing,” says Theagarajah.
The alternative, he says, is to encourage them to raise funds through convertibles or private placements so these businesses can harness the potential of their balance sheets rather than relying on traditional bank financing to grow them.
The bank also wants to tap into Sri Lanka’s army of SMEs. The bank is keen to educate small business owners to help develop their businesses. “Traditionally, Sri Lanka has been an asset-backed lending environment, and we are slowly and steadily getting into cash flow lending,” says Theagarajah. The bank has developed more sophisticated risk management tools together with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector investment arm of The World Bank, to keep a check on its SME borrowers.
More corporates from the island are beginning to explore overseas opportunities by sourcing materials from other countries and outsourcing production around Asia. This is good news for Theagarajah, as growing local corporates can provide more lucrative fee-based business.
“Once these guys go global, the diversity in terms of political and country risk becomes manageable and they become more sought after [by investors],” he says. “So, I think we have a strategy to follow some of these big players.” Although the bank is already the country’s fourth-largest with over SLR237 billion ($2.2 billion) in assets, it clearly has its eye on a bigger prize than the Sri Lankan market.
Theagarajah has his eye on commodity exporters. He says they are getting smarter about branding, marketing and distribution. “This is where we feel our investment banking and corporate finance expertise can come in to convince some of these private family-owned businesses to give up part of their ownership and pursue a public listing,” says Theagarajah.
The alternative, he says, is to encourage them to raise funds through convertibles or private placements so these businesses can harness the potential of their balance sheets rather than relying on traditional bank financing to grow them.
The bank also wants to tap into Sri Lanka’s army of SMEs. The bank is keen to educate small business owners to help develop their businesses. “Traditionally, Sri Lanka has been an asset-backed lending environment, and we are slowly and steadily getting into cash flow lending,” says Theagarajah. The bank has developed more sophisticated risk management tools together with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector investment arm of The World Bank, to keep a check on its SME borrowers.
Sri Lanka Air Force destroys LTTE nerve center, ‘X-ray Base'
Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets this morning bombed a frequent visiting place of the LTTE leader in Kilinochchi, known as "X-ray Base". Air Force fighter jets in a low flying mission have targeted the base located east of Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area, with pin point accuracy, the Defense Ministry said.
Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said the air sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and ground reconnaissance. “We believed he (Prabha) was in the base and no confirmation on his condition or whereabouts after the raid,” the spokesperson added.
Defence intelligence sources said that the air raid was timed with a “special” activity that was going on at the LTTE base. Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit. However, the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained.
The target was located in a thick jungle patch, north of LTTE’s “runaway” in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a “high security zone” and a ‘no go’ area for civilians, the sources added.
Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said the air sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and ground reconnaissance. “We believed he (Prabha) was in the base and no confirmation on his condition or whereabouts after the raid,” the spokesperson added.
Defence intelligence sources said that the air raid was timed with a “special” activity that was going on at the LTTE base. Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit. However, the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained.
The target was located in a thick jungle patch, north of LTTE’s “runaway” in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a “high security zone” and a ‘no go’ area for civilians, the sources added.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
LTTE conspirator sentenced to 57 months in US
A US District Court has 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 USA, by US District Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore, Maryland yesterday.
US Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced that Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa has been sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempted exportation of arms and munitions.
Varatharasa will be deported from the United States after serving his sentence of incarceration.
Rosenstein said: “We are using undercover operations targeting people who attempt to obtain military weapons in violation of American law and all other available legal tools to prevent terrorism.”
According to his plea agreement, from April to September 29, 2006 Varatharasa conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Osman and Erick Wotulo to export state-of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to the LTTE to be used to fight against Sri Lankan Government Forces.
The sentence was imposed on Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, a Sri Lankan resident in the USA, by US District Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore, Maryland yesterday.
US Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced that Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa has been sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempted exportation of arms and munitions.
Varatharasa will be deported from the United States after serving his sentence of incarceration.
Rosenstein said: “We are using undercover operations targeting people who attempt to obtain military weapons in violation of American law and all other available legal tools to prevent terrorism.”
According to his plea agreement, from April to September 29, 2006 Varatharasa conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Osman and Erick Wotulo to export state-of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to the LTTE to be used to fight against Sri Lankan Government Forces.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Claymore explosion targeting government minister ; 11 wounded- Ja-Ela
A claymore bomb has been triggered off targeting a VIP motorcade carrying a non-cabinet minister of Nation Building, D.M Dassanayake, at Ja-Ela around 10.35 this morning, January 08.
According to the available information the motorcade was plying towards Colombo along the Negombo - Colombo (A-3) main road when the explosion occurred near the Rukmani Devi junction, defence sources said.
Latest information said that minister D.M Dassanayake and four others who sustained severe injuries are now being treated at the Intensive Care Unit at Ragama Teaching hospital. The Director of the Ragama hospital speaking exclusively to defence.lk said six others were also admitted following the explosion.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Boost for Lanka-Maldives ties
Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Shahid who arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday on a two-day official visit, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.
The discussions with the Sri Lankan leaders centered on a range of bilateral issues including further strengthening of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.
Further, matters of common interest within the framework of SAARC and 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka also featured in the discussions.
The leaders expressed satisfaction over the rapidly increasing interaction between the two countries, especially since President Rajapaka’s state visit to the Maldives in 2007, which was followed by a number of Ministerial and officials’ level visits between the two countries.
Dr. Abdullah Shahid was appointed as the Foreign Minister in August 2007 and this is his first official visit to Sri Lanka as Foreign Minister.
The discussions with the Sri Lankan leaders centered on a range of bilateral issues including further strengthening of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.
Further, matters of common interest within the framework of SAARC and 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka also featured in the discussions.
The leaders expressed satisfaction over the rapidly increasing interaction between the two countries, especially since President Rajapaka’s state visit to the Maldives in 2007, which was followed by a number of Ministerial and officials’ level visits between the two countries.
Dr. Abdullah Shahid was appointed as the Foreign Minister in August 2007 and this is his first official visit to Sri Lanka as Foreign Minister.
Govt. to present political proposals soon
The Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is fully capable of presenting a set of political proposals that satisfy and receive the consent of all. The Government will present this set of political proposals shortly, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.
Addressing the media at his office in Colombo yesterday, Minister Bogollagama said the main objective of the Government is achieving sustainable stability and peace.
The APRC is now in its final stage of drafting proposals. The Government is not focusing on banning the LTTE at the moment and the doors are always open for talks, he said.
Explaining the background and related issues to the abrogation of the CFA, Minister Bogollagama said the abrogation of the CFA does not mean that the facilitation extended by the Norwegian Government to the Sri Lankan Government also ends with it.
The Government immensely values the contribution of the facilitators, Co-chairs and the international community towards negotiations, the Minister said.
The diplomatic community understood the facts and agreed with the Government’s decision to abrogate the CFA, he said.
The Government decided to abrogate the CFA after carefully considering the ground realities, all unfolding events and acting honestly in a realistic way.
Addressing the media at his office in Colombo yesterday, Minister Bogollagama said the main objective of the Government is achieving sustainable stability and peace.
The APRC is now in its final stage of drafting proposals. The Government is not focusing on banning the LTTE at the moment and the doors are always open for talks, he said.
Explaining the background and related issues to the abrogation of the CFA, Minister Bogollagama said the abrogation of the CFA does not mean that the facilitation extended by the Norwegian Government to the Sri Lankan Government also ends with it.
The Government immensely values the contribution of the facilitators, Co-chairs and the international community towards negotiations, the Minister said.
The diplomatic community understood the facts and agreed with the Government’s decision to abrogate the CFA, he said.
The Government decided to abrogate the CFA after carefully considering the ground realities, all unfolding events and acting honestly in a realistic way.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Cancer Institute gets new ward complex
Urban and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardana inaugurated the construction of the three storeyed ward complex for Maharagama Cancer Institute which was estimated to cost Rs. 60 million. Australian High Commissioner Greg French also participated.
The patients of the Cancer Institute are undergoing immense difficulties due to the lack of sufficient beds and rooms. Over eight hundred cancer patients are receiving residential treatment in the Cancer Institute but there are only 600 beds, the hospital sources said.
The construction of new ward complex will accommodate more patients and ease the prevaling congestion.
The patients of the Cancer Institute are undergoing immense difficulties due to the lack of sufficient beds and rooms. Over eight hundred cancer patients are receiving residential treatment in the Cancer Institute but there are only 600 beds, the hospital sources said.
The construction of new ward complex will accommodate more patients and ease the prevaling congestion.
Forces' Chiefs predict Tiger extinction in 2008
The Tri-Forces Commanders yesterday expressed confidence that 2008 would be a decisive year in their effort of eliminating terrorism from Sri Lanka since they were already on course towards accomplishing this task by next year.
Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka who has already announced his intention of shifting the current battles to a decisive phase in August next year, expressed confidence of achieving the mission by reducing the existing number of Tiger cadres to 2,000.
"Considering the number of Tiger cadres that get killed each day in the Wanni front and in Jaffna, this task can be achieved soon," the Army Commander added.
"We can bring the war against the LTTE to a turning point once we are able to destroy the LTTE capabilities to operate in bunkers and FDLs," he added.
"Then it would be a case of hunting down the Tiger cadres in the jungles", the Army Commander added.
He said it would be difficult for Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to engage in a game of hide and seek for long since the Air Force is taking each and every hideout of the LTTE in the Wanni.
He also explained that the Army was ready to take on this task with the formation of five offensive Divisions in the Army to face an estimated 5,000 Tiger cadres left in the Wanni.
Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke also expressed confidence that the task of totally defeating the LTTE in 2008 was high.
Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka who has already announced his intention of shifting the current battles to a decisive phase in August next year, expressed confidence of achieving the mission by reducing the existing number of Tiger cadres to 2,000.
"Considering the number of Tiger cadres that get killed each day in the Wanni front and in Jaffna, this task can be achieved soon," the Army Commander added.
"We can bring the war against the LTTE to a turning point once we are able to destroy the LTTE capabilities to operate in bunkers and FDLs," he added.
"Then it would be a case of hunting down the Tiger cadres in the jungles", the Army Commander added.
He said it would be difficult for Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to engage in a game of hide and seek for long since the Air Force is taking each and every hideout of the LTTE in the Wanni.
He also explained that the Army was ready to take on this task with the formation of five offensive Divisions in the Army to face an estimated 5,000 Tiger cadres left in the Wanni.
Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke also expressed confidence that the task of totally defeating the LTTE in 2008 was high.
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