Air strikes on a LTTE sea tiger camp

Air force fighter jets carried out an air strike on a LTTE sea tiger camp in 4km North to NAYARU area today(09) around 3.30pm.

Air force confirms that the air strikes are total success.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=13073

Government troops captured 14 base in Mullaitievu

The security forces have entered Mullaitievu and they have already taken control of the One Four Base Camp where the LTTE leader at one time was hiding. The forces captured the camp yesterday after the sudden attack. The troops are in complete control of the area.

Meanwhile defence sources say the Sri Lanka Air Force attacked a LTTE bunker in the North of Alankumala area in this morning.

Air Force Media Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara says the attack was launched around 11 AM today using MI 24 fighter craft. Air force pilots have confirmed that the attack was successful.

The Media Centre for National Security says 17 LTTE terrorists were killed in clashes with the security forces in the past 24 hours in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Welioya. The Army has recovered a corpse of terrorist and several military equipments.

Extracted from,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11686

LTTE lists 21,051 as Fallen Heroes

The LTTE in the latest release by its Hero’s department has claimed that the rebels have lost 21,051 carders in the quest for a separate state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 21,051 carders include 16,516 males and 4,535 females. The period cited for the deaths cover 26 years from November 27, 1982 to 31 May 2008. The Tamil Tigers lost their first carder Lt. Shankar on November 27, 1982, widely celebrated by the LTTE as Heroes’ Day.

The death list also include 348 Black Tigers, of which 256 are males 97 females, with 102 being killed in land operations and 251 in sea operations. The release said the Sea Tigers are considered an effective conventional arm of the LTTE, capable of crippling Sri Lanka’s sea operations.

The Hero’s release also lists 279 auxiliary forces members, 47 Police personals who died on operational duties in the death list, and adds that another 490 civil society members who were killed by the government forces or the Para military forces for their commitment for the Tamil Cause have also been listed as Heroes. This includes 19 Mamanithar, a title often conferred posthumously by LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran.

In the first five months of 2008, the Tamil Tigers lost 918 carders- 616 males and 302 females –the Hero’s release said, adding that since the current pace of the war intensified in 2006 the Tigers had lost 1004 carders, of which 745 males and 259 and in 2007 they had lost 1196 carders including 1037 males and 159 females

Read more,
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=134266252

CBI seeking details of LTTE financier

Even after 17 years, the CBI has not left its pursuit to unravel the conspiracy behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and recently an agency team was here seeking banking details of alleged LTTE financier Kumaran Padmanathan.

Diplomatic sources here said that CBI Director Vijay Shanker held talks with his German counterpart and Federal agency Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) chief Jorg Ziercke.

During the talks, they said, the CBI took up the matter of financial transactions of Sri Lankan national Padmanathan or “KP,” who was alleged to be a major gun-runner for the LTTE.

The talks were part of the bilateral exchanges between the two countries to pave the way for signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, besides being a return visit by the CBI Director in response to an invitation extended by his German counterpart when he had visited India last year.

Read more,
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/09/stories/2008060959001400.htm

Croatian muscle for Lankan Navy

Sri Lanka and Croatia are exploring the possibility of setting up a joint venture to build ships for the SLN.

Authoritative sources said Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda during a recent visit to Croatia had discussed the proposed venture which would also involve the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL).

Karannagoda’s visit had been preceded by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake’s tour of Croatia, the sources said, expressing confidence the project would be a reality and facilitate Sri Lanka’s efforts to enhance the operational capacity and capability of the SLN.

The SLN destroyed eight LTTE floating arsenals in separate operations conducted on the high seas beginning September 2006 to early October 2007. The sources said although the SLN had maximised the use of available assets to weaken the enemy’s ability to bring in fresh consignments of arms and ammunition, the need to acquire additional platforms couldn’t be further delayed, the sources said.

The sources said the SLN needed a range of vessels to strengthen the existing fleet to thwart Sea Tiger operations on the high seas and in the Palk Straits. A bilateral agreement between the two countries to build fighting vessels would be advantageous to Sri Lanka, a senior official said.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/06/09/news1.html

NFF indefinitely postpones inaugural rally

The National Freedom Front has indefinitely postponed its inaugural rally that was scheduled to be held on June 12th at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Theatre in Nugegoda, its General Secretary Nandana Gunatilake said.

The NFF arrived at the decision after advice by defence authorities against holding any public meeting in view of the prevailing security situation, he said.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/politics/20080608125052.php

JNP calls for All Party Defence Committee

In the backdrop of increased threats on civilian security, the Jathika Nidhahas Peramuna (JNP) headed by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa yesterday called for the setting up of an All Party Defence Committee to ensure public safety.

Addressing the media, Weerawansa said the cornered Tigers were now resorting to attacking soft targets such as the vulnerable public transport, to divert attention from the northern front where it was facing an imminent defeat.

The JNP identified three reasons which they claimed was the intention behind the LTTE's series of attacks on civilian targets.

The first was to create a climate of fear among the public and in turn force the Government to agree to another ceasefire agreement to gain some breathing space for the terrorists.

The second was to divert attention and force the security establishment to deploy a large military contingent in the city and suburbs, thus preventing attempts by Security Forces in their march ahead and to open an alternative route to A-9 road.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/06/09/pol01.asp

IPL is the world's best tournament: Jayasuriya

Hailing the opportunity to open with Sachin Tendulkar at the recently concluded Indian Premier League as "a big achievement", Sri Lanka's dashing opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya has said he had "learnt a lot" from the maestro.

"I found that even after being in the game for a long time I still had a lot to learn by talking to Sachin. His cricket knowledge was amazing," Jayasuriya said in an interview with local private radio Hiru FM.

The 38-year-old left-handed former Sri Lanka captain, who has scored over 10,000 runs in the one-day internationals, played for Mumbai Indians under Sachin's captaincy and hammered the second fastest century (unbeaten), in addition to five half centuries in the IPL 20-20 tournament.

"He (Sachin) is a great human being and an excellent captain. Myself and Dilhara (Fernando) were able to learn a lot from him," Jayasuriya said, describing the IPL series as "the best tournament" he had ever seen by all standards.

Read more,
http://sify.com/sports/fullstory.php?id=14690322