7:27 PM

Security News

At least 19 LTTE terrorists were killed and 9 others reported wounded during battles ensued between troops and LTTE in general area Akkarayankulama, in the Southwestern perimeters of Kilinochchi on Tuesday (Oct 7), according to Wanni military sources.

Troops acting on information found a complete explosive jacket worn by LTTE suicide cadres, 2 claymore mines and 3 AP (anti personal) mines from a jungle area in Nilappanikkanmalai, Kuchchiweli in Trincomalee district, this morning (Oct 8).

Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopters raided 3 separate LTTE gathering places located in Mullaittivu front this evening, 8 October.The air raids were carried out around 5.40 p.m. targeting identified LTTE gathering places located in general area Kumbulamunai, western edge of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaittivu, Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

According to Tamil Net

Two Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) officers were killed near Kagnchikudichchaa'ru STF camp around 9:45 a.m.

5:50 PM

Chandrika Kumaratunga losse again

Supreme Court today ordered former Chandrika Kumaratunga to pay Rs. 3 million to government over the Water's Edge land transfer. Court also ordered businessman Ronnie Peiris to pay Rs.2 million and return the land to the UDA.

UK based businessman Ronnie Peiris has settled a tax probe by the Inland Revenue Department to the tune of Rs. 60 million and more over the controversial Waters' Edge Golf Club land transaction initiated during the administration of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

According to Finance Ministry sources, Peiris eventually settled a claim by the Department for the payment of his share in the transaction. Peiris is Group Finance Director and President of John Keells Holdings and has overall responsibility for Group Finance, including.

4:55 PM

civilians to be ever vigilant

The Ministry of Transport urges passengers to be more vigilant when using the public transportation system, since the LTTE is constantly looking out for opportunities to carry out terror strikes on civilians.

Ministry sources point out that the LTTE is eyeing ‘soft targets’ at this point in a bid to force the Government to pull back the military campaign that has crippled the terrorist outfit in the Wanni.

11:33 AM

Govt’s denial of security caused Janaka’s death - Ranil

UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that the assassination of Maj. General Janaka Perera on Monday was a result of the Government’s neglect and its denial of adequate security even when it was well known that the LTTE posed a grave threat to his life.

"Janaka Perera was an officer of the army who had defeated terrorists in many battles. He was totally opposed to separatism and stood to protect the territorial integrity of country. He performed an excellent service in the army and was one of the officerwho had contributed to its modernization and was know to have protected human rights while fighting against the LTTE," he said.

Wickremesinghe said the UNP had requested that Janaka Perera should be made the Defence Secretary as he was an officer whose integrity and capabilities made him the ideal person for that post. However, the government had refused to give him adequate security when he joined the UNP and handed in his nomination to contest the North Central Provincial Council election and Janaka Perera had to seek redress from Courts to get security but even the security ordered by the Court was not provided, he said.

Producing a letter sent to the Anuradhapura police by the office of the Leader of the Opposition of the North Central Province, he said the police had not given security for the meeting on Monday, though the DIG, NCP had said that Janaka Perera had not asked for police security for Monday’s event. However, immediately after the incident the DIG had made a statement that it was the work of a LTTE suicide bomber, he said.

Ranil Wickremesinghe said he had no confidence in any investigation conducted by the police or by the government and asked for a recognized foreign police inquiry into the assassination of Janaka Perera, since there was a grave doubt whether the government would hold an impartial inquiry into the assassination.

11:32 AM

Janaka Perera assassination probe Police scrutinize video tape

Senior DIG Jayantha Gamage, who accompanied three special police teams sent from Colombo to carry out investigations, told The Island that the video tape of the Sirasa cameraman is of vital importance and a definite conclusion could be made on the planning and killing of Janaka Perera. The Sirasa cameraman, too, was killed in the explosion.

Meanwhile, investigators said the head of the suspect suicide bomber had been blown smithereens and was beyond recognition.

Investigations so far revealed that after addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony of the office of the leader of the Opposition of the North Central Provincial Council, opposite the old bus stand, the Major General Perera had invited the people to partake of some kiribath. There had been two tables laid out for the kiribath, one inside the office and the other in the verandah. The assassin, according to eye witness accounts, had been seated in a chair opposite the office where late Major General was seated and had gone into the office on the pretext of partaking of kiribath when the explosion occured.

Some survivors of the blast had said that the assassin on the pretense of worshiping the victim had bent down before exploding the device.

Janaka Perera’s wife Vajira, Anuradahapura UNP organizer Mr. Johnpulle, his wife, three lawyers and some Provincial Council members and some other members of the public including had died in the blast.

Police is conducting a separate inquiry to ascertain whether there had been any lapse on the part of the Police since four policemen posted at the entrance to the building near the gates had failed to notice the suspicious looking suicide bomber entering the premises.

North Central Provincial Chief Minister Berty Premlal Dissanayake, speaking to The Island yesterday condemned the killing and defined it as a cowardly act of the LTTE.

Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Ranjan Ramanayake said that even his life is in danger and the Police security provided to him during the elections had now been withdrawn. He urged the Police to provide him with security. He said that despite being the Opposition leader he had not been provided with an official vehicle.

9:35 AM

Karuna sworn in as UPFA MP

Leader of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal, Vinayagmoorthi Muralidaran, was sworn in as a Member of Parliament of the UPFA before Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara in Parliament yesterday at 9.30 a.m.

Chief Minister Eastern Provincial Council Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and Mayoress of Batticaloa Sivageetha Prabhakaran were in the VIP Gallery of the House and a large number of the supporters of the TMVP were present in the public galleries at the time the new member was sworn in.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Douglas Devananda and several other government parliamentarians congratulated the new member after he was sworn in.