The arrests that upset terror

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Defence sources in the Welioya battlefront say Sri Lanka Army soldiers have destroyed a fortified stronghold of LTTE terrorists this evening (February 25). According to the sources, Army infantrymen launched attacks at the LTTE defences located in the North of Janakapura area between 1.p.m. to 2.p.m.Following the attack, troops found 7 bodies of slain LTTE cadres, along with 6, T-56 riffles, one Light Machine Gun (LMG) and one GPS equipment, the sources said.

In addition, the terrorists attempted to regain the control over the area but failed in the face of army retaliation, said the sources. Army engaged artillery at the LTTE reinforcements and caused them to turn tail with heavy casualties. Later, LTTE radio transmissions revealed that 5 more LTTE cadres were killed and 4 injured due to Army retaliation.One soldier was killed in this incident, the sources added.


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Two TMVP members killed in a suicide blast

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Two political activists of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikkal (TMVP), a political party contesting for local government polls in Batticaloa were killed in a suicide blast carried out by LTTE terrorists at Kalawanchikudi in Batticaloa this morning. According to the defence sources, the blast had taken place around 9.45.a.m. on the Eruvil- Kalawanchikudi road.

TMVP spokesperson Mr. Asad Mawulana speaking to defence.lk said the individuals were canvassing for the Tamil political party in view of forth coming local government elections in the Batticaloa district when they were attacked.

Mr. Mawulana citing eyewitnesses said that, t.he TMVP members had approached a suspected individual loitering in the area to inquire on his whereabouts. The suspect had then exploded himself killing the two TMVP members, he added.

According to TMVP sources, the political party had organized a public meeting at Kalavanchchikudi today, to which few senior TMVP candidates were also due to attend. The victims have been identified Regan and Sudha, sources added.

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Terror bomb blast in Mount Lavinia

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LTTE terrorists have exploded a bomb inside a public transport bus in Mount Lavinia, in the South of Colombo city around 10.55, this morning targeting innocent civilians. According to the available information, the bomb has been exploded in a privately owned bus that was plying from Moratuwa to Colombo. Due to the explosion 18 people including 10 males, 7 females and one baby have suffered minor injures. The bus and a motorbike parked nearby have been destroyed.

However, the terrorists' beastly intention to commit carnage against civilians has foiled due to the vigilance of the civilians themselves. According to the defence.lk reporter at the scene, one of the passengers having noticed a suspicious parcel has informed the driver and the conductor of the bus.

The conductor has alarmed the passengers and asked them to vacate the bus as soon as possible. At the same time, the driver of the bus has taken the bus to a safe distance from the civilians and informed the police, he said. Few minutes after driver got down from the bus, the bomb has gone off, he added.

According to our sources, unless for the responsible behaviour shown by the bus conductor, the driver and the passenger who alarmed them; a large number of civilians would have been killed.

Earlier this month, a navy petty officer saved large number of civilian lives by promptly defusing a similar parcel bomb placed by LTTE terrorists at the Anuradhapura weekly fair.

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Rivira Special News Report

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powerful explosives unearthed in Mannar

Mannar police recovered a large stock of explosives including several powerful claymore mines, grenades and a suicide kit from an LTTE safe house in Periyagama area on a tip off in the evening.

According to the available information the search operation was launched at 10.30 a.m and 125 anti-personnel mines and a claymore mine weighing 5 Kg were also among the recoveries.

LTTE feeds on civilian blood

Aid workers and reliable sources reveal a worsening crisis in districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, with LTTE terrorists forcing men, women and children in these non-liberated areas to provide blood to the outfit, defence sources said.

With few volunteers responding to its calls for blood, the LTTE is now targeting school children and even adults past their prime to obtain supplies of blood for its fighting cadres. The LTTE's "Thileepan" unit is reportedly involved in this heinous activity. It is even threatening those who do not volunteer for blood donations with severe reprisals.

According to available reports, 40 students in Kilinochchi were dragged to the Anandapuram Technical College on 22nd January, where the LTTE has stationed its blood banks, to draw blood from them.

On 28th January, school children and civilians were dragged away and forced to give blood to the mobile units of LTTE in general area Vaddakachchi, Kilinochchi. People were taken to these LTTE blood banks in tractors of LTTE. Not even elders or children were spared, eye witnesses who were able to flee the areas revealed.