Security News 09/10/2008

Troops of the 57 Division, operating in general area Akkarayankulama in Mullaittiuvu, confronted a group of terrorists and subsequently recovered a LTTE terrorist body and few warlike items, Tuesday (Sep 9). A T-56 assault riffle, 01x I-com set, a motor cycle and few other accessories were also found by the troops during a search operation, according Wanni security sources.


Air Force jets engage LTTE’s main intelligence headquarters 1 km west of Kilinochchi at 6.45am, SLAF confirms target accurate-SLAF Spokesman

Nepal experienced heavy monsoon rains--- Sri Lanka Helps

The Government of Sri Lanka as a mark of a solidarity with the people of Nepal has donated a sum of US$ 25,000 as relief assistance for victims of the recent floods. A cheque for this amount was handed over to Rt.Hon.Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister of Nepal by Mr. Ranawaeera Banda, Charge d’ Affaires of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kathmandu last Saturday (06 September 2008).

This token contribution for relief efforts in Nepal is a symbolic manifestation of Sri Lanka’s friendly and warm relations with the Government and people of Nepal as the flood victims begin to rebuild their lives.

Nepal experienced heavy monsoon rains last month displacing nearly 60,000 people in Sunsari District in the Eastern part of the country.

INGOs asked to quit LTTE-held area

With major ground battles expected in the Vanni theatre in the coming weeks if not days, the government has advised all INGOs including the UN agencies and NGOs to quit the LTTE-held area.

Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said that the government wanted them to set up a base in the security forces controlled area. Responding to queries raised at Tuesday's press conference at the Media Centre for National Security, he questioned the conduct of some INGOs and NGOs. He expressed concern over the possibility of the LTTE endangering the lives of local and expatriate staff.

The army is stepping up pressure on the LTTE with troops on one flank positioned at the southern edge of Akkarayankulam tank about 12 kilometres away from Kilinochchi. The government has said that it could no longer ensure the safety of aid workers in the LTTE-controlled area.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that Task Force I, Task Force II, 57 Division on the western flank and the 59 Division on the eastern flank were making steady progress.

In a brief statement issued Tuesday, UN mission in Colombo said that it was in the process of evaluating operations with a view to re-locating humanitarian staff. "A precise timetable for the complete withdrawal of all staff is yet to be determined, but relocations will begin this week," it said.

ICRC spokesperson Ms Sarasi Wijeratne last night said they were continuing operations in the area. Responding to our query she said the ICRC was not asked to vacate the area.

Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe has briefed the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) of the government decision. The meeting took place on Monday (8) after Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called for immediate relocation of INGOs and NGOs

Samarasinghe said that government was responsible for the safety and security of all INGO and NGO staff. Urging them to continue their relief, the minister reiterated the government's commitment to look after the displaced through District Secretaries as was done in Vakarai. The CCHA also appointed a committee to be chaired by Basil Rajapaksa, MP to discuss operational issues with the UN and INGOs.

Five UNP MPs threaten to sit as independent

A group of five UNP Parliamentarians has decided to work as an independent group in Parliament if the party is not reorganized according to the proposals they have submitted to the leadership, UNP sources said yesterday (8).

The five UNP members demanded for party reforms and a change of policy at a recent working committee meeting of the UNP saying that the party had no future if it continued with its present policies.

They fear that the party reforms they sought may not take place.

A meeting of the UNP seniors to consider the proposals for reforms was scheduled for yesterday at Sirikotha, UNP headquarters. They were expected to draft a report at that meeting, sources said.

The draft report was to be presented at the Working Committee meeting to be held Thursday.

A spokesman for the group of five said they would await the report on party reforms and if their proposals were not to be implemented, they would agitate for them both in and outside Parliament and take to the streets.

He said the group will remain in the UNP but they will join other groups and parties to demand for democratic reforms.

Major terror attack at Vavuniya

Latest military reports received from Vavuniya reveal that a major attack launched by LTTE terrorists at the security forces headquarters Wanni and Air Force Base Vavuniya early this morning (Sept 9) was completely foiled.

According to the reports, the terrorists launched a pre-dawn ground assault coordinated with artillery fire and an air raid with the intention of causing severe damage to the Air Force assets in the Vavuniya air base.

Defence sources in Vavuniya state, the terrorists launched artillery fire to the Army camp in order to prevent counter attack and directed their ground assault at the airbase. However, valiant soldiers moved forward amid heavy enemy artillery fire and crushed the terror ground assault completely. According to the available information 10 bodies of slain LTTE cadres have been found so far.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets intercepted two LTTE light aircraft fleeing after failed mission at Vavuniya Air force base and shot down one of the aircraft in the Mullaittivu skies.

10 soldiers laid down their lives and 15 others suffered injuries. One police constable was killed and 8 others sustained injuries due to the enemy artillery fire. Five Air Force personnel also suffered injuries.

Tiger plane shot down

Sri Lanka Air Force plane shot down a Tiger small aircraft and successfully downed it. Reports revealed that the Sri Lankan Air force jets shot down a Tamil Tiger plane after the rebels launched a pre-dawn bombing raid on Vavuniya Security Forces Headquarters.

Sri Lanka Air Force Fighter jet conducted their First Air to Air Combat today morning in Mullativu sky and shot down Tiger Air Craft said Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Vice Marcel Roshan Gunathilake.

Today morning around 3.30 A.M., LTTE had fired artillery from east of A9 road to Vavuninya Security forces Headquarters at the same time they took off their air craft’s which was immediately indicated in the radar and Sri Lanka Air Force F7 fighter jet belongs to Squadron 5 took off from Kaatunayake and flew over Mullativu air and intercepted Tiger Air Craft and shot it down.

Air force information revealed that radar picked up three Tiger planes and soon after at least one bombed a military base in Vavuniya.

This is the seventh air raid by the Tigers since they began flying a small fleet of Czech-made Zlin-143 aircraft in March 2007.

The last Tiger air attack wounded 10 sailors after a bombing run on the strategic eastern port of Trincomalee in August.