SLAF raids major LTTE facility

SLAF super sonic MiG-27 and K'Fir combat fighters made dashing sorties this morning (December 27) at a major LTTE facility at Vellamullavaikkal, North of Mulaithivu, at around 6.10 a.m.

Air force fighter pilots have acquired the target successfully destroying the LTTE facility during the precision aerial sorties, Air force sources said. According to sources, the aerial raid was launched following ground surveillance and real time air reconnaissance information. Defence sources citing reliable 'intel' said, LTTE were conducting a special training session at the facility which was continuously functioning since 2001.

Defence sources said, the target was kept under constant reconnaissance, which was located northwards along the coast of Mulaithivu. LTTE has been conducting multi-pronged war exercises at the facility when it was hit, by the SLAF jets.

Security News

• P 413 sinks after destroying two suicide boats

Sri Lanka navy sources today (December 27) stated that the Ceylon Dockyard built Fast Attack Craft (FAC) P413 sank whilst being towed to Kankasanthurai Harbour. The craft was seriously damaged during the sea battle erupted in the South of Delft sea yesterday (December 26). Navy's diving and salvage unit is now being engaged in a salvage attempt, sources added.

P413 crew commanded by Lieutenant Commander Lalith Ekanayake yesterday demonstrated the sheer determination and gallantry possessed by the sea warriors of Navy's Fourth Fast Attack Craft Flotilla by destroying two explosive laden suicide craft of LTTE. Having detected the terrorist's sea move P413 along with other FACs valiantly engaged the terrorist boats despite being heavily out numbered by the enemy. Lieutenant Commander Ekanayke made the ultimate sacrifice for the motherland while eleven of his men have gone missing in action.

• Civilians traumatized in LTTE claymore explosion

LTTE elements triggered off a byroad claymore mine this morning (December 27) laid in close perimeters of Kalavanchchikuddi general hospital injuring two including a 15 year old, Kalavanchchikuddi Police said.The claymore mine was tripped to a bicycle and triggered targeting a combine Police/STF route clearing patrol, along the Kalavanchchikuddi-Kalmunai main road at around 7.50a.m, Police sources said.

One Special Task Force (STF) constable was killed while another received minor injuries, during the incident. Security forces immediately cordoned off the area while assisting innocent civilians and patients, who were traumatized due to the claymore explosion.

LTTE takes heavy beating in Wanni

Troops forced into LTTE territory thrashing terrorist bunker lines and defences during a pre-emptive strike at Pallaikuli, south of Adampan killing 15 and seriously injuring over dozen terrorists, SLA sources said.

Ground clashes broke into a fierce artillery duel between troops and LTTE since 6.40a.m, today lasting until 12 noon. Terrorist resistance faded during intense fighting where reports were received of a mass LTTE flight into non-liberated areas in Kilinochchi and Mulaithiuvu Districts, defence sources said.

Meanwhile, security forces have destroyed six LTTE bunkers in the strategic military advance, defences sources added.Two soldiers made their ultimate sacrifice, while 12 others wounded were admitted to the general hospital at Mannar, security sources said.

SL security forces have stepped-up strikes at defences of the LTTE run mono ethnic hell hole in the Island's North, in response to the plea of thousands stranded, under worsening 'humanitarian' conditions, defence observers state.

Terrorists continue to take heavy beating

Sri Lanka Army yesterday (December 24) continued to pound on the Defences of the LTTE run mono ethnic hell hole in the Island's North causing heavy damages to the terrorists. Reports from the Northern battlefronts indicate that at least 14 terrorists were killed in the yesterday clashes along the Wanni and Jaffna Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) during last 24 hours. Further, 5 soldiers were injured in the yesterday's battles and now are being treated at Vavuniya and Anuradhapura hospitals.

Troops operating along the Wanni FDL, confronted with the terrorists at several occasions both on the Vavuniya and Mannar fronts.On the Vavuniya front, troops clashed with LTTE terrorists at Pokkaravani, Kandaperumakulama, Navatkulama areas killing 10 terrorists including two LTTE regional leaders.

At Pokkaravani, clashes broke out as the terrorists launched heavy artillery and mortar attack at the security forces' defence line around 11.15, last morning. Two soldiers suffered serious injuries due to shelling and were admitted to Anuradhapura Military Hospital. Troops having located the LTTE gun positions responded with artillery fire until the terrorists ceased the shelling. Monitored LTTE radio transmissions have revealed that two terrorists' leaders were killed in the incident.

Again in the Pokkaravani area three soldiers sustained injuries as a trapped mine exploded around 4.40 on the same day evening. The soldiers were immediately evacuated to the field hospital at Vavuniya.

At Kandaperumakulama, troops ambushed LTTE infiltrators at two occasions killing six LTTE cadres last evening. In the first incident that took place around 3.30.p.m, ground troops claimed that two terrorists were killed and in the second that took place around 4.30.p.m, the same sources said that four LTTE cadres were killed. Troops suffered no own casualties in either of the incidents, the sources added.

Wanni liberation in progress

Sri Lanka security forces continue to beat in terrorists' defences of Wanni causing heavy damages to LTTE. As per the latest reports from the battlefronts troops had dislodged 6 LTTE bunkers and killed over 28 terrorists in yesterday's (December 23) clashes.

In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops deployed at Ponnar on the Kilaly front, attacked LTTE bunker line around 6.15 last evening. Ground troops have claimed that three terrorists were killed and two bunkers destroyed in the incident. No casualties reported to own troops.On the Muhamalai front, SL army soldiers manning the defence line opened fire at a group of LTTE terrorists stalking towards the own defence. Ground troops confirmed that one LTTE cadre was killed in the incident that took place around 11.45 a.m.

Earlier on the same day morning, army claimed that eight terrorists were killed and four LTTE bunkers destroyed when troops attacked LTTE bunker line at Nagarkovil.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka navy sailors uncovered four suicide belts and a military pack at 12.p.m. yesterday. The sailors acting on information provided by the civilians made this recovery at Velani, in the Kaytes Island.In the Wanni theatre of battle, troops moving ahead from the Vavuniya front attacked an LTTE stronghold in the Vilathikulama area around 9.40, last morning. Troops having located the terrorists' gun and radar positions called in artillery fire on the same. Also, the terrorists responded using heavy mortars. Army radio monitoring elements have revealed that three terrorist were killed and 10 others were injured in the incident. One soldier was also killed and nine sustained injuries in the same incident.

At Kuduruvitankulama, troops laid an ambush at terrorists' movement around 2.15, last afternoon. Monitored radio transmissions have revealed that two terrorist were killed and one injured in the incident. No casualties reported to own troops.At Kallikkulama, troops confronted with a group of LTTE cadres around 2 on the same day afternoon. Ground troops claimed that three terrorists were killed in the incident.Meanwhile, four soldiers suffered injuries due to anti personnel mine explosions occurred in Thampanai and Kuduruvitankulama area during yesterday's clearing operations. The injured were admitted to Anuradhapura hospital.

In the Mannar theatre of battle, troops confronted with LTTE terrorists at three separate incidents. Reports indicate that eight terrorists and one soldier were killed in the incidents that occurred in the Narikkulama, Palaikkuli, and Tettakkuli areas yesterday.

Jathika Hela Urumaya organized series of religious

The Jathika Hela Urumaya organized series of religious observations in Anuradhapura to observe the fourth death anniversary of Ven. Gangodawila Soma thera. The JHU team is seen at the Abhayagiriya after donating a machine to carry bricks to the top of the stupa to help renovation work.