Army captured Vellankulam – last bastion of Tigers in Mannar district

Sri Lanka Army captured yesterday afternoon, Vellankulam, the last Tiger bastion in the Mannar district.Map of Mannar
By capturing Vellankulam, Sri Lanka Army’s 58 Division has liberated the entire Mannar district within eight months period. Army’s 58 Division commenced their operation to Liberate Mannar district in November 2007. Sri Lanka Army’s 58 Division is commanded by Brigadier Shavindra Silva.
To liberate Mannar, 58 Division mobilized 12 Infantry Battalions, and Commando Brigade, supported by the 5th Armoured Corp regiment, 15 Artillery Regiment, 9 Signal and Engineers.
In this operation, Sri Lanka Air Force deployed their MI 24 fighter helicopters to attacked LTTE bunkers and to bring reinforcement to Army personnel, meanwhile ground troops had given perfect locations of LTTE military installation which enabled the Air Force fighter jets to bomb the exact targets and destroy.
A battle front officer told News-Lanka that the LTTE’s Jaffna commander Thleepan was commanding the Mannar battle front and he was given instruction over the radio to hold on to the position and not allow Army to enter Vellankulam, but Sri Lanka army faced easily the resistance forthcoming from LTTE and chase them away.
Infantry troops with the backing of artillery, captured the Vellankulam, the last coastal town in the Mannar district, located in the Northwest coast, along the A- 32 Road. Reports revealed that some soldiers have seen fleeing LTTE carders carrying bodies of their dead carders and that of those wounded.
After the capture of Velankulam, Sri Lanka Army’s 58 Division was seen marching towards Kilinonochi, while, 571, 572 and 573 Brigades attached to the 57th Division and elite Special Forces are tactically moving towards Thunukkai, Mallavi and Mankulam - which is located just 24 km from Kilinonochi Town.
In the meantime, the 572 Brigade which captured Vannivilankulam, south of Mallavi is now said to be moving towards Mankulam, and further north.
The Tigers are desperately trying to hold on to Mankulam, summoning additional cadres from the north to Mankulam to strengthen their defence.
One officer who commands the battle front said 'Army don't have forward defence line, but the Army do have forward offensive line'

Sugandan Dase captuerd

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Army takes conttrol of LTTE sugandan base north of Kiriibbanwewa in Mulathive , one of the "one four " base complex.

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Liberating the North is not far away

Addressing a rally on Saturday, in Anuradhapura in support of the United People's Freedom Alliance candidates contesting the North Western Provincial Council election, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that no period in history since the time of King Parakramabahu the Great has seen a development drive as the present one launched by the Government.

The President also pledged that just as the East was liberated from the clutches of terrorists, so too will the last remaining strongholds of the LTTE, KIllinochchi and Mullaitivu, be liberated so that people living in those areas too can benefit from the Government's overall development strategy.

He further pointed out that what was happening in the North was nothing more nothing less than a humanitarian mission to reaffirm the right to life of all peoples, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslims and others. He also praised the heroic efforts of the security forces, observing that they have already weakened considerably the strike capabilities of the LTTE and that theirs is a mission to recover a free and independent nation for all peoples.

The President urged Armed Forces personnel still on vacation, to report to their respective duties at their very earliest as their valuable and dedicated services were vitally and urgently required for their Motherland at this crucial juncture.

President Rajapaksa made this call when he addressed a mammoth rally in Anuradhapura, the first in a series of rallies, in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council (PC) elections on August 23. President Rajapaksa lauded the great zeal and enthusiasm displayed by the disabled ‘war heroes’ in the Anuradhapura hospital, whom he had visited them that day.

“These ‘war heroes’ who were badly disabled were too willing to get back to the battlefront again, if they were discharged from the hospital. They were determined to fight the terrorists, tooth and nail, and capture Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu,” he said.

Roads, schools and other mega development projects such as the Norochcholai, Kothmale and Kerawalapitiya power projects and the Moragahakanda irrigation project among others, would be taken forward expeditiously. The spree of victories achieved by the Government would be further augmented by a definite and a landslide victory at the forthcoming PC elections of Sabaragamuwa and North Central on August 23.

“This would undoubtedly consolidate our Government, the Armed Forces and the people,” he added. The President noted that the farmer obtained a reasonable and high price for his paddy, and thereby given his due place. Nevertheless, he pointed out that when the farmer is benefited in this manner, obviously the consumer would experience a problem.

“So, there should be a ‘balancing act’, where both the farmer and the consumer is protected. We will ensure that both parties’ interests are taken into consideration”, he added. Refuting claims as reported in certain quarters of the media, that the President would also resort to a referendum, the President categorically ruled it out.

“I will never ever resort to ‘Kalageddi Sellama’ practice. I will hold the PC elections, followed by the Parliamentary elections. I will win that too. Everything is in the hands of the people whom we represent,” he said.

He added that the masses of ‘Raja rata’ had immense faith and trusted the UPFA government, and beyond any possible doubt, they would elect Berty Premalal Dissanayake as the Chief Minister of the North Central P.C.

Indian Navy advises fishermen to fix GPS

In the context of firing Indian fishermen are coming under in the Indian ocean, the Indian Navy has advised that the fishermen should fix Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to avoid crossing the maritime boundary. It (GPS) is not very costly and is affordable, the naval advisory says. GPS provides the fastest and most accurate method to navigate, measure speed and determine location for fishermen.

The Tamil Nadu government is working on a pilot project to equip fishermen with country boats in Ramanathapuram district with handheld GPS devices.

The Naval advisory assumes significance as fishermen particularly of Rameswaram area went on a strike and received local political backing over alleged firing on their vessels by Sri Lanka Navy.

'They (Lankan Navy) never cross into our (Indian) territory", a senior naval officer based in Tamil Nadu was quoted as saying by India's premier news agency, PTI. The agency report which was widely covered said the Indian Naval officer, Commodore P E Van Halteren denied July 25 the allegations that the Sri Lankan Navy was straying into Indian waters and firing at Indian fishermen.

This certificate lends credence to reports that LTTE was targeting Indian fishermen with a view to divert attention from its own operations in the area.

Any how, as Halteren reportedly said, the fact of the matter is Indian fishermen sail too close to Sri Lankan maritime boundary, particularly at night with a view to have a better catch. And at night time it is difficult for Lanka navy to differentiate between fishermen and the LTTE, according to the Indian Naval official. So his advisory to the Indian fishermen is: 'It would be better if our fishermen do not cross the International Maritime Boundary Line and enter their (Lanka) territory'.

'If the fishermen carry GPS with them, it would warn them when they crossed the maritime boundary', Commodore Halteren was quoted as saying. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is easy to use and it is affordable, he said and suggested that awareness should be created among fishermen about its usage.

About 18,000 boats of various types are engaged in fishing, and it is not possible for the navy or coast guard to provide protection to every boat. The Naval official said this much when he remarked, 'It is very difficult for us to guard each and every fisherman when they venture into sea. Our duty is to just check whether any boat or ships are involved in any illegal activities. However, as an extra effort, we always warn our fishermen whenever they are very close to the boundary area'.

SL to counter US Resolutions 1338

Sri Lanka is planning to launch a counterattack against the recent United States Resolution 1338, which calls for an international Human Rights (HR) monitoring mission to help maintain law and order in the embattled island. This is apart from several other demands, which include an end to the ongoing military onslaught and the culture of impunity in the face of growing HR violations.

Highly placed sources said that, Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry officials have already started to counter the recent Resolution tabled in the US Congress on Sri Lanka, and is hoping to approach US Congress Foreign Affairs Committee members to present the Sri Lankan government’s point of view on the recent Resolution against the island.

Despite attempts by the US Congress to impose the Resolutions, Foreign Ministry officials claimed that it was unlikely that there would be any ‘real’ impact on the country by the motions.
However, it is learnt that pro LTTE lobby groups and activists in the US, have received a significant boost from Resolution 1338, which urges the Sri Lankan government to pursue a political solution, rather than a military one, tabled in the US Congress , last week.

Resolution 1338 has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a powerful legislative body charged with oversight of US government policy concerning foreign relations issues.
The Nation learns that pro LTTE lobby groups have been working for months, campaigning for such a Resolution.
Pro LTTE groups such as “Tamils for Justice” have already declared that Resolution 1388 is a huge setback to the Sri Lankan Government.

Resolution 1388 on Sri Lanka, sponsored by Congressman Brad Sherman of California and co-sponsored by Congressmen Frank Pallon Jr. of New Jersey and Jerry Weller of Illinois, called on the United States Government and the international community to support a transition to sustainable peace in Sri Lanka, by encouraging an International HR Monitoring presence, protecting the work of civil society and media, facilitating access of humanitarian operations, and retaining democratic principles in which rule of law and justice pervades.

LTTE terrorists use INGO vehicles

It is reliably learnt that the LTTE is using vehicles recently obtained from an International Non-Government Organization (INGO) operating in the North for its military operations in the North, and intends using them for disinformation activities, too.

Defence.lk, through reliable sources in Wanni, learns that the LTTE terrorists have obtained a large number of vehicles belonging to an INGO operating in the Kilinochchi district, for its use. According to our sources, the terrorists had obtained these vehicles from the office of an INGO named Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) in Kilinochchi, early this week.

The vehicles, which the INGO claims was taken over by the terrorist outfit, included a few heavy earth moving vehicles, four trucks, a tractor, several land cruiser jeeps and a number of motor cycles, the sources said. According to these sources, the INGO had taken this fleet of heavy vehicles to the areas under terrorist control stating they would be used for Humanitarian Aid work in the area. The vehicles are now being used by the terrorists, to build bunkers, trenches, terror camps , and to transport terror leaders as well , the sources added.

Observers of LTTE activity have expressed concerns over the likelihood of the LTTE using these INGO vehicles to enact another "massacre" or bloody act to gain propaganda mileage. According to them, the LTTE has been very effective so far in engineering such crimes by attacking civilian targets in Wanni to point fingers at the Armed Forces. "An INGO vehicle attacked by the armed forces" would be a great headline for the terror propagandists to earn sympathy for the terror outfit, they said.