LTTE planes dropped bombs in Mannar and Kelaniya

LTTE terrorists have launched an air attack at the Kelani-Tissa power plant a short while ago (Oct 29).

According to available information, the blasts have caused minor damages to the premises.
The fire brigade said that a fire has broken out at the Kelanitissa power station. The fire is believed to have been caused by the LTTE air raid.

Earlier, at around 10.20p.m., on Tuesday (28) three bombs were reported dropped from LTTE air craft at the Thallady military camp in Mannar. No major damages were caused due to the explosions, security sources further said.

War to end terrorism must continue

Since Vinayagmoorthi Muralidaran (Karuna) and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan had joined civil society as normal citizens through the UNP, there was no war situation in the Eastern Province, Galle District UNP member Vajira Abeywardena said yesterday (27).

Similarly, Prabhakaran too could be brought into normal civilian society. Neither of the two sides to the armed conflict in the North could win the war and it was necessary to start peace talks with Prabhakaran now, Abeywardena said.

Asked for his comment Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said it was necessary to continue the war against terrorism in the North. Even India wanted terrorism eradicated. There was no question of stopping the war against the LTTE.

India was only concerned about the welfare and problems of civilians of the North who were displaced or affected by the war especially with regard to food supplies. The government continued to send adequate food supplies to the north, he said.

The Defence Secretary also said that arrests of LTTE activists and supporters in Tamil Nadu were being conducted by the State government and surveillance in the seas between India and Sri Lanka government had been increased by the Indian authorities.

Navy rescues six families escaping terror clutches in Wanni

Sri Lanka Navy has rescued 19 civilians including 3 children fleeing from LTTE tyranny in Wanni last morning (Oct 27). According to the Navy sources, Navy inshore patrol craft (IPCs), have rescued the civilians while they were battling against rough seas onboard a locally built fishing vessel (Vallam) in the South of Mandativu islet. There were 11 females and 8 males belonging to 6 families, the sources said.

The refugees have told the Navy personnel that they had got onboard the Vallam from Murukkandi in Poonaryn. They have further revealed that they had left their homes due to the inhumane harassments committed by the LTTE terrorists. According to the refugees , a large number of civilians in Wanni are desperately expecting that the security forces would soon liberate them from the terror clutches.

The Navy would provide food, medical facilities and other basic needs of the refugees until they are being handed over to the civilian welfare authorities, the sources added.

India - U.S. alliance threaten South Asia?

Sri Lanka is on the verge of destroying the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world. Even the most extreme elements in the South of Sri Lanka accept that upon completion of this task certain genuine grievances of the Tamil people and a certain degree of devolution envisaged in the current constitution should be implemented in the Northern Province as it is now being done successfully done in the Island’s East. India knows all this too well. Nevertheless New Delhi and explicitly its South Indian clique is again attempting to repeat their attempts of 1987 save LTTE which is on the verge of defeat.

Sri Lankans have a right to decide their own future free any more foreign interference. They have suffered enough for the past 25 years because of Indian meddling the island’s internal affairs. The time has some to say enough is enough categorically and firmly.

Much has been written about India’s gross interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs and violation of her sovereignty and territorial integrity in the recent past supposedly due to political pressure from Tamil-Nadu. However it is important for all Sri Lankans to comprehend and appreciate the behaviour of Indian politicians in a more holistic context, India has a very loose and fragile regional federal structure (unlike the strong federal systems of government in their new found western allies like USA).

Furthermore the fundamental psychology of India’s foreign service and intelligence services operating in the region must be clearly understood.

The contemporary developments in the region merit a complete re-evaluation of regional bilateral and multilateral policies that all SAARC countries follow vis-à-vis their giant superpower and neighbour India.

In Sri Lanka’s case, India’s strategic objectives has been satisfied with most Sri Lankan’s being absolutely ignorant and unaware of the real status quo – Sri Lanka’s Governments “flying to brief” New Delhi and Sri Lanka Government’s readiness to meet India’s wishes.

Even world powers with the exception of China of course, never dare interfere on India’s decisions on Sri Lanka. The trade between Sri Lanka & India places the latter at a greater advantage even where the Free Trade Agreements are concerned. Under the Free Trade Agreement between the two. (24-25 % of Sri Lanka’s imports come from India. And this excludes contraband like sarees, gold, drugs etc. If these added they would change the percentage significantly).

As a matter of fact some Sri Lankans naively talk about a nuclear free zone in the region. Hence the Tamil Nadu politicians singing their Katchatvu ‘song.’ If ever India goes to war with any of her enemies I hope Sri Lankans know that stray missiles will all rain on them. Therefore Sri Lanka should not get tied down to any agreement with India on Kachchativu at this juncture. There should be no repeat of what happened with Trincomalee under the Indo-Lanka Accord. Perhaps Sri Lanka having listening post on Katchativu with China’s collaboration might not at all be bad idea considering India current interference in Sri Lankan affairs.

If India is not interested in creating a separate state in Sri Lanka, then Sri Lanka needs a categorical assurance that it will not use thae LTTE as a destabilisation force in the country.

If India takes the position that her neighbours take "Belligerent anti-Indian positions" in their dealing with her due to "bellicose patriotism" peace and prosperity would no doubt would be the furthest thing for all the people of South Asia. India needs to lead the way in cultivating TRUST, understanding, benevolence, harmony and peaceful coexistence with all its neighbours. It must display its maturity as a world power in dealing with all its smaller neighbours

Troops stick to the mission

he Army Task Force 1 , operating on the western half of the Kilinochchi battle frontage continued their offensive march towards Nachchikuda and to the North of Manniyakulam areas yesterday (Oct 26).

Troops of 581 brigade attacked LTTE bunkers located in the Nachchikuda area around 10.30 AM and claimed heavy damages to the terrorists. Separately, troops attacked terror bunkers in the same area around 6.30 PM with the support of artillery fire. LTTE casualties were not known in this incident.

In the general area Kalmadu, troops attacked an LTTE bunker around 6.30 A.M. Damages caused to the terrorists are not known.

Meanwhile , 582 brigade troops launched an offensive since last morning in the Nochchimoddai area . Troops successfully beat off the terrorists in the North of Kunchikkulam by the evening and claimed heavy damages to the terrorists.

Snipers deployed in the forward area of 583 brigade claimed acquiring two targets in Paninkanmadu in the morning hours.

The mission is kept on.

The Editorial Board of defence.lk has decided to temporary suspend the reporting of all casualty figures in relation to the ongoing counter terrorist operation in Wanni. This is in consideration of the continuing advance of the security forces there and the need for operational security, whereby such reportage may impede the successful accomplishment of the mission.

President takes up Lankan issue with Indian PM

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday made a special telephone call to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to allay increasing Indian concerns that civilians in the north are allegedly coming to harm due to the current military drive to defeat the LTTE, The Nation reliably learns.

Tiger proxies in Tamil Nadu have been pressing the central government in recent days, to intervene on behalf of the Tamils, to halt the military drive and threatening to pull out support to the ruling coalition government, if it fails to comply with their request. The ruling coalition has been weakened, since the left parties pulled out their support in protest over the nuclear deal with the US.

Sources said that, the President, who spoke to the Indian Premier in the presence of Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga around 1:00 pm, had requested Dr Singh to send his Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka, in order to get a firsthand account of the prevailing situation here.
Soon after the conversation between the two leaders, Mr. Bogollagama had extended a formal invitation to his counterpart in Delhi, to make an early visit to Sri Lanka

The President had given a detailed account to Dr Singh, on painstaking steps taken to avoid civilian casualties and also to maintain essential supplies to war affected areas, as was done during the successful operation to capture the East.
He had emphasised that, the war is being conducted with minimum collateral damage to property and persons, bearing well in mind the welfare of the civilian population in the Wanni region.

As for the repeated request of the Indians to place a political solution to resolve the problem, President Rajapaksa had assured that it would be extended no sooner the LTTE was disarmed.
President Rajapaksa had also expressed concern of the difficult position Dr Singh’s government was placed in due to increasing agitations in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan problem and had assured full cooperation to his government to tackle the issue.
President Rajapaksa had also proposed solving the fishing disputes between the two countries through regular, close consultations between the Navies of the two countries.