Major Incidents of Terrorism-related Violence in Sri Lanka, 1992-2010

2010

February 2: A court has heard three men who raised more than AUD one million for the LTTE. They were identified as Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, Sivarajah Yathavan and Arumugum Rajeevan. They were also senior cadres of the terrorist outfit in Australia. They admitted to giving money to the LTTE between 2004 and 2007. Vinayagamoorthy had also pleaded guilty to providing radio transmitters which, the prosecution argued, were used for paramilitary activity in Sri Lanka, including denotating roadside bombs.

January 22: A federal court in the United States sentenced two persons, identified as Sathajhan Sarachandran (30), and Nadarasa Yogarasa (55), to 26 and 14 years of imprisonment respectively, in connection with their efforts to purchase USD one million worth of high-powered weaponry for the LTTE, a designated foreign terrorist organization in the US. The two convicts, both Canadian Tamils, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in an undercover sting operation when they attempted to purchase Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), missile launchers, and hundreds of AK-47 automatic rifles at Long Island in New York on August 19, 2006.

2009

June 18: Three suspected LTTE militants were shot dead by the Police in a clearing operation in the former LTTE-hideout in northern areas of Vavuniya District. According to Police, suspected LTTE cadres attacked the Vavuniya special Police unit when they attempted to search a vehicle during combing operations at Nelukulam. Three militants were killed in the encounter that ensued after Police opened fire in retaliation to the militants’ firing.

May 27: 11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kalavanchikudi area of Batticaloa District. Subsequently the troops recovered dead bodies of all the 11 slain militants along with five T-56 weapons, 20 claymore mines weighing about 15 kilograms each, two hand grenades, three anti-personnel mines and a stock of medical items from the area.

May 26: Four decomposed dead bodies of LTTE militants along with huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered by the troops from the Vaddakachchi, Visuamadukulam, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Ampakamam and Vellamullivaikkal areas of Mullaitivu District.

May 22: Troops found five decomposed dead bodies of the LTTE militants along with three I-com sets, two pistols and two magazines from the Mullaitivu area.

May 21: 10 LTTE militants were killed by the Army troops in the Kadawana jungle area of Trincomalee District. Subsequently, the troops recovered dead bodies of all the 10 slain militants along with seven T-56 weapons, one M-16 weapon, eight hand grenades, one claymore mine of seven kilograms and one radio set from the area. Three senior militants, identified as Sathyan Master, Kanthan and Oviyan were among the killed.

Army troops recovered dead bodies of six LTTE militants along with one 122-mm artillery gun, three micro pistols, 27 pistols, 94 T-56 weapons, three T-81 weapons, four Multi Purpose Machine Guns (MPMG), four FNC weapons, 24 pistol ammunition, nine I-Com sets, 26 claymore mines, one 40-mm mortar barrel, one 81-mm mortar barrel, 14 Rocket Propelled Guns, six Light Machine Guns (LMG), two sniper weapons, eight 12.7-mm weapons with barrels, six 37-mm barrels, one satellite phone, two 81-mm magazines, two 81-mm LMG drums, seven MPMG links, and one unidentified weapon and SLR 2024 in cash during search and clear operations in the Vellamullivaikkal area of Mullaitivu District.

May 20: The slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's wife Mathivathani, daughter and 13-year old younger son Balachandran were reportedly found shot dead. Their bodies, having gunshot wounds in the head, were found in the Nanthikandal lagoon area barely 600 metres from where Prabhakaran's body was recovered by the Army. Contrary to earlier media reports, Prabhakaran's family were not in Europe. The family was shot dead by the SFs as it tried to break out of the NFZ. Another 150 bodies were found in the lagoon area.

May 19: Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka confirmed that the dead body of the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was found. His body was found by the 53rd Division troops led by Major General Kamal Gunaratne near the Nanthikandal lagoon. Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said Prabhakaran had died due to a gun shot injury to his head. The Army is reported to have found his identity card issued by the LTTE and the armlet with the number one indicating his position in the outfit. According to defence sources, Prabhakaran had tried to save his life until the last moment. Although the LTTE International Relations Head K. Pathmanathan denied the Government's claim, saying on a pro-LTTE website Tamil Net that Prabhakaran is "alive and safe", the DNA tests have proved that the body recovered belongs to Prabhakaran, the Army said. Fonseka confirmed that Prabhakaran's body was found among the 150 or so bodies the army recovered.

38 dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including those of seven females, were recovered by the troops along with 29 T-56 weapons, two T-81 weapons, one Mini Ushi weapon, one silencer weapon, one FNC weapon, one 40-mm grenade launcher, two pistols, one M-16 weapon, one T-97 weapon, two I-Com Sets, two Global Positioning Systems and three pouches during a search operation in the Vellamullivaikkal area of Mullaitivu District. The bodies recovered and identified included that of Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) leader "Brigadier" Soosai, senior intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Verti, an intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Ram Kumar, a senior female intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Manimekala alias Komali, political head in Batticaloa "Lieutenant Colonel" Anna Thurai, a senior Sea Tiger leader "Colonel" Rangan, "Lieutenant Colonel" Vinodan and a senior intelligence leader.

May 18: The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed, the Sri Lankan military has said. The announcement on State television came shortly after the military said it had surrounded Prabhakaran in a tiny patch of jungle in the north-east. The head of the Sri Lankan army Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka said the military had defeated the rebels and "liberated the entire country". "Today we finished the work handed to us by the president to liberate the country from the LTTE," Gen Fonseka said in the broadcast. The broadcast quoted military officials as saying Prabhakaran was killed along with two of his deputies. It said Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the LTTE naval wing, were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaaykkaal area while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance.

The SFs found a dead body suspected to be of Charles Anthony, the elder son of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, from the Karaiyamullivaikal area. The Sri Lanka Army, however, confirmed that Anthony, known to be the head of Information and Technology department of the LTTE, was killed. In addition, the SFs also recovered dead bodies of three key LTTE leaders, identified as political wing leader of the outfit Nadeshan, head of the outfit’s peace secretariat Pulidevan and senior special military leader of the outfit Ramesh.

The death of senior LTTE militants, including Suventhiran Balaguru alias Jeyam, Rathnam Master and Madavan Master, were confirmed by the clearing troops after their dead bodies were scientifically identified, the Army Headquarters declared.

Troops also confirmed the death of 11 more senior LTTE militants who attempted to escape being captured by the troops in Wellamullivaikkal area. These senior cadres include LTTE Police chief Ilango, aide to LTTE chief's son Sudharman, senior intelligence leader Thomas, LTTE military leader Luxman, senior Sea Tiger (Sea wing of the LTTE) cadre Sri Ram, LTTE female military leader Isei Aravi, LTTE deputy intelligence leader Kapil Amman, in charge of LTTE female training Ajanthi, in charge of LTTE mortar section Wardha, Secretary to LTTE chief Pudiyawan and Special military leader Jenarthan were among them.

May 17: At least 150 LTTE militants were killed during fierce fighting with the troops inside the No NFZ in Mullaitivu District. Troops operating in the western edge of the Nanthikandal lagoon foiled an attempt by the LTTE militants to escape towards the jungles in Mullaitivu and Puthukkudiyiruppu south killing more than 80 militants, including nine female cadres, who tried to breach the SF defences. "More than 80 well trained Tiger cadres were killed and their bodies were recovered collected from the Nanthikandal lagoon as troops foiled the Tigers’ attempt to breach the Security Forces defence around 2.30 am yesterday," said military officials in Mullaitivu. The attempt to breach the SF’s defences came after launching four LTTE boats into the Nanthikandal lagoon from the NFZ whilst hundreds of other militants crossed the lagoon to reach the western edge of the lagoon. Troops repulsed the attack killing several militants and destroying boats heading towards the SF’s defences.

May 16: Army troops attacked LTTE positions in the Karaiyamullivaikal and Vellamullivaikkal areas causing heavy damages to the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations troops recovered four dead bodies of the militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition.

During a clash between the two sides in the Sarwaruthoddam area troops killed three militants and also recovered their bodies along with a large cache of arms and ammunition.

May 15: During their advance into the Mullaitivu front, troops of the 58th Division recovered dead bodies of 40 LTTE militants and arrested three female Sea Tigers. Troops also recovered the biggest ever arms and ammunition stock they have within a 24 hour period, a military official said. The recoveries included seventy two 60-mm mortars, 36 Indian made Rocket Launchers, two anti-aircraft pedal guns, one 12.7-mm machine gun, a Marine Radar, 12 suicide boats. "Thousands of sea mines and huge stocks of arms and ammunitions which were being counted by the troops for hours were recovered on Friday", the official added.

Army troops continued their advance further into the LTTE-held areas inside the new NFZ and attacked groups of militants causing extensive damages to the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations in the Palamattalan area the troops recovered 35 dead bodies of the militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 206 T-56 weapons, one 12.7-mm gun, two paddle guns, four Multi Purpose Machine Guns, one Navy-boat gun, one radar, six suicide boats, and three Light Machine Guns.

An explosion in the Vellamullivaikkal area targeting the 58^th Division troops at the frontal defence positions failed to inflict damages to upon the SFs as the red-coloured LTTE double cab prematurely exploded and went up in flames as it was nearing the troops in the opposite direction. At least 4-5 LTTE suicide bombers inside the double cab were reported killed in the huge explosion. In addition, four LTTE militants aboard to motorbikes along the beach sped at a high speed and tried to attack troops on the other side of the beach. However, they failed in their attempt and were shot dead by the SFs.

May 14: At least 1,700 civilians were killed and over 3,000 wounded within the last 48 hours as SLA continued its indiscriminate shelling inside the new NFZ, according a statement released by the LTTE Peace Secretariat, reported Tamil Net. The catastrophic situation has been made worse by the acute shortage of food and medicine, the statement said, adding, "Local doctors who are trying to work in these hospitals have decided to hand the hospitals over to the ICRC in the hope that under ICRC management the hospitals may be spared from bombardment."

The SLA launched shells fell and exploded in a boat in which 12 persons from Wanni were fleeing to Point Pedro, killing four persons, reported Tamil Net.

May 13: More than 100 civilians, including many children, patients and an International Committee of the Rd Cross (ICRC) worker, were killed in a SLA artillery attack that targeted a makeshift hospital and the surrounding areas which comprises of many tarpaulin huts in the Mullivaaykkaal area of Mullaitivu District inside the NFZ, reports Tamil Net. The slain doctor was identified as Senthilkumaran, while the slain ICRC worker was identified as Myuran Sivagurunathan. At least 40 persons were injured when the SLA targeted the hospital for the third time within five days. No reports were available on the casualties outside hospital premises as the road remained congested with vehicles moving southwards amid shelling and gunfire over their heads, the Website claimed.

Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal area of Mullaitivu District recovered dead bodies of 19 LTTE militants. One senior cadre, identified as Kannikkaran, was among the dead, troops confirmed. In addition, 21 T 56 weapons, one 12.7-mm weapon, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG), one Light Machine Gun, one FNC Weapon, one 12.7mm gun barrel, three claymore mines each weighing about 12.5 kilograms, one disposable Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) , one improvised mortar launcher and two I-Com radio sets were also recovered from the same area.

May 12-13: The 59th Division troops who reached the south of the new NFZ in the night of May 12 foiled a major sea and ground attack by the LTTE to recapture the newly liberated areas destroying a number of LTTE suicide boats and killing an unspecified number of militants, military officials said on May 13. The fighting broke out at around 9.30pm (SLST) on May 12 as the troops were consolidating their positions along the earth bund they captured after crossing the lagoon in Waddawakkal. "Initially there were huge Tiger suicide boats fitted with high powered engines and two of them rammed into the bunkers held by the troops in the ground. The engines of these suicide boats were so powerful that they can reach the bunkers in the ground once they landed in the beach," an unnamed military official told Daily News. Another suicide boat that reached the shore after the initial attack was damaged by the troops preventing it reaching the shore. Amid the seaborne attack, more than 100 to 150 militants attempted to breach the newly captured earth bund south of the NFZ but that attempt was also foiled by the SFs killing unspecified number of militants. "Fierce fighting continued till 1 am on Wednesday as the LTTE deployed some of their suicide cadres to breach the Security Forces’ defences," the official added.

May 12: The SLA fired artillery shells on the makeshift hospital which was functioning at Mullivaaykkaal junior school inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu district killing at least 47 civilians, reported Tamil Net. At least 55 patients sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal area of Mullaitivu District recovered 43 dead bodies of LTTE militants along with 65 T-56 weapons, two body-armours, one pouch, three helmets, 13 explosive cans and one Outboard Motor (OBM).

Troops of the 58^th Division moving from the north entered the new NFZ in the Mullaitivu District countering the LTTE attacks. Addressing the press at the Media Centre for National Security, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Three LTTE suicide bombers hiding inside underground bunkers have blown themselves as advancing 58 division troops closed-in on them. In a subsequent search operation, troops recovered 25 bodies of Tiger cadres, 20 T56 assault rifles and other warlike items."

May 10- 11: A Sri Lanka Government doctor V. Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the war zone, said 393 people were either brought to the hospital for burial or had died at the facility on May 10, while another 37 bodies were brought in the morning of May 11. More than 1,300 injured came to the hospital, he added. In addition, a senior UN official in Colombo said on May 11 that reports of large-scale killings in the war zone in Sri Lanka appear to show that fears of bloodbath had become a reality. "We’ve been consistently warning against a bloodbath, and the large-scale killing of civilians including more than 100 children this weekend appears to show that the bloodbath has become a reality," said UN spokesman Gordon Weiss. The Government, however, in a statement issued on May 11 denied allegations by the LTTE that its Security Forces shelled the recently re-demarcated new NFZ causing thousands civilian casualties. It said that it denies the reports "attributable to sources aligned with or under duress from the LTTE" and said "the Government's view is that to treat the doctor's statement as evidence of irrefutable and incontrovertible fact, is unwise."

May 11: A Sri Lanka Government doctor V. Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the war zone, said 393 people were either brought to the hospital for burial or had died at the facility on May 10, while another 37 bodies were brought in the morning of May 11. More than 1,300 injured came to the hospital, he added.

May 10- 11: More than 3200 civilians were reported killed inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net on May 11. Lawrence Christy, chief of the TRO field office, on May 11 put the death toll of civilians in SLA shelling at more than 3,200 killed since the evening of May 10 up to the morning of May 11. The SLA offensive formations were firing using cannons, 50 calibre machine guns, artilleries, mortar and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher guns.

May 9-10: Tamil Net claimed that indiscriminate shelling by the SLA inside the NFZ starting from the night of May 9 to the morning of May 10 killed more than 2,000 civilians, including women and children.

A health official in the region, Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, told foreign media that the initial artillery attack - which lasted from the evening of May 9 to the morning of May 10 - killed at least 378 civilians and wounded more than a thousand more.

May 9: Nine civilians died and 19 others sustained injuries when the LTTE militants opened fire on them at NFZ. The Sri Lanka Army report adds that estimated 303 escapees were trying to enter troop-held areas across causeway in Mullaitivu when the LTTE terrorists stormed them and went on a shooting-spree to prevent them from deserting the LTTE.

May 8-9: At least 35 LTTE militants were killed on May 8, as the advancing troops took full control of the last outfit's defensive earth bund in the Mullaitivu District. The troops have completely cleared the Karyamullvaikkal area, Defence officials said on May 9. Currently the LTTE is limited to an area of just three square kilometres, added the official. As reported earlier, an unspecified number of dead bodies of LTTE militants were found scattered along with their weapons, when troops captured the last LTTE built earth bund in the south of Karaiyamullivaikal in the morning of May 7.

May 8: Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal, Vellamullivaikkal, Udayarukattukulam and Vavunavillu areas of Mullaitivu District recovered dead bodies of 31 LTTE militants along with 32 T-56 weapons, two RPG, four MPMG, one 12.7 weapon, one 40-mm grenade launcher, two I-com sets, two claymore mines, three T-56 magazines, two detonators and two maps.

31 more dead bodies of LTTE militants were recovered by the troops along with a cache of arms ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west, Puthukkudiyiruppu east, Verakulam, Vellamullivaikkal, Vavunavillu and Allaiwewa areas. Among others, the seizure included one 82-mm mortar barrel, two 81-mm mortar barrels, one 60-mm mortar and three 12.7-mm weapons.

May 7-8: At least 45 civilians were killed and more than 197 injured as the SLA continued heavy shelling with cluster-munitions on civilian targets in the Mullivaaykkaal area of the NFZ in the Mullaitivu District, claims Tamil Net.

May 6: Clashes continued in the Vellamullivaikkal area, when advancing troops met LTTE resistance. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of three LTTE terrorists, two T-56 weapons and one communication set from the area.

May 4: The STF personnel in the Komari and Pothuvil areas of Ampara District foiled a LTTE infiltration bid, killing four militants.

STF personnel in Komari and Pothuvil areas of Ampara District foiled a LTTE infiltration bid, killing four militants.

May 2: 64 civilians were killed and 87 others injured as the SLA twice attacked the only remaining makeshift hospital at Mullivaaykkaal in the NFZ of Mullaitivu District reported Tamil Net. Two artillery shells fired by the SLA hit the hospital at around 9:00am killing 23 and injuring 34 others while several shells that were fired later at 10:30am killed 41 civilians and wounded 53 others.

The STF personnel ambushed a group of LTTE militants at Kanchikudiary in the Ampara District killing four militants and recovering a large haul of arms, ammunition and explosive devices. The STF later identified the LTTE intelligence wing members as Vedanayagam, Elevandran, Kaleiwendran and Sathyapavan.

May 1: The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed three Sea Tiger boats, including two suicide boats and an attack craft, killing at least 23 militants in a pre-down attack in the seas off Mullaitivu. The SLN spokesman, Captain D.P.K. Dassanayake, said the Navy patrolling three nautical miles in the Mullaitivu sea observed a cluster of LTTE boats deployed from Putumattalan in the NFZ heading towards the currently established Navy first defence line. The Navy’s Special Boat Squadron, Fast Attack Craft and Rapid Action Boat Squadron engaged the Sea Tiger boats attempting to launch a suicide attack on the naval craft. "Two suicide craft laden with high explosives and another attack craft were completely destroyed in the fierce sea battle that erupted in the Mullaitivu sea. At least 23 sea terrorists were killed. Intercepted LTTE communications revealed that Sea Tigers have suffered heavy damages in the confrontation", Captain Dassanayake added.

April 30-May 1: At least 66 civilians were killed as the SLA stepped up artillery, mortar and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher fire on Mullivaaykkaal village during the past 48 hours, reported the Tamil Net. While 39 of the 200 injured civilians admitted at Mullivaaykkaal hospital died on April 30, 27 more civilians among the 110 injured admitted at the hospital died on May 1.

April 29: At least 350 soldiers were killed and over 700 injured as heavy fighting erupted between the troops and the LTTE in the area north of Mullivaaykkaal in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District according to the Tamil Net. The fighting erupted after two days of heavy attacks by the Sri Lanka Army that has attempted to advance towards Mullivaaykkaal, the report added.

The military continued its operation inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing several civilians, claimed Tamil Net. Rescue workers recovered 160 dead bodies of civilians from the area north of Mullivaaykkaal. Around 150 civilians were feared killed after 4pm on the same day, the rescue workers further said.

Naval troops patrolling the North Eastern seas foiled a LTTE attempt to breach its first defence line killing 28 Sea Tigers (cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE), including three female Sea Tiger leaders, identified as Manparithi, Ariyu and Manmadhi, in the sea off Mullaitivu, Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P. Dassanayake told. The Navy Special Boat Squadron confronted with six boats, including four suicide craft, launched from Vellamullivaikkal in the southern part of the NFZ. All the boats were destroyed in the operation.

April 28: 35 militants were killed as clashes ensued between the SFs and LTTE militants in the areas south of Rektavaikkal in Mullaitivu District.

Troops conducting operations in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District captured a 700 meter long LTTE-built earth bund built across Rektavaikkal area in the south of Valayarmadam. Subsequently, the militants drove an explosive laden truck into the troops who retaliated blowing up the vehicle using gunfire, defence sources said. Troops also suffered casualties but managed to avoid a major disaster by destroying the explosive laden vehicle, before it reached the earth bund. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of seven militants from the area.

April 27-28: More than 200 civilians were killed as the SLA fired at least 2,600 MBRL rockets, more than 1,000 artillery shells and at least 2,000 heavy mortar shells from 6:00pm on April 27 till 11:00am on April 28, LTTE officials in Wanni told Tamil Net. Most of the shells fired by the SLA hit civilian shelters in Mullivaaykkaal, Thaazhampan, Ottaippanaiyadi and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas. In addition, the Sri Lanka Air Force bombers attacked Ottaippanaiyadi and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas by deploying cluster bombs, LTTE leaders claimed.

April 27: Troops continued their push towards the last LTTE hideout in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing 12 militants while injuring 27 others, the Defence Ministry said.

Four Sea Tigers were killed in an attack carried out by the SLN Fast attack crafts and the Special Boat Squadron boats. The SLN personnel observed two Sea Tiger boats moving towards the advancing ground troops in the sea off Mullaitivu adjacent to the NFZ at around 4.30am. Naval crafts intercepted these two boats and opened fire completely destroying one boat while causing heavy damages to the other killing the four Sea Tigers.

Troops continued their push towards the last LTTE hideout in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing 12 militants while injuring 27 others, the Defense Ministry said. The ministry said that the LTTE has intensified violence against civilians with a renewed hope of survival.

Four Sea Tigers were killed in an attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Navy Fast attack crafts and the Special Boat Squadron boats. The SLN personnel observed two Sea Tiger boats moving towards the advancing ground troops in the sea off Mullaitivu adjacent to the NFZ at around 4.30am. Naval crafts intercepted these two boats and opened fire completely destroying one boat while causing heavy damages to the other killing the four Sea Tigers.

April 26: At least 40 LTTE militants were killed and 35 others wounded as the troops captured Valayarmadam area of NFZ in Mullaitivu District.

The SLN on duty in the seas off Mullaitivu confronted a cluster of LTTE attack boats and sank three of them with militants on board. At least 12 militants were killed and several others injured in clashes that lasted for a few hours.

April 25: Suspected LTTE militants carried out two attacks at Nochchikulam in the Morawewa area of Trincomalee District and Panama in the Pothuvil village of Ampara District, killing nine civilians.

April 24: The 58th Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva said in Kilinochchi that troops have already captured six kilometres of the NFZ in Mullaitivu District and added that the LTTE was still putting up resistance, firing away 122 mm artillery. "The LTTE is firing but we are not retaliating because of fears that we will hit the civilians. We are using only small arms and carrying out targeted attacks. We don't mind spending more time to recapture the entire area," said Silva, adding, "At least 15 soldiers were killed and about 75 injured during the past four or five days due to LTTE artillery fire. The military operation will end when we fully rescue the remaining civilians from the LTTE. And that will be the end of the LTTE," Brig. Silva said.

April 23: Rev. Father T. R. Vasanthaseelan, the director of Human Development Centre of Caritas Jaffna, the social arm of the Catholic Church in the Jaffna Diocese, was wounded, when the SLA fired shells on the Our Lady of Roses Church in Valaignarmadam inside the NFZ of Mullaitivu District for the second consecutive day, claimed the Tamil Net. 14 civilians who had taken refuge at the church were killed in the shelling. The church is the main centre for people seeking refuge in Valaignarmadam. The SLA has attacked the church despite repeated calls from Jaffna Diocese not to target the church where 17 priests and 22 nuns were continuing to serve their congregations, the Website added.

Troops engaged in rescue operations at Puthumattalan NFZ in Mullaitivu advanced further towards the southern sector close to Ampelvanpokkanai and Velayanmadam areas killing over 10 militants. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of the slain militants along with 25 T-56 weapons, three caps, one Pajero vehicle, two canter vehicles, one motor bicycle, one T-81 weapon, 24 grenades and two I-com sets.

April 22: The SFs killed 14 LTTE militants and injured 21 others during clashes in the Puthukkudiyiruppu east area of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed four militants in the Puttumatalan area and also recovered one 12.7 gun and seven Multi Purpose Machine Guns from the incident site.

April 21-22: Tamil Net claimed that the SLA stepped up artillery and mortar barrage on Valaignarmadam killing and injuring civilians who have sought refuge at several locations. Rev. Father James Pathinathar, a prominent Catholic priest, was reportedly injured in SLA shelling that hit the Church in Valaignarmadam. The Website also alleged that the SLA shelling on April 21 killed a doctor and seven persons at a makeshift medical centre in the same area.

April 21: 22 dead bodies of the LTTE militants were recovered as troops moving past the Puttumatalan junction in the NFZ further extended their defence line to the eastern edge of the beach virtually breaking the NFZ into two major portions. The 58th Division troops "entered into the areas of Puthumanthalam and Ampalavanpokkanai in the no-fire-zone (NFZ)".

The Defence Ministry said that at least four LTTE militants, including local area leader Ramanan, were reported killed and an armour plated vehicle was destroyed "when troops raided an LTTE gathering position east of Puttumatalan".

April 20: The SFs rescued 39081 civilians held hostage by the LTTE inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District. Earlier, the 58th Division entered the NFZ in the early hours of April 20 with the capture of a three kilometres long LTTE-built earth bund in the Puttumatalan and Ampalavanpokkanai areas and opened the gates of the NFZ.

17 civilians were killed and over 200 injured when three LTTE suicide bombers rammed into civilian gatherings and blew themselves up inside the NFZ in the Puttumatalan area between 9.00a.-1.00pm (SLST). The Defence Ministry said the militants initially fired at civilians on the causeway using heavy machine guns.

April 19: The SLA shelling targeting Iraddaivaaykkaal and Mullivaaykkaal areas inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killed at least 30 civilians, reported Tamil Net.

The SFs killed 17 LTTE militants and injured 22 others during clashes while the troops attempted to clear a road that would give the military access to remaining territory in Mullaitivu District held by the outfit, the Defence Ministry said.

Three militants who had infiltrated the area west of Omanthai in Vavuniya District were shot dead by the SFs.

April 17-18: SLA continued indiscriminate shelling inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District on April 17 and April 18 killing at least 60 civilians, according to local NGO workers, claimed Tamil Net. The SLA shelling targeted Iraddaivaaykkaal and Mullivaaykkaal areas of the NFZ. Medical authorities at Puthumaaththalan hospital reported that 63 wounded civilians were admitted on April 17 while 55 others on April 18 at the makeshift hospital. Of the 118 injured, 67 were wounded in shelling and 51 in gunfire, according to medical sources.

April 16: 57 civilians were killed and more than 300 wounded when the SLA fired shells and cannons inside the NFZ at Mullivaaykkaal, Pokkanai and Iraddaivaaykkaal in Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

The SFs gained complete control over a LTTE built earth bund cum ditch in the outskirts of the No Fire Zone killing six militants.

April 15-16: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and 15 others injured as cashes erupted between SFs and militants in east Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District.

April 13-14: Suspected militants attacked the residents of Galvetiyamandiya village in Moneragala District in the evening of April 13 and shot dead at least three civilians, the military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said on April 14. The victims included two elderly women and one male. Police also found one more woman with severe injuries. Police suspect that the same group of militants who massacred nine civilians in Mahagodayaya is involved in this attack.

April 12-13: Tamil Net claimed that at least 23 civilians were killed within 12 hours in SLA shelling and gunfire inside the NFZ. Most of the killings occurred within Valaignarmadam and Mullivaaykkaal areas, when SLA stepped up a fresh ground push to advance into the NFZ, the report added.

Five villagers were hacked to death by suspected LTTE militants, while they were returning from their paddy fields at Mahagodayaya in the Buttala area of Moneragala District. Initial reports said a group of militants in the jungle have carried out the massacre. Buttala Police said there were two children among the victims. At least two others were injured in the attack, Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara said. The death toll of the suspected LTTE attack on villagers at Mahagodayaya along the Buttala-Moneragala road in Moneragala District in the evening of April 12 has risen to nine, Police said on April 13. Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara said that another four persons who were wounded severely succumbed to their injuries later in the same night. Police confirmed that three men, three women, and three children were among the dead.

April 12: At least 31 civilians were killed in SLA shelling and gunfire inside the NFZ on April 12, claimed Tamil Net.

April 11: 17 civilians were reported killed and 48 others injured in SLA attacks, reported Tamil Net.

The military claimed killing eight LTTE militants and injuring 12 others as sporadic fighting was reported between troops and the militants at the fringes of Ampalavanpokkanai in Mullaitivu District. According to military, the SFs engaged the militants who were attempting to breach the forward defenses at around 10:00am (SLST).

Five militants were killed by the SFs in the east Puthukkudiyiruppu. In a separate incident in the same area, 53rd Division troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants and reportedly killed three of them.

April 10: 12 civilians were killed and 50 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net reported.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the outer perimeter of the NFZ and subsequently recovered nine dead bodies of the militants along with 22 T-56 weapons, one Rocket Propeller Grenade launcher, 25 thousand rounds of 5.56 ammunition, one pistol with three magazines and three I-com sets.

April 9-10: The SFs brought the remaining area west of Puttumatalan in Mullaitivu District under their control, by killing at least seven militants on April 9. The SFs also recovered nine T-56 weapons, one I com set and a damaged tractor with its trailer. During extended search operations on April 10, the SFs recovered three more dead bodies of the militants along with 12 T-56 weapons and one MPMG. After the capture of this area there is no land left for the troops to clear from the LTTE except the NFZ.

April 9: 52 civilians were killed and 315 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net reported.

The SFs conducting search and clear operations in the Munnai, Chalai, Patikkarai, east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and Vishuamadu areas, recovered four decomposed dead bodies of the militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition, including 31 T-56 weapons, two magazines, 65 sea mines, four 12.5 kilograms claymore mines, and seven hand grenades, and other items. SFs also recovered 18 T-56 weapons, one micro pistol along with one decomposed dead body of a militant from the north of Nanthikandal lagoon. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in explosions in the area. Separately, one T-56 weapon, one three kilograms claymore mine, one detonator and one hand grenade were found by the SFs in the Ampalavanpokkanai and Olumadu areas.

April 8: 129 civilians were killed and 282 others sustained injuries in SLA artillery shelling inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

50 civilians were killed and 296 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, Tamil Net reported.

Troops of Army's 53rd Division advancing ahead of the eastern limits of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District clashed with the LTTE militants amid heavy resistance killing 12 militants and injuring 20 others. Troops later recovered dead bodies of seven slain militants.

Troops conducting search and clearing operations in Puthukkudiyiruppu found five dead bodies of LTTE militants along with 11 T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun, two RPGs, two I-com sets, three pouches, seven T-56 weapons.

April 6: Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District recovered 72 more dead bodies of the LTTE militants raising the total number of recovered bodies from the area to 525 since April 1.

April 5: At least 420 LTTE militants, including several top leaders, were killed as the troops captured the outfit's final stronghold in Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District and ended the long siege on the last square kilometre held by the LTTE following three days of fighting. The slain leaders included Northern area leader Theepan, female wing leader Vidusha and her deputy Durga, Batticaloa leader Nagulesh and Gadafi. Military wing leader Bhanu was reportedly critically injured in the fighting. Five more senior leaders, identified as Seelambarasan, leader of the LTTE's Radha Regiment, his deputy Anbu, the militant in charge of mortar section Gopal, Asmi, in charge of mines section and a leader of LTTE's Sodia Regiment Mohana were among the other top leaders killed. In search operations conducted in the area troops recovered more than 250 dead bodies of militants bringing the total number of dead bodies recovered during last three days up to 420.

The SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Vishuamadu and Mullaitivu areas killing 14 of them, including six females.

April 4: At least 93 LTTE militants were killed in fierce clashes with the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu east area of Mullaitivu District. During the subsequent search operation the SFs recovered dead bodies of 93 slain militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 111 T-56 weapons, 17 T-81 weapons, four 12.7-mm guns, and two M16 rifles.

71 civilians were killed and 143 sustained injuries in Sri Lanka Army shelling targeting Maaththalan, Pokkanai, Valaignarmadam and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas inside the No Fire Zone in Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

The Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter fired a rocket killing eight civilians near the Pokkanai Pillaiyaar temple.

April 3: At least 45 militants were killed when heavy fighting erupted between the SFs and the LTTE militants in the north east of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. The SFs later recovered dead bodies of all the slain 45 militants. Earlier, the SFs had recovered 21 dead bodies of the militants along with 60 T-56 weapons from the area.

40 senior militants were killed by the SFs during clashes in the Analankulam area of Mullaitivu District. The SFs also recovered 60 T-56 weapons, four RPG, two I-com sets, 10 claymore mines, 60 mortars, 15 anti-personnel mines, 28 packs and several LTTE uniforms.

18 Sea Tigers were killed when the SLN engaged a flotilla of 10 LTTE boats in the north-eastern sea off the coast of Alampil destroying three of the boats, the MCNS said. 'During the sea battle two LTTE boats were destroyed and one more was damaged. The navy conducting the search operation in the area have already recovered at least 11 bodies of the LTTE cadres killed in the pre-dawn clash,' a defence official attached to the MCNS said. The military said three naval craft received minor damages and two sailors suffered injuries in the incident.

13 LTTE militants, including an explosive expert, were killed when Police commandos of the STF ambushed them at Kongahahela in the Lahugala area of Ampara District. The STF said they recovered dead bodies of the slain militants, including two females, along with a large haul of weapons and explosives.

SFs killed five militants in the north of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Subsequently, the SFs recovered dead bodies of the slain militants along with 19 T-56 weapons, seven hand grenades, four I-com sets, one RPG, 17 improvised explosive devices, four flak jackets, nine Arul bombs, 554 rounds of 12.7-mm ammunition, one light machine gun and several cyanide capsules.

April 2: 31 civilians were killed and 70 wounded as the SLA continued artillery and mortar shelling in addition to firing RPG shells and Fifty Calibre rounds inside the NFZ, according to medical and humanitarian workers within the NFZ, Tamil Net reported.

31 LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during clashes between the two sides in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District. A few soldiers also sustained injuries during the clashes. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of 31 militants along with 50 T-56 weapons, one GPS unit, two RPG, one MPMG, one M16 weapon, two I-com sets and several other LTTE items.

During a search operation following an encounter with the militants, the SFs in Vishuamadu area recovered dead bodies of three militants along with some arms and ammunition.

April 1: 33 civilians were killed and 78 wounded as the SLA continued artillery and mortar shelling in addition to firing RPG shells and Fifty Calibre rounds inside the NFZ, according to medical and humanitarian workers within the NFZ, Tamil Net reported

19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 200 others encircled as the entire Puthukkudiyiruppu town and Iranapalai area in Mullaitivu District came under SFs control. The SFs have surrounded the last LTTE terrain in north-east Puthukkudiyiruppu after capturing Pachchaippulmoaddai junction, the last supply route connected to the NFZ from the mainland.

The SFs clashed with militants in east Puthukkudiyiruppu and killed three of them. The troops also recovered 10 T-56 weapons, 31 rounds of cannon-type ammunition and one I-com radio set.

March 31: SLA shelling killed 45 civilians and injured 120 others within the 'Safety Zone' in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. 13 civilians, including nine members of two families, were killed in Ampalavanpokkanai and Valaignarmadam in the morning while 32 more were killed in attacks elsewhere within the 'Safety Zone'.

March 30: The SLA shelling claimed the lives of 70 civilians. In addition, gunfire from the SLA positions across the lagoon killed 18 civilians on the road which links the makeshift hospital with Internally Displaced Person settlements. 21 of the slain victims and 31 of 156 wounded civilians were children.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during several clashes in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District, reported SLA. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with eight T-56 weapons, four magazines, one modified weapon, four I-com sets, one satellite phone, one Silva Compass, two Global Positioning System units, two maps and two man packs from these areas.

Naval troops following a pre-dawn sea encounter off the seas at Chalai in the Mullaitivu District killed 26 Sea Tigers, including one of its top leaders identified as Maran, and submerged four Sea Tiger boats. A huge stock of LTTE armaments also perished with the boats, the Navy said. An unidentified navy spokesman said that a sailor was also killed in the battle.

The SFs captured a LTTE truck mounted with 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun from the Iranapalai area in the east of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Sources said that the SFs repulsed the outfit’s attempt to breach the SF’s FDL killing five militants. Dead bodies of five slain militants along with five T-56 riffles and one radio communication set were recovered from the incident site.

March 29-30: Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that heavy ground battles between the Army troops and LTTE on March 29 left 29 militants dead, Associated Press reported on March 30. A military statement said a senior Sea Tiger leader, known as Uththaman, who commanded the ground battle, was also killed. Following clashes with the militants in the area north of Palamattalam and Puthukkudiyiruppu region on March 29, SFs recovered dead bodies of 15 militants along with 20 T-56 weapons and one MPMG on March 30.

March 28-29: Troops captured the last supply route and gained control of a LTTE-built earth bund in the Mullaitivu District on March 28 following hours of intense fighting that killed nine militants and wounded another 11, the military said on March 29. The SFs advancing further East from Puthukkudiyiruppu captured the LTTE supply line stretching towards Iranapalai, the Defence Ministry said. The capture of the last LTTE supply route will further thwart the LTTE’s movement and logistic supply, according to the defence officials.

SFs on March 28 gained control of a LTTE-built earth bund constructed north of Palamattalam killing at least eight militants and injuring another 17 in a fierce battle, the military reported on March 29.

March 28: At least 31 LTTE militants were killed and more than 30 others injured in fierce fighting with SFs in the Mullaitivu District as the troops repulsed a series of LTTE attempts to breach the SF’s FDL. In Puthukkudiyiruppu and Karaiyamullivaikal, troops advanced into rebel territory killing 13 militants and injuring 19 others. Troops in west of Puthukkudiyiruppu recovered three dead bodies of militants along with two T-56 assault rifles and an LTTE boat. In addition, at least 12 militants were killed and 15 others injured following clashes between troops and militants in north of Iranapalai. Following a separate clash in the same area the SFs recovered dead bodies of three militants along with seven T-56 assault rifles and a mortar gun.

During search operations in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Dharmapuram, Oddankaddukulam, Muthiyankulam, Ampakamam and Olumadu areas the SFs recovered dead bodies of six militants along with arms and ammunition.

March 27: 63 civilians were killed and several others sustained injuries in SLA attacks inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. Pokkanai and Maaththalan were the areas targeted in SLA selling.

March 26: 131 civilians, including 32 children, were killed and more than 252 others, including 49 children, sustained injuries in military operations inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in the Mullaitivu District during the past 48 hours according to data collected from various NGO workers and medical authorities within the civilian pocket ‘besieged’ by the SLA, Tamil Net reported 26. The SLA fired RPG shells, mortar shells and engaged in long-range gunfire, using Multi Barrel Rocket Fire, in the Puthumaaththalan, Valaignarmadam, Maaththalan, Pokkanai, Pachchaippulmoaddai and Mullivaaykkaal areas. The SLAF also bombed some of these areas, the report said.

59 civilians were killed and several others sustained injuries in SLA attacks inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. Pokkanai and Maaththalan were the areas targeted in SLA shelling.

Troops continued their attacks on LTTE camps around Puthukkudiyiruppu area in the Mullaitivu District and killed more than 24 militants while injuring similar number of them. The troops later recovered dead bodies of 13 militants along with some arms and ammunition.

March 25-26: Reuters quoted the military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara as saying on March 26 that at least 30 militants were killed by the SFs during a counterattack in Mullaitivu District a day earlier.

March 25: Troops repelled an attempt by the LTTE to breach the Army forward defence lines north of Iranapalai in the Mullaitivu District, killing an unspecified number of militants. Defence sources said over a dozen dead bodies of the militants were seen at the incident site following heavy fighting that ensued since 5:30am (SLST). Citing intercepted LTTE communication, military officials said four senior militants, identified as Kadal, Vardhan Anna, Sooriyan and Eelavan, were among those killed.

Troops clashed with militants in south of Puthukkudiyiruppu, killing at least five of them, including two women cadres report.

A group of armed militants attacked a group of farmers at Mankdeniya in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa District and shot dead at least four of them and injured four others.

March 24: Suspected LTTE militants shot dead five farmers and injured two others at Neelapola in the Kantale area of Trincomalee District.

Troops recovered dead bodies of eight militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops confronted LTTE militants in the areas around Puthukkudiyiruppu on several occasions and killed three of them.

March 23: The SLA's short-range mortar shelling, RPG attacks and gunfire killed 96 civilians, including 19 children, and injured 160 others within the 'Safety Zone' in the Puthumaaththalan area of Mullaitivu District, according to local aid workers and medical authorities, Tamil Net reported.

March 22: Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said 28 militants were killed by the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops clashed with militants in the area east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and killed nine of them. The SFs also recovered nine T-56 weapons and one hand grenade from the incident site.

March 21: Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said 10 militants were killed by the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Patikkarai and Sarwaruthoddam areas and inflicted some casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered dead bodies of 10 militants from the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Visuamadukulam, Vishuamadu and Killinochchi areas.

Five Sea Tigers were killed as the SLN foiled an attempt by LTTE suicide cadres to attack the SFs as they tried to mix with the fleeing civilians in boats and reach the Government-controlled areas.

SFs gained total control over a 1.5 kilometre stretch of the Paranthan- Mullaitivu (A-35) main road amid stiff LTTE resistance. During subsequent search operations the troops recovered dead bodies of five militants.

March 20: The SLA artillery shelling killed 46 civilians inside the safety zone in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

SLA soldiers attempted to advance in Iranapalai following heavy artillery firing and air attacks, but were forced to withdraw leaving behind dead bodies and military hardware, the LTTE said, claiming that at least 20 SLA soldiers were killed and 120 others sustained injuries in the clash.

A senior Sea Tiger leader, identified as Sindu, was killed and his body was recovered by the troops along with another four bodies following clashes between the SFs and the militants in south of Patikkarai in Mullaitivu District.

The SFs recovered dead bodies of four LTTE militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu and Udayarukattukulam areas.

March 19: 39 civilians, including 11 children, were killed inside the safety zone in SLA's shelling. All shelling and bombing incidents were reported from Mullivaaykkaal, Iraddaivaaykkaal, Valaignarmadam, Pokkanai and Maaththalan areas within the 'Safety Zone', Tamil Net reported.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ampalavanpokkanai, Puthukkudiyiruppu east and Mullaitivu north areas. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of 11 militants along with a cache pf arms and ammunition from Puthukkudiyiruppu.

March 18: At least 23 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of then injured during clashes with the SFs in northeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. The troops recovered the dead bodies of 12 militants along with 12 T-56 assault rifles and an I-com set following clashes on March 18. In a separate incident in the same area, 11 more militants were reportedly killed.

SFs deployed in the south of Chalai, a coastal village in Mullaitivu, killed eight militants.

March 17: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District and destroyed a few hideouts of the militants. The SFs later recovered dead bodies of 18 militants along with 21 RPG bombs, 32 T-56 weapons one LMG, six I-com radio sets and one 120-mm gun from the area.

March 16: At least 29 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured following clashes between the SFs and militants at Irunapalai in the Puthukkudiyiruppu region of Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of 14 militants along with 25 T-56 weapons, five LTTE made mortar launchers, two I-com communication sets and two remote controllers.

29 more civilians were killed in shelling and six others in the gunfire by the SLA. 73 others civilians were reported wounded on the same day.

The Army captured a one kilometre long LTTE-built earth bund in the area southeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu following clashes that killed as many as 29 militants, the army said. A similar number of militants were reportedly injured.

March 15:58 civilians were killed in SLA shelling in Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

During a clash between the two sides in Puthukkudiyiruppu, the SFs killed seven militants and injured an unspecified number of them. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident. The troops also recovered seven T-56 weapons, one I-com set, one smoke bomb, 780 firing devices, twenty-eight 80-mm mortar fuses, fourteen 60-mm mortar fuses and 900 rounds of 9-mm ammunition.

March 14: 69 civilians, including 19 children, were killed and several others wounded within the ‘Safe Zone’ in SLA shelling and SLAF bombardments in Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

March 13: The continuing clashes between troops and LTTE resulted in the death of a number of militants in the east of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Troops in a subsequent search operation recovered dead bodies of 18 militants, 17 T-56 weapons, one I-com set and one LMG from the incident site.

Four pregnant mothers were killed in the SLA shelling inside the ‘Safe Zone’, claimed Tamil Net.

March 12: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed when troops captured a hospital at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Wanni. The peripheral hospital mostly used hitherto by the LTTE for treatment of its cadres was reportedly without patients at the time of its capture. Troops subsequently recovered dead bodies of seven LTTE militants, 13 T-56 weapons, six radio base stations (PRC 77), six PRC 77 low band sets, two I-com sets, 12 circuits and 13 antennas from Puthukkudiyiruppu.

13 top and middle-rung LTTE leaders were confirmed killed in the week-long clashes in Puthukkudiyiruppu. They included ‘lieutenant colonel’ Saleem, the fourth in the LTTE hierarchy, ‘lieutenant colonel’ Ambalanan and ‘lieutenant colonel’ Eleel Chelvan, sent by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran himself for ground battles against troops, ‘lieutenant colonel’ Maran, ‘major’ Tamil Maran, ‘captain’ Kathier Nilavan, ‘major’ Malar Shamal, ‘captain’ Elavilan, ‘captain’ Kalai Kadiravan and ‘captain’ Kala Enivan.

March 11: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and 24 others injured in clashes with troops in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mulliyaweli, Kuppulankulam, Puthumatalan and areas near Mullaitivu town. Several soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting. 40 hand grenades, three T-56 weapons, two T-81 weapons, one LMG drum, three T-56 magazines, one belt order, 210 ammunition rounds of 9.6mm and 2 kg of C-4 explosives were recovered from these areas.

March 10: At least 14 people were killed and 46 others, including the Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mahinda Wijesekara, were wounded when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself up, targeting a procession celebrating Eid-e-Milad (Prophet Mohammed's birthday) in the southern town of Akuressa in Matara district. This is the first suicide attack in Matara, the southernmost region and populated overwhelmingly by the majority Sinhala community. The defence ministry said the suicide bomber "had arrived at the place on a push-bike and exploded himself among the Islamic devotees going to the mosque in a procession… Among the deceased and injured were several local government representatives."

March 7-8: Subarathnam Selvatureiy alias Thamilendi, the LTTE’s chief of financial division, was confirmed killed in the weekend fighting in the northeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu where over 150 dead bodies of militants were recovered after the clashes.

March 7: Troops in a search operation followed by clashes with the LTTE militants in Puthukkudiyiruppu, recovered dead bodies of 19 militants, 18 T-56 weapons, one heavy machine gun, one 40-mm grenade launcher, three RPG bombs and five I-com sets.

Troops engaged in search and clear operations in Vishvamadu area were attacked by a group of LTTE militants. While the attack was repulsed by the SFs, dead bodies of eight militants were recovered by the troops during subsequent search operations. Ten 60-mm mortar bombs, 29 60-mm mortar cartridges, three Arul bombs, one T-56 weapon, 32 magazines, and 54 hand grenades were also recovered from the area.

Following a clash between the troops and LTTE militants in the Puthumathalan and Pallaimatahalan areas, the troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with six T-56 assault rifles, one MPMG, 40 RPG bombs, 20 hand grenades and 114 anti personnel mines from the area.

March 6: The militants opened fire and killed three IDPs and injured two more when they were escaping to cleared areas in boats.

Three civilians were killed and one more was wounded at Chalai area in Mullaitivu District, when the LTTE militants opened fire on them who were fleeing from the ‘Safe Zone’ area on six boats to avoid LTTE atrocities.

March 5: Troops foiled the LTTE’s attempt with human shield by killing around 50 LTTE militants at Puthukkudiyiruppu area in Mullaitivu. 50 other militants and several soldiers were wounded in the counter-insurgency operation. Troops recovered dead bodies of 33 LTTE cadres, 33 T-56 weapons, four Light Machine Guns (LMG), one MPMG, three 60-mm mortar launchers, five I-com radio sets, three disposable RPG, 13 packs, three GPS and five compasses from the incident site.

March 4: At least 68 civilians, including 21 children, were killed and 126 others sustained injuries as the SLA continued artillery shelling inside the 'Safety Zone', claimed Tamil Net. An ICRC member was reportedly among the victims. While 23 civilians were killed during artillery attack between 5:30 (SLST) to 9:00 am, 47 others died in the artillery attack between 5:00 and 9:00 pm. Maaththalan, Pokkani and Iranaippaalai were reportedly the areas which came under military attack.

Troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition, from the Puthukudirippu junction and surrounding areas.

March 3: At least 73 civilians were killed and more than 160 others wounded inside the 'Safety Zone' in the Mullaitivu District as Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells and the Sri Lanka Air Force dropped bombs, claimed Tamil Net. More than 160 civilians have sustained injuries. The report said that Maaththalan, Pokkani, Iranaippaalai and Muliivaaykkaal were the areas which came under military attack.

SFs captured the LTTE’s last stronghold and strategic Puthukuduiruppu town in the Mullaitivu District following clashes in which an unspecified number of militants were reportedly killed. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that troops attached to the 58th Division advancing from the northern region and troops of the 53rd Division entering from southern end of the A-35 road joined each other after entering the Puthukuduiruppu town centre and took over the entire Puthukuduiruppu junction area. "Troops captured the entire Puthukuduiruppu town after a week’s prolonged fighting," he said.

Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Vishvamadu, Puthukkudiyiruppu south, Kattikulam, Mudaliyarkulam and Malawi areas recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with one IED, produced with the help of a 60 mm mortar bomb, seven T-56 weapons, 550 rounds of T-56 ammunition, one RPG launcher, eight RPG bombs, one 60-mm mortar bomb, one I-com set, two hand grenades, two anti-personnel mines, one IED and 18 fuses.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kevil area and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with seven T-56 weapons, two magazines, two MPMG, one MPMG tripod, two 12.7-mm weapons, one 60-mm mortar bomb, five Arul bombs, two I-com sets and one Hero Honda motor bicycle from the nearby Chalai area.

March 2: A LTTE woman-suicide bomber blew herself up in the Vannakulam area, to the east of Elephant Pass and to the south of Vettalaikerny, when the 55th Division troops attempted to go closer to her on suspicion.

March 1: Around 37 civilians were killed in SLA artillery attack and SLAF bombardment in the Mullaitivu District.

20 militants were killed as the SFs foiled a LTTE sea attack by destroying three boats in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area. The Defence Ministry said the LTTE launched 15 boats, including four suicide craft, assisted with simultaneous heavy mortar fire at the SFs directed from the declared 'no fire zone' in the region. Intercepted LTTE communication confirmed heavy damages to the outfit and the ministry added that senior LTTE leaders, including Soosai and Lawrence, had commanded the attack. One female cadre of the outfit, in the wake of Army operations, committed suicide by detonating a suicide jacket while others went into hiding.

10 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded when artillery shells fell inside a Government-designated "safe zone" in the Mullaitivu District, said Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah, a health official.

Three LTTE militants and a civilian were killed when he prevented a LTTE attempt to abduct children from the No Fire Zone.

February 28: Around 40 people died in SLA artillery attack and SLAF bombardment in the Mullaitivu District.

The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area inflicting heavy casualties among the militants and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of nine militants along with three T-56 weapons. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in fighting.

February 27-28: 20 LTTE militants were killed as fierce fighting erupted between the troops and the militants in the Mullaitivu District in the night of February 27 and continued till the morning of February 28. The troops on February 28 stormed the LTTE built earth bund in Palamattalan at the north end of the narrow land strip along the coast following heavy fighting in the area since February 27. Troops also captured the two kilometres long earth bund and a bunker line across the land strip. The troops also engaged a fleet of 20 Sea Tiger boats on reinforcement destroying all of them with the militants onboard. A suicide boat was also destroyed by the ground troops as it came towards the troops operating in the lagoon front. The ground troops foiled more than 15 counter attacks by the LTTE killing more than 20 of their cadres during the battle. Intercepted LTTE communications confirmed that senior LTTE cadres commanded the battle against troops in which several militants, including a senior Sea Tiger ground commander, were killed.

February 27: At least 60 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

Five militants were killed in fighting with the troops in the area north of Kombavil in Mullaitivu District.

February 26: At least 30 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported. Two of the victims were killed within the 'safety zone' in artillery shelling.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District killing 14 of them. An LTTE ground commander known as Shankar who led the confrontation in Puthukkudiyiruppu area was killed.

February 25: At least 45 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported. 18 of the victims were killed within the 'safety zone' in artillery shelling.

February 24: SFs entered Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District, the last town under LTTE's control, following fierce fighting. Fighting intensified between the troops and LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area as the outfit was putting up stiff resistance in their final stronghold in Mullaitivu District. While eight militants were killed, the troops also recovered 14 T-56 weapons, one I-com radio set, one RPG and one claymore mine from the Puthukkudiyiruppu north.

19 militants were killed when they attempted to infiltrate the SF's defence line in the north of Mullaitivu.

Three Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed Iranaippaalai thrice, killing seven civilians, claimed Tamil Net. At least four of the victims belonged to a single family, according to the report.

Six civilians were killed when the SLA fired artillery shell near the makeshift hospital at Puthumaaththalan, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs killed six militants in the area north of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

February 23: SFs reached closer to Puthukkudiyiruppu town, the outfit's last stronghold, and regained a section of the earth bund in the Kombavil area of Mullaitivu District. Following a fierce battle, troops recovered three bodies of militants and two T-56 assault rifles from the incident site.

February 22: 20 civilians were killed and 60 others wounded in the Iranaippaalai, Aananthapuram and Puthukkudiyiruppu areas of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed four LTTE militants in the Vattappalai area.

February 21-22: At least 12 civilians, including two children, were shot dead by the LTTE militants at Karawetiyagama in the Rathmalgahaella area of Ampara District. The death toll increased to 21, the Media Centre for National Security said on February 22.

February 21: 33 civilians were killed and 73 others wounded when the SLA fired artillery shells towards the Safety Zone at Valaignarmadam, Mullivaaykkaal and Pokkaani in the Mullaitivu District.

Troops advancing towards Puthukkudiyiruppu town attacked more LTTE camps in the west and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu inflicting heavy casualties among the militants. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of 11 militants from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west and Ampalavanpokkanai areas.

February 20: 70 civilians were injured when the SLA launched artillery attack targeting civilians within the 'safe zone' and the adjoining areas in Wanni, claims Tamil Net. 13 of the 70 wounded civilians died later. The SLA targeted Mattapan, Pokkanai, Valaignanmadam and Iranaippaalai areas in the Mullaitivu District, the report added.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Puthukkudiyiruppu west, Chalai, Mulliyaweli and Ampalavanpokkanai areas of Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties among the militants. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in LTTE fire. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered the dead bodies of 10 militants along with one MPMG, seven T-56 weapons, four communication equipment and two pouches from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west and Ampalavanpokkanai areas.

Troops captured Ampalavanpokkanai village in the Mullaitivu District after a fierce battle with the LTTE. "The Security Forces crushed the Tiger attempt to resist advancing troops and had taken control of the area in the afternoon. Troops consolidating their position in the area launched a mopping up operation and recovered seven LTTE bodies and five T56 assault rifles. The LTTE cadres fled from the area facing heavy damages and casualties," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Two LTTE light aircrafts were shot down by the Security Forces in Colombo and Katunayake following an attempt by the outfit to bomb Colombo city. The SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said following the detection of two LTTE aircrafts by the radar, the air defence system was activated and there was a blackout in Colombo City and suburbs for about an hour after 9.20 pm. However, one of the aircrafts managed to drop a bomb on the Inland Revenue Department injuring at least 50 persons and destroying the building. Two of the injured persons reportedly succumbed to their injuries later. Meanwhile, the aircraft was immediately shot down by the SLAF and its remnants were found in the premises. In addition, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said another LTTE light aircraft was shot down at Katunayake. He said the dead bodies of the LTTE pilots and the wreckage of the aircraft shot down at Katunayake were recovered.

February 19: At least 24 civilians were killed in the SLA artillery attack in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District, reports Tamil Net.

10 civilians were killed and 70 injured in the Iranaippaalai, Aananthapuram and Valaignarmadam villages of Mullaitivu District.

Three members of a family were killed in the Valaignarmadam area of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu west area.

February 18: At least 50 civilians were killed and more than 70 others wounded when four SLAF bombers dropped cluster bombs on internally displaced civilians at Aananthapuram in the Iranaippaalai area of Mullaitivu District at around 12:50 pm claimed Tamil Net. Medical sources said at least 50 civilians were killed in one of the bombardments, adding that the death toll could be more than 100 and that around 300 could be wounded. At least 160 people were killed within the last 10 hours in Mullaitivu, claimed an unnamed doctor at Maththalan hospital.

Troops killed nine militants in the west and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu and in south Oddusudan.

SFs recovered six dead bodies of the LTTE militants along with five T-56 weapons during a search operation in the area west of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District.

February 17: The SLA launched indiscriminate artillery attack into the newly announced safety zone killing at least 108 civilians and injuring more than 200, claimed Tamil Net. The artillery attack targeted Maaththalan, Pokkanai and Mullivaaykkaal areas.

The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed Iranaippaalai, the new centre for humanitarian and basic facilities located between the new and old safety zones, killing at least 15 people fleeing from the old 'safety zone' towards Maaththalan, the Tamil Net said.

The SFs entered the Puthukuduiruppu West area of Mullaitivu District confining the LTTE to less than 80 square kilometres area, military sources said. The SFs have reportedly taken complete control of the previous 'No Fire Zone' declared by the Army after thousands of civilians moved out of the area once the Army declared the new safe areas in the coastal belt in the north of Mullaitivu. The SFs also recovered the dead bodies of 23 militants from the area (14 on February 16 and nine on February 17.

February 16: Three workers attached to the Karaithuraippattu Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society were killed inside the Theavipuram area of Mullaitivu District.

February 15: Eight civilians were killed within the new safety-zone at Pokkanai area of Mullaitivu District.

February 14: 16 civilians, most of them belonging to three families, were killed in an artillery attack by the SLA at Iranaippaalai, located between the new and old safety zones, in the Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

February 13: Subsequent to heavy clashes between the two sides in the Kuppilankulam area of Mullaitivu District, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with five T-56 weapons and one I-com radio set.

February 12: The SFs clashed with militants in the Mullaitivu District killing at least 28 of them, the Defence ministry said. "Snipers deployed in the forward areas confirmed shooting down 23 terrorists at various locations during daytime," the ministry said, adding, five militants were killed in separate clashes.

12 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and militants in the area south of Puthukudirippu in Mullaitivu District. An unspecified number of soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes.

February 11: The SFs killed eight LTTE militants in the Thuvarankulam and surrounding areas of Mullaitivu District.

February 10: 19 civilians, including five women and two children, were killed and 75 others, including 30 women and 28 children, were wounded as the LTTE militants opened fire on a group of civilians fleeing the outfit-held areas of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the LTTE attacked the civilians seeking refuge with the soldiers in Udayarkattikkulam. These civilians had arrived at the rescue point in the Udayarkattikkulam area between 6:00 am (SLST) and 7:00 am.

February 9: A LTTE woman suicide bomber mingling with a group of displaced civilians coming from un-cleared areas blew herself up at Sugandirapuram in the Mullaitivu District, killing 28 people and injuring more than 60 others. Among the dead were 20 SF personnel and eight civilians. 24 soldiers were among the 60 injured persons. The bomber, who had come with around 1,000 displaced civilians from un-cleared areas of Mullaitivu, blew herself up when a woman soldier tried to body check her at a checkpoint prior to being taken to a transit welfare centre.

February 8: The SLA continued indiscriminate barrage of artillery shelling on the safety zone killing more than 80 civilians and injuring 200. Most of the casualties were reported along the roads. Further, a shell exploded inside a bunker in Vallipuan, killing three persons and injuring four others. More than 500 houses and huts were damaged in the shelling.

Troops killed seven LTTE militants in clashes at a strategic township near Mullaitivu.

Naval craft patrolling the sea off Mullaitivu in a predawn attack destroyed two LTTE boats just a few minutes after it was detected on the radar screen. According to Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P. Dassanayake, Dovra high speed naval craft had given chase and fired at the fleeing LTTE boats killing at least six militants.

The SLA reported that LTTE militants fired at civilians who were fleeing the outfit-held areas killing three of them while injuring three others.

February 7: At least 62 civilians were killed in shelling by the SLA inside the safety zone in the Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram areas of Mullaitivu, reports Tamil Net.

34 militants were killed when the SFs foiled an LTTE infiltration attempt through the SFs FDL in the south of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

The SLAF said its fighter jets destroyed a hideout of the Sea Tigers chief Soosai located one kilometre northeast of Puthukuduiruppu junction in the Mullaitivu District and claimed that he could either have been killed or wounded in the attack. The SLAF spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara said 11 LTTE militants, including a very senior militant, were killed in the attack.

February 6: The SLAF bombed Ponnampalam hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu killing 61 patients.

59 civilians were killed in shelling by the SLA inside the safety zone in the Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram areas of Mullaitivu, reported Tamil Net.

An unspecified number of militants were killed in clashes with troops in the Kuppilankulam and Thuvarankulam areas. The SFs also captured a LTTE camp in the Thuvarankulam area. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of six militants.

SFs continued operations in the LTTE-held areas south and west of Puthukkudiyiruppu and Kuppilankulam killing several militants. They later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

February 5: The SLA fired more than 6,000 artillery shells inside the safety zone not allowing people to come out of bunkers throughout the day in the Chuthanthirapuram and Iruddumadu areas of Mullaitivu District killing 16 people, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs captured the LTTE’s last Sea Tiger base of Chalai in the north of Mullaitivu after five days of fighting killing at least 12 Sea Tigers cadres, including top leaders. Among those killed was a deputy leader known as Vinayagam.

A hospital in the Udaiyaarkaddu area within the safe zone was shelled by the SLA killing at least seven civilians while injuring 27 others. Two ambulances and the medical store of the hospital were also destroyed.

Three militants were killed in clashes between the two sides in the areas west of Kuravikulam and Kuravikulam.

February 3: At least 52 civilians were killed when the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu District was shelled for the fourth consecutive day, this time by a cluster bomb, forcing authorities to evacuate patients from one of the last functioning medical facilities in the war zone, said the UN.

February 2: The SFs recovered the dead bodies of 12 LTTE militants following clashes with the militants in the Murusamoddai and Ettakokkavilkulam north areas of Mullaitivu District.

Three people were killed and 10 injured when the SLA for the third consecutive day shelled the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

Nine civilians were killed and 20 others injured when a hospital in the LTTE-controlled area of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District came under artillery attack three times. The ICRC spokesperson Sarasi Wijeratne said that the Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital was directly hit twice in the afternoon and again in the night. The ICRC, which has its staff present at the hospital, however, did not know who fired the shells. Meanwhile, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara denied LTTE's allegation that the Army was responsible for the incident and accused the outfit for indiscriminately firing artillery barrages in a desperate attempt to halt the military operations.

February 1: 150 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 350 others injured when the defensive formations of the LTTE foiled an SLA attempt to capture Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net. Three battle tanks, two troop carriers, a military bus and two tractors were fully destroyed in the fighting, said S. Puleedevan, Director of the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

35 LTTE militants were killed in separate clashes between the troops and militants in the Mullaitivu District. The day-long fighting occurred in the area west of the Nanthikandal lagoon and Udayarkattikkulam near the declared civilian safe zone as troops came under heavy artillery attack from the militants.

The SFs clashed with militants in the area north of Visuamadu, killing at least 11 of them and injuring eight others.

Following several rounds of clashes with the LTTE militants in the Udayarkattikkulam and Udayankattu areas, troops recovered the dead bodies of five militants. An unspecified number of soldiers were also injured in the fighting while five others went missing.

January 31-February 1: Tamil Net claimed that 56 civilians were killed between January 31 and February 1 when the SLA fired artillery shells targeting civilian refuges at Moongkilaaru in the Udaiyaarkaddu area within the 'safety zone' announced by the Government of Sri Lanka.

January 31: SFs captured a Black Tiger camp complex in the east of Visuamadu in Mullaitivu District. Nine mortar launchers of five different calibre of 120-mm, 81-mm, 82-mm, 80-mm and 60-mm, six Multi Purpose Machine Guns, two thermo baric launchers, 20 pistols, three Rocket Propeller Guns (RPG), seven claymore mines, one improvised claymore mine, 18 T-56 weapons, one sniper gun, eight RPG rounds, 59 hand grenades, one tripod, 35 Arul-type bombs, 100 detonators, one radio set, thirty five gas masks, 48 helmets, 35 pouches, a large stock of new LTTE uniforms along with the dead bodies of 12 militants were recovered from the complex.

January 29: At least 44 civilians were killed and 178 others sustained injuries during SLA's artillery firing targeting civilians in safety zones in Wanni, claimed Tamil Net.

January 28: At least 50 LTTE militants were killed and more than 150 injured during heavy fighting between the troops and militants in the Udayankattu and Pallaikudiyirippu areas of Mullaitivu District. Four soldiers also went missing. The SFs also captured one LTTE base camp, with five buildings and one electric generator, and another camp with 15 bunkers, and subsequently recovered 200 claymore mines, some mine cases, vehicles, including one unicorn, two jeeps, one browser, one cab and one tractor.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and several others injured when SFs operating from the south of Paranthan-Mullaitivu (A-35) road reached Vishvamadu junction amidst stiff resistance by the outfit. The village, near Kalmadukulam tank, was completely under water and their houses and properties were largely damaged, when the tank bund was breeched by the LTTE, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of five militants

January 26: More than 300 people were killed and several hundreds injured when the SLA fired artillery shells inside the Safety Zone declared by the Colombo Government within the last 24 hours, Tamil Net claimed. The shells mostly exploded in the area three kilometers between VallipunamKaali temple and Moongkilaaru towards Paranthan road.

January 25: SFs captured Mullaitivu Town, the LTTE’s most prestigious military stronghold in the Eastern coast. The troops entered Mullaitivu by 1 pm (SLST). Earlier, on January 23, the SFs made a major breakthrough in their battle to capture Mullaitivu with the capture of the earth bund located four kilometres south of Mullaitivu centre. Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka announced this victory to the nation in the evening in a special message telecast live. "The Tiger stronghold of Mullaitivu fell under Security Forces control after 13 years with the 59 Division troops under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta entering this strategic stronghold last afternoon", military officials said.

22 civilians were killed and 60 others wounded as SLA continued artillery shelling in various localities, including Chuthanthirapuram, Udaiyaarkaddu and Thearaavil in Vishvamadu, inside the 'safety zone', Tami Net claimed.

Troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadukulam, south of Puliyanpokkarai, east of Dharmapuram and southeast of Puliyanpokkarai areas and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of seven militants.

SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadukulam and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu areas of Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of three militants. Another dead body of a LTTE militant was recovered from the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

SFs in the northeast of Udayarkattikkulam tank clashed with the LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three them.

January 24: 12 civilians killed were killed and 87 wounded as SLA continues artillery attack on Safety Zone in the Udaiyaarkaddu area of Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

January 23: Five civilians, including a 10-year-old girl and a 56-year-old priest, were killed when the SLA fired artillery shells targeted Safe Zone areas such as Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Wallipuram in the Mullaitivu district at least four times, according to medical sources in the region, Tamil Net reported.

The SLA fired artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher shells targeting Tamil refugees in temporary settlements of Mullaitivu district killing three civilians and injuring 33 others, Tamil Net reported.

January 22: At least 100 persons were killed in artillery exchanges between military and the LTTE in the last one week, a Government official working in the area controlled by the LTTE said. "Around 30 people died in the morning today. Personally I saw that nearly 100 people have died from Saturday [January 17] up to today. More than 300 have been injured," Mullaitivu District Government Agent Emelda Sukumar said.

Tamil Net claimed that 66 civilians were killed and more than 200 wounded in SLA’s artillery fire within the last three days in Mullaitivu District. While 16 civilians were killed on January 20, 20 others died on January 21 and around 30 more were killed within the past 12 hours of January 22, according to the Regional Director of Health Service (under the LTTE administration) for Mullaitivu District Dr. Varatharajah.

The Intensive Care Unit and the surgical site of the Mullaitivu hospital, functioning as a makeshift hospital at Wallipuram school, were damaged in SLA’s artillery fire in the night of January 21 and at around 12:20 pm on January 22 in which five civilians were killed within the hospital premises.

40 SLA soldiers were killed and 70 others injured as the LTTE’s defensive formations put up stiff resistance against the SLA that attempted to advance through Kallaaru in the North-western front, the LTTE sources said. The militants did not issue details on their casualties but claimed to have seized weapons in the clearing mission that followed.

SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadu area of Mullaitivu District and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered the dead bodies of four militants.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas south of Mullaitivu and Puthukkudiyiruppu and captured one LTTE bunker and earth bund on. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants.

The SFs advancing towards Mullaitivu along the southernmost tiny islet of the Chundikulam strip confronted a pocket of LTTE militants at the Jaffna-Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

11 dead bodies of the LTTE militants were handed over to the representatives of the ICRC in Vavuniya and they were taken to un-cleared areas (areas not under Government control) to be delivered to the LTTE by the ICRC.

January 21: The SFs continued attacking LTTE camps in the Dharmapuram, Ramanathapuram and Visuamadu south areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes. The SFs later recovered the dead body of six militants, including three female cadres.

January 20: 15 civilians, including five children, were killed and 29 others injured during artillery fire by the troops in the Vishvamadu, Udaiyaarkaddu, Chuthanthirapuram and Maanikapuram areas of Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs attacked LTTE camps in the areas east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and northeast and southeast of Mulliyaweli inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit. Several soldiers also sustained injuries during these attacks. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of nine militants.

Dead bodies of 38 LTTE militants, including 21 female cadres, which had not been accepted by the outfit were buried in the Vavuniya cemetery in the afternoon of January 20, following a court order received by the Police January 19.

January 19: The pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net quoted the outfit's sources as saying that 35 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 60 others wounded when the outfit's defensive formations clashed with the SLA for 24 hours in the North-western frontier of the LTTE-held territory till the SLA was pushed back from Neththaliyaattuppaalam. It also reported heavy fighting in the south-eastern frontier of the LTTE-held territory. The militants also claimed to have seized several arms and ammunition from the SLA in Neththaliyaaru.

January 18: At least 18 civilians have been confirmed killed in troop's artillery fire within the last 24 hours till 3:00pm in several villages of Mullaitivu District and the outer suburbs of Kilinochchi District to the east of A-9 highway, claims pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. At least 42 civilians were wounded on January 18 alone, according to the report. The dead bodies of eight civilians were recovered from Piramanthanaaru and Thearaavil areas of Kilinochchi District and Redd Barna settlement in the Mullaitivu district on January 17. At least 10 more civilians were killed and over 42 wounded on January 18.

Three civilians were shot dead and three others injured by a group of unidentified assailants at the Sadatissagama jungle patch in the Buttala area of Moneragala District. Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranjith Gunasekera, said "Police are investigating to ascertain whether the gunmen were LTTE cadres or gangsters operating in the area."

January 17: SFs captured Ramanathpuram area, a large township in the east of Kilinochchi District. The LTTE militants after being evicted from Iranamadu and Kilinochchi withdrew to Ramanathpuram where they had already made a fortress constructing strong bunkers, training areas, command and logistic points and administrative bases.

SFs killed an unspecified number of LTTE militants in the area about seven kilometres north of Muthuiyankaddukulam tank in the Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of 19 militants along with six T-56 weapons, two Light Machine Guns, one Rocket Propeller Grenade launcher, eight claymore mines and four hand grenades from the area.

SFs clashed with militants at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of eight militants along with one Light Machine gun, 10 T-56 weapons, 1000 rounds of T-56 ammunition, six dog tags and one I-com radio set.

SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Puliyanpokkarai, east of Dharmapuram, Kandavalai and Udayarkattikkulam areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. The troops later recovered dead bodies of four militants, including a female cadre, along with one T-56 weapon from Puliyanpokkarai and Udayarkattikkulam areas.

Unidentified assailants shot dead three persons, including a civil defence force soldier, in the Muttur area of Trincomalee District. Police said the assailants killed the victims while they were travelling in a tractor. Two of the victims are believed to be farmers from the Muttur area.

January 16: SFs took full control of the entire perimeter of the Iranamadu tank bund covering about three kilometres in the Kilinochchi District.

SFs attacked LTTE camps at Udayarkattikkulam in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with three T-56 weapons and one tractor.

January 15: Troops of the 58^th Division captured Dharmapuram, one of the LTTE's biggest townships on the A-35 road and about 15 kilometers to the east of the A-9 highway, in the Mullaitivu, Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said. The SFs inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of six militants along with four T-56 assault rifles, an MPMG weapon, two LTTE dog tags, an I-com set, a motorcycle and other items.

The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that the advance by the SLA from Tharmapuram on three fronts was repulsed by the LTTE cadres killing 51 SLA soldiers and wounding 150 others in the confrontation which started in the morning of January 15. The website also claimed that the SLA artillery attack in the Kaiveali, Koampaavil and Vishvamadu areas killed five civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, and injured six others, including an eight-year-old boy.

Heavy fighting erupted between the troops and militants in the Vishvamadu, Kulaweddidal and Mulliyaweli areas in which an unspecified number of militants were killed. SFs later recovered dead bodies of seven militants along with six T-56 weapons from the Vishvamadu and Kulaweddidal areas.

January 14: Troops captured the entire Jaffna peninsula by capturing the last remaining LTTE stronghold of Chundikulam. The military said troops of 55^th Division marching towards Mullaitivu captured Chundikulam which lies parallel to the east of the Elephant Pass isthmus in Jaffna Peninsula. The Army destroyed a LTTE boat with artillery fire killing several militants, including a senior Sea Tiger (cadre of the sea wing of the LTTE) leader, identified as "Lieutenant Colonel' Thiru.

SFs, advanced 40 kilometres from the Nagarkovil defence line in the Eastern edge of the Jaffna peninsula, captured five Sea Tiger bases in Manmunai, Thalai Adi, Vathurayan, Vettalaikerny and Chundikulam. The troops also recovered of a fleet of 125 boats belonging to Sea Tigers and LTTE from Chundikulam along with several other items. With the fall of Chundikulam, the LTTE has been forced to operate only in the seas surrounding Mullaitivu.

The troops clashed with militants in the Dharmapuram, Puliyansekkarai, Ramanadhapuram and Murusamoddai areas of Mullaitivu District and killed an unspecified number of them. At least six dead bodies of the militants were later recovered from Dharmapuram and Puliyansekkarai along with four T-56 weapons, one MPMG weapon, two LTTE dog tags, one I-com set, one motorbike and several other items.

January 13: The LTTE militants withdrawing towards Mullaitivu were fired upon by troops in the Ramanadhapuram, Thanniuttu, east of Puthukudirippu, Muthiyandankulam, west of Puthukudirippu, north of Ampakamam and Kanakarandankulam areas killing an unspecified number of militants. SFs later recovered the dead bodies of six militants along with 10 T-56 weapons, one radio communication set, two I-com sets and one hand grenade from these areas.

SFs attacked the LTTE camps in the Murusamoddai area of Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. While the SFs recovered dead bodies of four militants along with one canter lorry and one motor bicycle during the subsequent search operation, three other militants who were hiding in the area surrendered to the troops.

January 12: After a two day battle, SFs re-captured the Government hospital and its surrounding area at Tanniyuttu town in the Mullaitivu District. Troops later recovered several LTTE uniforms and other equipments used by the militants. The hospital has been used by the militants as a key strategic point to attack the SFs and treat their injured cadres. The outfit had erected several bunkers within the hospital premises.

January 11: The SFs opened fire towards LTTE militants in the Periyakulam, Vaddakkachchi and the east of Iranamadu areas and killed an unspecified number of them. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of eight militants, including a decomposed dead body of a female cadre, along with four T-56 weapons from these areas.

January 10: Seven Tamil civilians, including two children, on their way to cleared areas (area under Government control) seeking protection for their lives, were shot dead by the LTTE militants. According to the military sources, the civilians from Murusamoddai and Kanchipuram areas were on their way to security forces' controlled area when they were attacked by the militants deployed on possible escaping routes to prevent civilian movement. Two children, two females and three males were among the victims, military sources added. However, 49 more civilians, two of them injured in firing, of the same group managed to arrive at the SFs camp in Paranthan.

An unspecified number of militants were killed during fighting in the Vaddakkachchi and Kandavalai areas. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of five militants.

A group of LTTE militants stormed the TMVP office at Killiveddi in the Trincomalee District and opened fire at the TMVP members inside the office killing one of them and injuring two others. In the ensuing exchange of fire between the LTTE cadres and TMVP members providing security to the office, two militants were killed. Dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with one T-56 weapon, three hand grenades, one cyanide capsule, and mobile phone were recovered from the incident site.

SFs, advancing towards Mullaitivu, captured another LTTE airstrip located five kilometers west of the Mullaitivu lagoon. The Defence Ministry said the airstrip was about 2.5 kilometers long and 100 meters wide. This is the fourth LTTE airstrip captured by troops in the recent past, military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Troops operating in the Mullaitivu area captured this airstrip together with two empty hangars, he added.

The Task Force-II troops captured a LTTE base in the Aiyamperumal area of Mullaitivu District. The camp, protected with a 12 feet tall barbwire fence and one 60 mm motor gun, consisted of one lecture hall, 12 temporary huts, one medical room, one store building and a kitchen.

January 9: SFs captured the A-9 highway connecting the south with the Jaffna peninsula after 23 years. Troops of the 53rd, 55th, and 58th Divisions captured the strategically important Elephant Pass, President Mahinda Rajapakse announced. The 53rd and 55th Division advancing from Muhamalai and Kilali linked up with troops of the 58th Division who had taken control of the Elephant Pass south by January 6. The 58th Division cleared the path for the 53rd and 55th Division to move towards the south of Jaffna peninsula compelling the LTTE militants to vacate many of the areas they held in the southern part of the Jaffna peninsula.

SFs recovered the dead bodies of 12 militants along with five T-56 weapons, one General Purpose Machine Gun and two I-com radio sets from the Murusamoddai area of Mullaitivu District.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and some solders wounded during clashes at Iranamadu and Wattakachchi in the Kilinochchi District. During subsequent search operations in Wattakachchi, the troops recovered dead bodies of three militants, including a female cadre, one T-56 weapon, ten 81 mm mortar bombs, twenty-two 61 mm mortar bombs, 11 hand grenades and 10 anti-personnel mines.

January 8: Troops of the 53rd Division and 55th Division advancing from the Kilali and Muhamalai forward FDLs captured the Pallai town, the main township south of Muhamalai and Kilali FDLs. Military sources said LTTE had shifted their artillery guns from Jaffna peninsula to the south expecting a troop advance.

The troops captured Sorampattu, about five kilometres southeast of Pallai. The LTTE militants exploded a string of cluster bombs, which have been banned under UN conventions, as the troops were closing in on them and injured a few soldiers. An unspecified number of militants now trapped between Sorampattu and Pallai would have either been killed or injured since all the routes for their passage either through Jaffna, Kilinochchi or to the north of Mullaitivu remain sealed after the capture of several strategic towns in these areas.

Murasumoddai town, on the A-35 road and about 5.5 kilometres to the east of Paranthan town, was captured by troops of the 58th Division. An unspecified number of militants were killed during clashes that erupted in the area since the evening of January 7.

Four civilians and three SLAF personnel were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Morawewa in the Trincomalee District. The explosion occurred when the SLAF personnel were engaged in route-clearing for a tractor of the Irrigation Department which was taking civilian workers to the Neluwa irrigational worksite, killing four civilians aboard the tractor and three accompanying SLAF personnel on the spot. Six more sustained injuries in the blast.

SFs in Mannar confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Pampaimadu area and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, they recovered the dead bodies of five militants along with some arms and ammunition.

SFs attacked LTTE camps in the Urani, Murusumoddai, Mulliyaweli, west of Mankulam, Thaddumalai, Thaddalaimadu, north of Ampakamam and north of Alankulam and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of four militants along with some arms and ammunition.

SFs continued their advance amidst heavy LTTE mortar fire in the Kilinochchi east, Vattaikachchi and Iranamadu. An unspecified number of militants were killed in these clashes. Troops also recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with one T-56 weapon, four hand grenades and two I-com sets from Vattaikachchi.

January 5: SFs reached Elephant Pass with troops of the 58 Division capturing the entire southern part of it and further advancing towards the North to capture it entirely, Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka said. The troops captured Thamilamadam, the causeway to the south of the Elephant Pass.

Heavy fighting erupted in the East of Paranthan and Elephant Pass South for the past two days as the LTTE made their maximum effort to stop the advance of the troops towards Elephant Pass and Murusamudai, East of Paranthan. According to military sources, 10 soldiers were killed and 23 others injured in the fierce battle in Elephant Pass and Murusamudai areas.

January 4: SFs attached to Task Force IV operating in the East of the A-9 road captured the key junction town Oddusudan on the A-34 road taking full control of the Oddusudan- Nedunkerni-Puliyankulam road. "Security Forces killed at least 10 Tiger cadres as they attacked a tractor transporting Tiger cadres and several other vehicles," a military official said.

The pro-LTTE website Tamil Net claimed that at least 53 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 80 sustained injuries during heavy fighting that erupted when the SLA launched an offensive push through 2nd Mile Post on the Paranthan-Mullaitivu Road on two fronts.

January 3: Troops advancing towards Mullaitivu confronted LTTE militants in the Thanniutthu, Thottam, Kachchilamadu, north of Mudaliyankulam and Kumulamunai areas and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. Troops also expanded their FDL further in the Kumulamunai area and recovered the dead body of a militant from the area.

January 2: The Sri Lanka Army captured Kilinochchi, the LTTE’s political and administrative headquarters. The troops are reported to have launched simultaneous attacks from three directions in Paranthan, Iranamadu and Adampan before capturing the town in the early hours of January 2. The military had crossed into Kilinochchi District on July 31, 2008 and has since been engaged in clashes with the LTTE.

January 1: Troops advancing towards Kilinochchi captured the key LTTE garrison of Paranthan following hours of fighting that killed over 50 militants.

The troops captured Iranamadu junction, about six kilometers south of Kilinochchi town centre opening route to the Iranamadu town.

2008

December 31: More than 50 LTTE militants were killed and over 60 others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides when the Task Force-I troops on entered the strategically important Paranthan town after cutting off the A-9 road from the north of Paranthan junction, Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka. Paranthan is a strategically important four way junction town in the remaining areas held by the LTTE in Wanni and the North as it connects Pooneryn in the West, Mullaitivu in the East, Kilinochchi in the South, and Jaffna and Muhamalai in the North to one main hub through B-69, A-35 and A-9 roads.

Troops of 59 Division confronted LTTE militants in west of Mulliyavalai in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of 15 militants along with one Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) launcher, 12 RPG rounds, nine T-56 weapons, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun, 40 hand grenades, four I-com sets, one Global Positioning System and one Night Vision Device from the area. 11 soldiers were injured during these clashes.

Army troops advancing towards Kilinochchi town attacked more LTTE camps in the east and west of Iranamadu, north and south of Adampan and Paranthan areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit. In subsequent search and clear operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with three T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun, four T-56 magazines and two hand grenades from Adampan south and Paranthan areas. A few soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.

December 30: The Task Force-I troops captured Kamalakadukulam, about two kilometers west of Paranthan, and Thadduwankoddy, in the north west of Paranthan, in Kilinochchi District. "Intercepted radio transmissions confirmed that 20 Tiger cadres were killed and 30 wounded in the fierce battles that erupted from early hours of yesterday. The Task Force I troops managed to recover six Tiger bodies during search and clear operations," sources said.

December 29: The Army received dead bodies of 17 soldiers from the International Committee of the Red Cross officials at Omanthai in the Vavuniya District.

December 28: The LTTE claimed that at least 50 SLA soldiers were killed and 90 wounded in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu District on December 27. 15 SLA soldiers were also killed and more than 30 wounded in the nearby Uduppukkulam village.

Eight persons were killed when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself after entering the premises of a Civil Defence Force (CDF) post at Wattala in the Colombo District. One Army officer, six CDF personnel and one civilian died while 17 others sustained injuries.

Army troops at Black Bridge in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa District confronted a group of LTTE militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of four militants along with two T-56 weapons and two micro pistols.

The troops captured the whole stretch of land between Puliyankulam and Nedunkerni in the Mullaitivu District.

December 27: The dead bodies of eight LTTE militants, including four female cadres, killed during clashes in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi District were taken to un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) by the ICRC.

The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed a LTTE logistic boat, 12 nautical miles north east of Point Pedro, in the Jaffna District. Four Sea Tigers (cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE were also reported to have been killed, as the Navy engaged the fleeing vessel in the northern seas. The boat which was completely destroyed due to Navy fire is believed to have carried logistics for the LTTE, including weapons.

Troops of the Task Force-I captured Nalanawakulam agricultural village, situated on the Pooneryn-Paranthan (B-69) road and about five kilometres west of Paranthan in the Kilinochchi District. Troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants and later recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with some weapons with ammunition.

December 26: The military claimed to have captured Mulliyavalai Township located along the A-34 main road and killed several LTTE militants after hours of heavy fighting.

Troops clashed with militants in the Adampan east, Adampan south, Iranamadu west and Sinna Paranthan east areas of Kilinochchi District and subsequently expanded their defence line south of Adampan.

December 24: Troops conducted search and clear operations in the areas east and north of Adampan area of Kilinochchi District and recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with two T-56 weapons and one T-81 weapon.

One more airstrip of the LTTE with a width of 25 meters and length of 350 meters was captured by the Army as the troops moved further towards north of Ampakamam in the Mullaitivu District.

December 23: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as the troops of the Task Force-I consolidating their positions about 300 meters further southward along the LTTE earth bund captured the Sinnaparanthan area of Kilinochchi District. Troops later recovered the dead body one LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon.

The troops recovered dead bodies of the three LTTE cadres from Mankulam area in Kilinochchi District.

Troops of the 59 Division expanded their defence line some metres ahead and consolidated positions in the area east of Mulliyavalai in the Mullaitivu District. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the subsequent intense fighting which erupted when the militants launched a counter attack on the troops.

December 22: 56 LTTE militants and 10 soldiers were killed as the troops captured a two kilometre stretch of land west of Paranthan, Adampan and Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi District. More than 87 militants and 40 soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes. However, head of the LTTE’s peace secretariat, S. Puleedevan, quoting the outfit’s field commanders said more than 100 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 250 were wounded when the LTTE repulsed a fresh offensive push of the SLA. Heavy fighting erupted when the SLA attempted to advance from Uruththirapuram towards Kilinochchi and Iranamadu. Puleedevan claimed fighting was continuing on three fronts.

Troops recovered the dead bodies of four LTTE militants along with three T-56 weapons and one I-com radio set subsequent to the clashes that led to the capture segments of the LTTE earth bund in the Nivil area of Kilinochchi District.

Troops of the 59 Division continued their advance amidst LTTE resistance in the area north of Kumulamunai in the Mullaitivu district and managed to extend their FDL further.

The head of the LTTE’s peace secretariat, S. Puleedevan, quoting the outfit’s field commanders said that more than 100 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 250 SLA soldiers wounded when the outfit’s cadres repulsed a fresh offensive push of the SLA.

December 21: SFs repulsed a LTTE attack in the north of Iranamadu area in Kilinochchi District. During the day-long battle that lasted till 6 pm (SLST), 12 soldiers were killed, 34 sustained injuries and 16 went missing. The pro-LTTE website Tamil Net, however, claimed 60 soldiers were killed and the Army was pushed back. Rejecting the LTTE claim, the Defence Ministry said monitored LTTE radio transmission revealed that the outfit has suffered heavy damages.

December 20: The troops clashed with militants in the Kumulamunai and north of Ampakamam areas in Mullaitivu District and killed several of them. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

December 19: Troops handed over 15 dead bodies of the LTTE militants to the International Committee of the Red Cross officials to be taken across the Omanthai Entry/Exit point in Vavuniya to be delivered to the outfit.

December 17: The LTTE claimed that 130 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 300 wounded when the LTTE repulsed the multi-front offensive push by the SLA in Kilinochchi on December 16 which continued throughout the day on four main localities and along a wide stretch of the Kilinochchi frontiers.

15 dead bodies of LTTE militants were recovered along with a cache of arms and ammunition from the Chorikenkulam area, about seven kilometres to the west of the A-9 highway, in Kilinochchi District.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas south of Adampan, south and west of Iranamadu, Nivil and Adampan in the Kilinochchi District and killed an unspecified number of them. They also recovered the dead bodies of four militants, including one female cadre, along with three T-56 weapons, 2040 rounds of ammunition, one I-com set and two claymore mines from the area.

December 16: 120 LTTE militants and 25 soldiers were killed during clashes between the two sides near the Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs) of Jaffna District and elsewhere in the Kilinochchi sector. 250 militants and 160 soldiers sustained injuries while 10 more soldiers went missing. The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net, however, claimed that more than 40 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 120 soldiers wounded in the morning of December 16 when the LTTE repulsed an offensive push by the SLA along the Kilali area of Jaffna District.

Troops clashed with militants in the Ampakamam area of Mullaitivu District and later recovered dead bodies of five militants, including three women cadres, along with one Multi Purpose Machine Gun and three T-56 weapons.

December 15: The troops of the 57 Division and the Task Force I attacked LTTE camps in the Adampan, Iranamadu and Nivil areas of Kilinochchi District and the 59 Division troops operating in Mullaitivu expanded their Kumulamunai defence line killing an unspecified number of militants. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons, with magazines, and one hand-held communication set.

After hours of heavy fighting with the LTTE, troops of Task Force III captured the strategic Ampakamam village in Mullaitivu District. The town, located approximately seven kilometers north of Olumaduwai, is a main administrative hub of the outfit.

The 59 Division troops took control of a three kilometer stretch of the A-34 road from the South West of Mulliyavali village totally cutting off links between Mullaitivu and Oddusudan which was a vital supply route connecting the coastal town with the southern part of Mullaitivu district.

The SLAF fighter jets launched air strikes on the LTTE earth bund in the areas west of Kilinochchi and a LTTE camp to the south of Mullaitivu inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit and supported advancing troops at both fronts. The SLAF fighter jets within a span of one hour conducted three air sorties targeting LTTE militants in the west of Kilinochchi who were resisting the onward march of the 57 Division troops. Similarly, the jets bombed one more cluster of militants resisting the troops south of Mullaitivu and completely neutralized their fire-power enabling the troops to clear their forward-march.

December 14: Troops of 59 Division advancing in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District clashed with the LTTE militants killing an unspecified number of militants. During a subsequent search operation, SFs recovered the dead bodies of four militants, including one female cadre, along with four T-56 weapons and six hand grenades.

December 12: SFs handed over 13 more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including two female cadres, killed in Wanni to officials of the ICRC in Vavuniya. The ICRC also brought the dead bodies of 11 soldiers handed over to them by the LTTE.

December 11: 27 LTTE militants and 20 soldiers were killed as the troops advancing northwards from Kokavil and eastwards from Akkarayankulam captured the strategically vital Terumurikandi junction in Kilinochchi District.

December 10-11: More than 60 SLA soldiers were killed during fighting with the LTTE militants at a location five kilometers west of Kilinochchi on December 10. At the same time, heavy fighting broke out at Ariviyal Nakar, south of Kilinochchi, where 29 SLA soldiers were killed in the clashes. More than 180 SLA soldiers were wounded in both these clashes, the Website added. The Website on December 11, however, claimed that 120 soldiers were killed more than 280 wounded in these clashes.

December 9: 11 more dead bodies, including that of seven female cadres, of the LTTE militants killed in clashes with troops at Mankulam in the Olumaduwai area of Mullaitivu District were handed over to representatives of the ICRC.

December 8: Troops commenced their eastward march from the north of captured Kanakarayankulam on the A-9 road and took control of Katkidanku junction which links all surrounding important towns like Nedunkerni, Nainamadu, Olumaduwai and Kanakarayankulam areas, the Army Headquarters officially declared.

Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Otiyamale sector of Vavuniya district.

SFs attacked a group of LTTE militants in the Bakmitiyawa jungles of Ampara district and killed four of them.

December 8: Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Otiyamale sector of Vavuniya district.

SFs attacked a group of LTTE militants in the Bakmitiyawa jungles of Ampara district and killed four of them.

December 6: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the north of Olumaduwai in the Kilinochchi district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of 10 militants, including seven were female cadres, along with 13 T-56 weapons.

At least a dozen LTTE militants were killed and a similar number of them injured as clashes erupted between the two sides near the Olumaduwai town centre.

Six dead bodies of militants killed during clashes in the Kumulamunai, Akkarayankulam, Thunukkai and Thanthirimale areas were handed over to the ICRC by the security forces at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

Troops captured the bridge over Kanakaryan Aru on the Puliyankulam-Nedunkerni road, about 5.5-km northeast of Puliyankulam, in the Kilinochchi district.

December 4: Nine more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including five females, killed during clashes in the Kumulamunai and Otiyamale areas of Vavuniya district were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross.

Troops conducting operations in the Andankulam area confronted the LTTE militants and killed an unspecified number of them.

December 2: Troops captured Periyakulam village, about 1-km west of the newly-captured Otiyamale, in the Mullaitivu district. Periyakulam lies near Vavuniya and Mullaitivu district borders.

The dead bodies of four people, including three children, were recovered at Maithreepura village in the Padaviya area of Anuradhapura district. All the victims were found hacked to death.

The ICRC in Vavuniya delivered five more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including three females, who were killed during recent clashes in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district.

December 1: Troops completed the capture of Kokavil town area about 15-km north of Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Kokavil, a key town on the Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road in the south of Kilinochchi was captured by the troops after advancing three kilometres southwards from Murikkandy. With the capture of Kokavil town troops have taken full control of the A-9 road from Murikkandy in the south of Kilinochchi to Mankulam junction.

November 30: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai east area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of three militants along with three T-56 weapons and one I-com set.

November 29: The troops advancing in the northeast entered Otiyamale town located southwest of Tannimurippukulam in the Mullaitivu district, the military said. An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and injured in the operation. During subsequent search operation the troops recovered dead bodies of four militants and a cache of weapons.

Dead bodies of five LTTE militants, including a female cadre, who were killed during confrontations in the Padaviya and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

November 28: At least 75 SLA soldiers were confirmed dead and more than 160 injured during fighting with the LTTE in the Kunchankulam area of Kilinochchi district, sources revealed on November 28, according to pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net. Several decomposed bodies of SLA soldiers were still lying within the no-man area.

Clashes erupted between the two sides at Otiyamale in the Vavuniya district in which the LTTE suffered an unspecified number of casualties. Subsequently, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with four T-56 weapons and one I-com set.

November 26: Police said a family of mother, father, son and daughter were killed at Pillaiar Road in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and several others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of five militants, including three female cadres. One female militant was also arrested with gunshot injuries.

November 25: Troops captured Olumaduwai, a major base of the LTTE four kilometres northeast of Mankulam along the Mankulam-Mullaitivu (A-34) road in the Mullaitivu district. The Task Force-3 entered the Olumaduwai area after a fierce battle that lasted several days, military sources said. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the operation.

A group of LTTE militants moving in the Ambagaswewa area, about 10-kilometre northeast of Horowpathana, in the Anuradhapura district were observed and attacked by the troops. Later, troops with the assistance of Civil Defence Force personnel conducted a search operation in the area and recovered the dead bodies of four militants.

The STF personnel attacked a three-member LTTE group on in the Karaweddi area of Batticaloa district. The STF later recovered the dead bodies of all three militants along with two T-56 weapons, three anti-personnel mines, three fuses, eight magazines, 124 rounds ammunition and two packs from the incident site.

Three LTTE cadres were shot dead by the security forces at Vavuvathivu in the same district.

November 24: Three dead bodies of LTTE militants, including one female cadre, killed in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district were handed over to officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

November 23: Army troops overran the LTTE’s Entry/Exit point at Omanthai in the Vavuniya after clearing the defence lines of the outfit in the area, the military said. The Defence Ministry said that troops of the Task Force 2 are now consolidating defences at Omanthai. "The domination over Omanthai will enable the Army to further extend the defence lines linking Mankulam - Oddusudan- Kumulamunai," the Ministry said. More than 40 LTTE cadres were killed in the incident.

The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that at least 43 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 70 wounded in the latest fighting that broke out at Nallur on Poonakari-Paranthan road in the Kilinochchi district.

November 22-23: 120 LTTE militants and 27 soldiers were killed during clashes between the two sides as fighting intensifies for Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka army said. "Pitched battled in Muhamalai, north of Adampan to the south of Paranthan-Pooneryn road in Kilinochchi, north of Kumulamunai in Welioya during the weekend have caused loss of 120 Tiger terrorists and injury to over 80 more," Defence Ministry said. 70 soldiers were injured while a few others went missing. Troops of the Task Force 1 and 57 Division deployed in the Adampan and Pudumurippukulam had come under a massive LTTE counter attack since November 23-evening. Troops of the two units have come in three fronts towards the center of the town. The 57th Division fighting in the Terumurikandi area have captured about 1.2-km stretch on the earth bund (embankment) built across the Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road establishing their position just a few hundred meters short of the A-9 road, immediately south of the Kilinochchi built up, defence authorities said.

November 20: At least 130 SLA soldiers lost their lives and more than 450 were wounded in the offensive push within the last three days on Kilali and Muhamalai fronts in the Jaffna district, according to a Sri Lankan military source, claimed the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. 29 SLA soldiers died sustaining sniper fire and several others were killed while they were trapped in the LTTE minefield. The LTTE, however, is yet to release details on the fighting in Northern Front.

In addition, Mangala Samaraweera, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana wing), said on November 20 that 200 SLA soldiers were killed on November 18 alone and more than 700 had sustained injuries in the recent fighting in Wanni, the Website added.

More than 50 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as troops in Jaffna overran the first FDL of the outfit in the strategic bottleneck and the lagoon to the north and south of the A-9 Jaffna-Kandy Highway. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed in the fighting that lasted for a few days.

November 19: Troops advancing towards Kokavil, south of Kilinochchi, by November 19-afternoon closed in on the Kokavil town centre perimeter where the Kokavil Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC) transmission tower stands. The LTTE had captured the area in November 1990 after the militants launched an attack on the Army detachment at the SLRC tower which spread transmission to the entire northern part of the island.

18 dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including seven female cadres, who were killed in the clashes in Mannar and Vavuniya areas, were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

November 18: The Sri Lankan Navy confronted a Sea Tiger flotilla off the coast of Nayaru in the Mullaitivu district killing six Sea Tigers and destroying two boats in the pre-dawn hours, the military said. The SLAF MI-24 helicopter gun ships also provided close air support to the Navy causing the other four other LTTE craft to flee while damaging another.

November 17-18: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs area on November 17-18 and inflicted heavy casualties on the outfit. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed and the operation is reportedly still continuing. Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that the LTTE in Jaffna put up stiff resistance against the SLA that attempted to advance across the outfit’s FDL four times between November 17-noon and 10:00am (SLST) on November 18. At least 36 SLA soldiers were killed and 90 others wounded, the LTTE said.

November 17: The SFs captured the strategically important Kumulamunai village south of Mullaitivu and the key junction town of Mankulam on the A-9 road. Troops also recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE militants and an armour plated cab. Troops now reportedly control the Mulliyavali village west of Kumulamunai and next to the Nagacholai forest reserve.

Troops captured the strategically important key junction town of Mankulam on the A-9 road. It is key junction on the A-9 road with roads leading to Mullaitivu to the West, Vellankulam to the East, Kilinochchi to the North and Omanthai to the South.

Troops clashed with militants at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district and recovered dead bodies of three militants, including a Sea Tiger cadre and one from LTTE’s ‘Sodiya’ Group.

November 16: Troops neutralized a LTTE bunker killing at least four militants ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

November 15: Pooneryn, the LTTE bastion in Northern Province, fell to the troops advancing amid heavy resistance, the military said. Defence sources said the troops are still fighting pitch battles in the area.

November 13: Troops captured the entire triangular Devil’s Point to the west of A-32 Mannar–Pooneryn road in the Kilinochchi district.

Troops recovered and handed over the dead bodies of 14 LTTE militants, killed during confrontations in the Akkarayankulam area of Mannar and north of Padaviya areas in the past few days, to the ICRC official at Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district.

November 11: Troops of the 58 Division moved further towards Pooneryn after capturing the Valayakudiyurippumoddai defence line in the Kilinochchi district held by the LTTE for the past few days, killing over 30 militants and capturing five dead bodies of the militants. This came hours after the SFs captured the Palavi fishing village in the west of Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road, military sources said.

Troops of the 59 Division captured a part of Kumulamunai town in the Mullaitivu district. A section of the Kumulamunai-Tannimurippukulam main road was also captured by the troops on the same day. Troops of the 57 Division recovered dead bodies of four female LTTE militants along with four T-56 weapons and one I-com following clashes in the Perimurikandai area of Mullaitivu district.

The troops entered the strategically important Kumulamunai village, located 12-km south of Mullaitivu, after capturing 21 LTTE bunkers located between Tannimurippukulam and Kumulamunai. According to military officials, Kumulamunai is the first build up area after passing the Andankulam forest reserve in the south of Mullaitivu.

Six more dead bodies of the LTTE militants killed in clashes with the Army in Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district were delivered to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Vavuniya hospital.

The SFs captured four trench lines of the LTTE at Valayakudiyurippumoddai in the Kilinochchi district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of five militants along with eight T-56 weapons, according to Sri Lanka Army.

November 10: Troops attached to the 58 Division took control of Kiranchi, one of the Sea Tiger bases on the North Western coast, military officials said. Kiranchi, located northwest of Nachchakuda, which fell to the hands of the SFs two weeks back, was captured by the 58 Division troops as they completely cut off the land area from north of Nachchakuda to south of Chempankundu on the A-32 road up to the seventh Mile post.

The SFs in Vavuniya handed over seven more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including five females, to the ICRC officials across the Omanthe Entry/Exit point.

November 8: Two soldiers and a LTTE cadre were killed in a series of confrontations in the general areas of Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Five LTTE cadres and a soldier were also wounded. During the confrontations, troops destroyed at least three LTTE bunkers in Kilaly and the earth bund built by the LTTE in Muhamalai.

November 7: The Soldiers attached to 59 Division killed at least four LTTE cadres and wounded nine others in Andankulam. A soldier was killed and seven others sustained injuries in the operation.

Two Civil Defence Force (CDF) officers and a police constable were killed and another CDF officer injured when the LTTE cadres opened fire on them at Kohilaela in Tampitiya. They were attacked while providing security to farmers working in their paddy fields.

Troops attacked LTTE positions in Mullarkudduvil using mortar fire killing at least three of its cadres and injuring two more. One soldier also sustained injuries during the attack.

November 6: The SFs handed over the dead bodies of six militants, including two females, to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross at Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district. These militants were reportedly killed in the recent clashes at Akkarayankulam and Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

November 5: Troops overrun the Akkarayankulam built-up area in the Kilinochchi district. Troops entered the area from two flanks and the operation is still continued in the eastern edge of Akkarayankulam. During subsequent search operations troops recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with two T-56 assault riffles and an I-com set, military sources said.

November 4: The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Kovilkadu, Vannerikkulam, Viththar and Pallikkulam areas of Kilinochchi district inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit. At least three dead bodies of the militants along with six T-56 weapons and three I-com radio sets were later recovered from the Pallikkulam and Kovilkadu areas.

November 2-3: Four Tamil youths were shot dead and another seriously injured by motor bike riding LTTE militants at Kurunchchiady, a coastal locality in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district on November 2. While two died on the spot the other two succumbed to injuries later. The death toll in the shooting incident increased to five as one youth who was severely injured in the shooting succumbed to his injuries on November 3-morning at the Kalmunai hospital. Four of the victims were identified as Jayasekar Nisanthan, Kadiravadively Rajakurendran, Somasundaram Kartik, and Muttupillai Sri Sudaharan.

November 1-2: The SLN foiled an attack by a flotilla of Sea boats in the seas between Nagarkovil and Point Pedro in the Jaffna district destroying at least four boats and killing more than 14 militants aboard the boast on November 1- morning. Later on November 2, reports confirmed that 16 militants were killed.

On November 1, troops breached a stretch of 2-km LTTE defence line at Paddaruyal Villu, about 3-km east of A-32 road, in the Kilinochchi district destroying their bunkers along the. Although troops claimed to have killed a large number of militants they could recover a total of 17 dead bodies of the militants including 10 females have been recovered according to the formation available on November 2. Intelligence reports confirmed that all female cadres killed in confrontations belonged to LTTE’s Malathi group.

October 30: The troops completely captured Nachchakuda, the last stronghold of the LTTE on the Western coast before Pooneryn by October 30-evening.

October 29: October 29: The troops captured Nachchakuda, Jayapuram and Akkarayankulam tank bund in Kilinochchi district.

Troops of the Task Force 1 on October 29-morning gained full control of Jayapuram, the last main village, with an area of about four square km, on the A-32 road to the extreme west of the Kilinochchi town.

On the same evening, troops completed the capture of the entire Akkarayankulam tank bund, to the north of Akkarayankulam under Thunukkai division. The two km-long bund stretches across the northern side of Akkarayankulam tank with an area of about 4.5 square km in total.

Late in the evening, Nachchakuda’s complete length of the well-fortified LTTE FDL, about eight km north of Vellankulam was brought under the troops control. Nachchakuda area lies about 1.5 km to the west of A-32 strategic Mannar-Pooneryn highway which runs parallel to the north-western sea coast. The fishing bastion, Nachchakuda, a town with a large concentration of people and business ventures has remained a strategic point for the LTTE for several months. It is believed that the outfit has suffered heavy casualties following the encounters throughout the day.

October 28: At least four TMVP members were killed when its political office was attacked by the suspected LTTE cadres at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district.

An LTTE aircraft dropped two bombs targeting the Kelanitissa power station in Colombo. However, no casualties were reported. According to military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara the blast caused a minor fire at the power station which was doused by the fire-fighters. Later, the air defence system in Colombo and suburbs was activated and the electricity supply to the city was suspended as a precautionary measure.

Prior to this incident, an LTTE light aircraft dropped three bombs on the Mannar Army headquarters in Thalladi. Brigadier Nanayakkara said no damage was caused to the camp or any other military logistics facility in the area due to this attack.

The troops attached to the 58th Division in the north of Nachchakuda captured two strategically important junctions on the 12th and 16th mile posts on the Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road, cutting off the LTTE links with the now isolated Nachchakuda with the Sea Tiger base in Valaipadu.

October 23: Troops captured Gajabapura area in the Vavuniya district inflicting heavy casualties to the LTTE. The details are awaited.

October 21: Troops captured Anaivilunthan village, about 1.5-km north of Vannerikkulam in the Kilinochchi district. The exact details are awaited.

October 20: Three youths were killed when an unidentified assailant stormed their boarding place at Arasadithivu in the Kokkadicholai area of Batticaloa district. The victims, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara of Matugama, Pethum Priyadarshana and Duminda Roshan, both from Pannala, were working for a road construction site in the area when they fell prey to the bullets.

Troops further expanded its territory with another 1-km long stretch in the Vannerikkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Troops now in full control of the area are engaged in removing booby traps and other explosive devices.

The Sri Lankan military claimed to have established complete domination over the western Kilinochchi battlefront. The Military said 33 soldiers were killed, 48 injured and three others went missing in the pitched battles with the LTTE, which is resisting the Army’s thrust. The military also said that in the mop-up operations, dead bodies of 11 militants were recovered along with large quantities of ammunition.

October 18: Troops attached to the 57 Division and Task Force I captured over 1.5-km stretch of earth bund in the areas West and East of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district killing at least 75 LTTE militants while injuring more than 125 cadres, Military sources said. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed and injured. 14 fortified bunkers built along the bund were also captured by the troops.

October 17: Troops clashed with groups of LTTE militants in the Nedunkandal, areas around Akkarayankulam, Pillawarayankadu and Vannerikuma areas of Kilinochchi district. Troops later recovered dead bodies of two militants. One soldier was killed in LTTE mortar fire in the Vannerikuma area while four others wounded in confrontations and explosions of APM in other areas.

October 16: Troops after few days of gun battle captured Maniarkulam intersection, about 13.5-km northeast of Nachchakuda, in the Kilinochchi district. Though ground troops confirmed that a number of LTTE militants were killed and many others injured, troops have so far recovered the dead bodies of six LTTE militants, including three decomposed ones.

The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district killing an unspecified number of militants, including two leaders identified as Kanyan and Isaiman. Though exact details of LTTE casualties are yet to be ascertained, the outfit’s communication intercepted revealed more than 40 militants were wounded. Three soldiers were also killed while nine others sustained injuries in LTTE fire.

Police recovered four dead bodies of the farmers in the Kanchkudichchiaru area of Ampara district. According to the sources the farmers were shot dead by unidentified assailants.

October 14: At least 37 LTTE militants were killed and 36 others injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the Akkarayankulam north, west and east, Wannarikulam, Madamodei and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Seven soldiers were also killed in these confrontations while 26 others sustained injuries, including two in explosions of APM and improvised explosive devices.

The troops observed the movement of an LTTE tractor with several militants aboard in the Mankulam area of Vavuniya district and opened fire on the tractor killing four of the militants.

October 13: 16 LTTE militants were killed and three others injured as clashes erupted between the militants and the SFs in the Mankulam, Nallikulam, Akkarayankulam, Vannavikulam and Paraikandamadu areas of Kilinochchi district. While two soldiers were also killed and seven others sustained injuries in LTTE small arms and mortar fire and APM explosions, the troops also neutralised two camps in the Paraikandamadu area.

October 12: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and 12 others injured as the SFs neutralized eight bunkers and a camp in the areas west of Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed while 14 others sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered APM explosions and simultaneous firing of small arms.

During separate clashes in the Periyakulam, Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed nine militants while injuring three more others. One soldier was also injured in explosion of an APM at Tannimurippukulam.

Troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed at least six militants. Six militants also sustained injuries, while a soldier was wounded in an APM explosion.

October 11: 14 militants were killed and 10 others injured by the troops in the Maniarkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed and six others wounded in the incident.

Six LTTE militants were killed and 37 others injured as the troops captured four more well fortified bunkers of the outfit in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while four others sustained injuries in these incidents.

Five more LTTE cadres were killed during a clash with the SFs at an unspecified place in the Kilinochchi district.

Three militants were killed by the troops at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

At Kokuvil in the Jaffna district, three militants were killed in confrontations with the SFs.

The troops eliminated three more LTTE cadres at Pillawarayankadu in the Kilinochchi district.

The MI-24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF neutralised LTTE bunker construction positions ahead of the Akkarayankulam Tank bund in the Kilinochchi district. Intercepted LTTE communication later confirmed that three militants were killed and six others injured in the air strike.

The SFs foiled an LTTE attempt to enter into the cleared areas (area under Government control) at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district killing three militants. Three soldiers were also injured in the incident.

October 10-11 At least 40 LTTE militants were killed as the troops operating north east of Nachchakuda in the west of Kilinochchi district made steady progress within the last two days reaching the outskirts of Jayapuram in the north of Nachchakuda foiling LTTE efforts to bring in reinforcements to the front on several occasions. Jayapuram is located some seven kilometers north of Nachchakuda where the LTTE is having one of their main Sea Tiger bases in the North Western coast.

October 10: The troops eliminated four more militants while injuring six others during clashes at Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were killed and four others injured in the confrontation.

October 9: At least 22 LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralised five outfit’s bunkers in the Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed during the clash at Vannavikulam while three others received injuries in these incidents.

During separate clashes between the two sides in the Pannichchankulam, Vedamakilam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed seven militants.

At Andankulam in Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were also killed while eight soldiers received injuries.

October 8: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and 26 others injured as the troops captured a line of LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Eight soldiers were also killed while 45 others sustained injuries during these clashes.

At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes with the SFs at Wanniyarkulam in the area north of Panniwedikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One radio set, 17 hand grenades and several other LTTE items were also recovered from the incident site.

Eight more LTTE cadres were killed and four others injured as the SFs captured two more bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area, south of Iranamadu, in the Kilinochchi district.

October 7: Eight LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the security forces in the Vilakkavettikulam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

The dead bodies of four civilians, suspected to have been chopped to death by the LTTE militants, were recovered from the deep jungle areas off Dekethipothana at Horowpathana in the Anuradhapura district. Those four civilians, according to a Police complaint, have entered jungle areas on 27th September but failed to return home.

The SFs shot dead four militants in the Murikkandy and west of Akkarayankulam areas in the Kilinochchi district. A soldier was also injured during these confrontations.

October 6: At least nine militants were killed and 27 others injured as the SFs neutralized four bunkers during their confrontations with the LTTE militants in the Adampankula, Madam, Kidippidikulam, Terankandal, Alankulam, Odrattakulam, Andankulam and Gajabapura areas Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed during confrontations. Six more soldiers received injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines and confrontations in the Terankandal and Waddakattu areas.

The SFs destroyed three LTTE bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district killing nine militants while injuring five others.

28 persons, including UNP NCPC Member, Maj. General Janaka Perera and his wife; UNP Anuradhapura district Manager Dr. John Pulle who was also the former Chairman of the Rajarata Bus Company and his wife Dr. Mrs. John Pulle; UNP Legal Advisor Attorney-at-law A.C.S. Hameed; NCPC UNP Member Shantha Dissanayake and UNP Provincial Council candidate Subashi Charles were killed in a LTTE carried out suicide bomb attack inside the UNP office near the Old Bus Stand in Anuradhapura. More than 86 persons sustained injuries in the blast that occurred around 8:45am (SLST) during a function held to declare open the new UNP office, military sources said. According to eyewitnesses a suicide cadre a dark and short man had reached the function and unbuttoned his shirt facing Major General Perera and the crowd instantaneously killing himself and the victims. According to investigators only the legs of the suicide cadre’s has been left after the blast. "He had used a relatively large quantity of explosives for this blast as his head was also blown off without leaving a trace about his appearance."

October 5: The SFs killed eight LTTE militants and inured at least nine others during clashes in the Iranamadu and southwest of Iranamadu areas in the Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while five others received injuries in these incidents.

During two separate clashes in the Vannerikuma and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi district, the SFs eliminated four militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the explosions of APM during the fighting.

The troops neutralized two LTTE bunkers in the area west of Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district killing four militants. Four more militants and a soldier were also injured in the incident.

The troops neutralized another LTTE bunker in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district and killed three militants.

Three more militants were killed and at least 19 others injured in clashes with the SFs at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

October 4: At least 20 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed while 27 militants and six soldiers wounded as the troops captured a section of the bunker line constructed along the Nachchakuda - Akkarayankulam road at Panniwedikulam in the West of Vannerikuma area in the Kilinochchi district. The SLAF MI-24 gunship helicopters also assisted the troops capturing 10 bunkers, constructed on the massive earth bund, and advanced further northward, military sources added. The 58 Division now operating in the Kilinochchi district has captured a four kilometer stretch of a massive ditch cum earth bund constructed by the LTTE from Nachchakuda to Akkarayankulam tank area. Troops have also advanced nearly two kilometers from this earth bund and in control of the Nachchakuda - Akkarayankulam road depriving the LTTE of a vital supply route to Nachchakuda.

October 3: Eight more militants were killed and 10 others injured when the SFs captured three more camps in the in the Panniwedikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also killed and 12 others received injuries in these incidents.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and eliminated four militants while injuring at least 19 others. While nine soldiers were also injured in LTTE fire and anti-personnel mines explosions, the troops captured three bunkers of the outfit.

Three LTTE militants were killed after a confrontation with a combined Army-Air Force foot patrol in the eastern village of Kattikulam in the Trincomalee district.

October 2: The troops killed at least 18 militants while injuring 14 others as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion.

Six more LTTE cadres were killed and more than 20 others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Paraikandamadu, Madam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were killed and three others sustained injuries during the fighting.

During another clash between the two sides in the areas south of Mankulam and south of Kokavil in the Mullaitivu district, the SFs killed eight militants while wounding 11 others.

Eight more LTTE militants were killed and five others wounded during separate clashes with the troops in the Pannichchankulam, Navakkulam, Panikkaniravikulam, Villattikulam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district. Four bunkers of the militants were also neutralized in these incidents.

The troops in an encounter killed seven more militants while wounding an unspecified number of them at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also injured in the LTTE gun fire.

Two more militants were killed during another exchange of fire between the two sides in the areas south of Iranamadu in the Mullaitivu district. Two soldiers were also killed while another received injuries in the incident. Separate clashes in the same area injured one militant and three soldiers.

October 1: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured as the troops captured three more bunkers of the outfit after the clashes in the Akkarayankulam, west and south of Iranamadu tank, Vannavikulam and Maniarkulam areas in the Kilinochchi district. Eight soldiers also sustained injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines and IEDs.

14 more militants were killed and 28 others wounded as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the Andankulam, Palamoddai, Nauve east, Thandiyankulam and Podunkanpila areas of Vavuniya district. While one soldier was also killed, four others sustained injuries during these clashes. The troops also neutralized seven bunkers in the Palamoddai north and Pandiyankulam areas.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed four cadres destroying two bunkers. Five more militants and two soldiers suffered injuries in the fighting.

September 30: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and four others injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the areas of north of Maniarkulam, Palamoddai, Podunkanpila, Wemankallu and Pandiyankulam in the Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in these clashes.

The troops eliminated seven militants and injured 10 others during confrontations in the Wannarikulam area. Two soldiers were also killed while seven others, including an officer, received.

At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted the LTTE militants and killed six of its cadres while injuring 31 others. While, seven soldiers were also injured in the incident, the troops neutralised two bunkers.

The SFs killed three more militants during an encounter in the area west of Kokavil, closer to captured Murikkandy Railway Station, in the Kilinochchi district.

September 29: At least 39 LTTE militants were killed and 52 others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Palamoddai, Akkarayankulam, Andankulam, Vannavikulam and Kariyalanmodai areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts. Five soldiers were also killed while 19 others sustained injuries during these clashes. Troops also neutralised six bunkers.

At least eight militants aboard two Sea Tiger boats moving in the seas off Kalmunai point in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district were killed when the Special Boat Squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy spotted them and directed fire attack towards the boats.

Six LTTE militants were killed during a clash with the SFs in the Mulankavil and Karampaikkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

September 28: The troops after fierce gun battle captured a section of the Akkarayankulam – Nachchakuda road in the Kilinochchi district by September 28-afternoon killing at least 10 LTTE militants. Two soldiers were also killed while eight others sustained injuries in the fighting.

The troops moving towards the A-9 road captured a 4-km area along the Akkarayankulam–Murikkandy road in the Kilinochchi district killing seven militants. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries.

Six more militants were killed and 13 others injured as the troops neutralized three LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier also sustained injuries in the fighting.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Navathkulama and north of Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district killing four militants. Two soldiers were also injured in the encounter while another soldier was injured in the explosion of an anti-personnel mine.

September 27: Eight militants were killed by SFs during clashes in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the clash.

Seven more LTTE cadres were killed during separate clashes with the troops in the Vannavikulam and north of Karamaddakulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Nine soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire directed from their gun positions in the Vannavikulam area while seven other soldiers received injuries during separate confrontations and APM explosions in the same area.

September 26: At least 18 militants were killed as the troops repulsed a LTTE attack on the SFs FDL in the Maniarkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Eight soldiers were also injured in the fighting.

17 militants were killed and one more injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

Eight more LTTE cadres were killed while more than 30 others sustained injuries during three separate incidents in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed during these clashes. In the first incident, the SFs attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area and captured one bunker and one trench line. Also, six more bunkers in the same area were destroyed by the troops. Similarly, the troops attacked a line of five bunkers in the Rumulamunai area.

The troops attacked an LTTE bunker line at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district and destroyed one bunker killing seven militants while injuring three others. One soldier also sustained injury in an improvised explosive device explosion.

During two separate clashes between the two sides at Navathkulama and north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district the troops killed six militants while the SFs also captured one LTTE bunker and three trench lines north of Palamoddai area.

The SFs eliminated four militants during an encounter in the Kalayaparu area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also injured in LTTE fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

September 25: 13 LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralized eight bunkers of the outfit at Vannappulikulam, an area between Nachchakuda and Akkarayankulam, in the Kilinochchi district after four-hour long battle. Two soldiers were also killed while 14 others sustained injuries during the encounters.

Seven LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the security forces in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district the troops killed at least six militants while injuring 14 others.

Four more militants were killed as the SFs captured two LTTE trench lines in the Kokavil area of Kilinochchi district.

The SFs confronted with LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam, Koliyankulam and the north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district killing four of them while injuring another.

September 24: The troops confronted with the LTTE cadres in the Akkarayankulam, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Andankulam areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts killing nine militants while injuring at least 31 others. Eight soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes.

The SFs foiled two simultaneous infiltration attempts of the LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil and Kilaly FDLs areas of Jaffna district killing eight militants, including the LTTE’s Muhamalai South leader, ‘Vardan’.

Seven more militants were killed during confrontations with the troops in the Navakkulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

September 23: Nine LTTE militants were killed and five others injured as clashes erupted between the militants and the troops in the Navakkulam, Palamoddai and Wannivilankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

Four more militants were killed and an equal number of them injured during separate clashes with the SFs in the Akkarayankulam, Vandarimodai and Teyankulam areas of Kilinochchi district. While three soldiers were also killed, two other soldiers sustained injuries in these incidents.

Six militants were killed and 13 others injured in clashes in the Andankulam and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of APMs. Troops also captured one LTTE trench line.

September 21: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during clashes with the security forces in the Akkarayankulam, Wannivilankulam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were also killed while five others received injuries during the confrontations.

The troops killed 11 LTTE militants, including provincial leader of the outfit, identified as Muttu in the east of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

At least eight LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured in clashes with the troops in the Karampaikkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were also reported injured in the incident.

Four more militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Pallimunai and Komankulam areas of Vavuniya district. While one soldier was injured, the SFs recovered three hand grenades and one pouch from the incident site.

The troops neutralized an LTTE base with three bunkers, two huts, a partly destroyed construction and a deep drain in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing at least three militants while injuring nine others.

September 20: At least 23 LTTE cadres were killed and a large number of others were injured during encounters between troops and militants in the areas west of Mankulam, Navaddikulam, north of Palamoddai, Akkarayankulam, Panniwedikulam, Vannavikulam, Punani Kodamadu and Andankulam in the Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

Three soldiers were killed in LTTE mortar fire in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Another soldier was killed in clashes with the LTTE militants in the Pannaikandamdu area.

September 19: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and five other injured in confrontations with the SFs in the area north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district.

Troops killed four militants during separate encounters in the Poovarasankulam and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

Three LTTE cadres were killed and at least 18 others injured in clashes with the SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

September 18: At least 25 Sea Tigers, cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE, were killed and 10 Sea Tiger boats, including three big ones, were destroyed in a four-hour long sea battle between naval troops and the Sea Tigers in the seas off Valaipadu at Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district. Four navy personnel received injuries in the fighting. The LTTE Sea Tiger cadres fled with four other damaged boats. Intercepted LTTE communications disclosed that the sea attack was led by a senior Sea Tiger cadre identified as Kader.

The SFs captured another 1.5 kilometres stretch of land in the Karampaikkulam area of Kilinochchi district killing 15 LTTE militants and injuring 18 others. Three soldiers were also killed while 12 others received injuries during the clash.

At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and six others injured during clashes with the troops in and around Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed and one more injured in the confrontations.

Troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district killing at least eight militants. One soldier sustained injuries in the clashes.

Three persons were killed and five others injured in a claymore mine explosion targeting a civilian bus along the Kilinochchi-Pullekyarkulam road in the LTTE-held Puthur area of Kilinochchi district. The bus was on its way from Pullekyarkulam to Kilinochchi.

September 17: At least 25 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed while about 25 militants and 14 soldiers were injured as troops captured a 1.5-kilometres stretch of the huge earth bund at Karampaikkulam, eight kilometers northeast of Nachchakuda, in the Kilinochchi district.

Troops operating east of Akkarayankulam foiled three counter attacks by the LTTE to capture the area under the security forces since September 15, killing at least 15 LTTE cadres. Troops are now operating just one kilometre west of the A-9 road in the Murikkandal area and 5.5 kilometres south of Kilinochchi.

The SFs during six separate clashes in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killed 12 militants. One soldier was also injured in an APM explosion during the fighting.

Five LTTE cadres were killed and 24 others injured in an encounter with SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and four others injured in the LTTE mortar fire and explosion of an APM during the clashes. Also, the troops overran a well-fortified LTTE camp that had four bunkers, one drinking-water well and a mortar pit in the same area after the militants abandoned the camp and fled.

Three more LTTE militants were killed and another injured in confrontations with the troops in two separate incidents at Navakkulam and Konakkarankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

The SFs neutralized an LTTE bunker in the Vilakkavettikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

Two LTTE militants and a soldier were killed while 29 militants and seven soldiers received injuries as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

September 16: The SFs during separate encounters in the Palamoddai, North of Palamoddai and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district killed 11 LTTE militants. One soldier also received injuries when the LTTE militants triggered an APM explosion.

Eight more militants were killed and 14 others wounded in encounters between the two sides in the areas east of Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier received injuries in the Akkarayankulam area. The SFs captured one bunker following those confrontations.

September 15: Nine LTTE militants were killed and seven others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Kaliyalamunai, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also injured in these clashes.

Troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district and killed six militants while injuring two others. Three soldiers were also injured in LTTE mortar firing during the fighting.

At least 18 LTTE militants were killed as the troops of the 57 Division operating on the Vavuniya front advanced six-kms east of Akkarayankulam tank in the Kilinochchi district further closing towards the Jaffna Kandy A-9 road from the north of Kokkali, said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. Three soldiers were killed and nine soldiers injured during these confrontations.

September 14: The SFs confronted with the militants at Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam in the Vavuniya district killing eight LTTE cadres while injuring at least 19 others. One soldier was injured in an IED explosion in Andankulam.

Six more militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

The SFs neutralized one LTTE bunker at Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district killing three militants while injuring two others.

Three more militants were killed and two others injured in an encounter in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. 12 soldiers also sustained injuries in confrontations and IEDs explosions in the area.

September 13: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 20 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam, Vannavikulam and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation at Nachchakuda.

Eight militants were eliminated by the SFs during encounters in the Navakkulam, Mamaduwa and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district. Troops alter recovered the dead body of the terrorist killed in Mamaduwa along with two hand grenades.

September 12: Eight militants were killed and nine others injured during separate clashes with the security forces in the Vedamakilam, north of Palamoddai, north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Perankulam in the Vavuniya district and Akkarayankulam, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Vanneikandamadu in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed while nine others got injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosion of anti-personnel mines.

September 11: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and five others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam, Kariyalanmodai, Manirasakulam, Vannavikulam and Pannaikanthakadu areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. While one soldier was killed during confrontation at Pannaikanthakadu, eight other soldiers reportedly got injured in confrontations in Kilinochchi district.

SFs killed 14 LTTE militants, including seven women cadres, during confrontations in the Vavuniya district.

The troops eliminated 10 more militants and wounded eight during separate clashes in the Vedamakilam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

Seven civilians, who had gone for cultivation work and collecting firewood, were killed by the LTTE militants at Ethimale village in the Kotiyagala area close to the Ampara-Moneragala district borders. While four of them were killed using T-56 weapons from a certain distance, the other three aboard a tractor, were shot dead with pistol at a close range.

Six more militants were killed and two others received injuries in an encounter with the SFs in the area south of Nayaru in Kilinochchi district.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

September 10: Five LTTE cadres were killed and at least three others injured in clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam and Maniarkulam areas closer to the Kilinochchi-Mullaitivu districts boarders. Seven soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes and explosion of an APM.

The troops killed five more militants during confrontations in the Vedamakilam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

The SFs eliminated four LTTE cadres and wounded 10 others in an encounter in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire and explosion of an APM.

September 9: The Sri Lanka military said that the combined air and artillery attack by LTTE over Vavuniya in the pre dawn hours killed 21 combatants on both sides. Preliminary reports said the abortive ground artillery attack on the Wanni SF’s Headquarters Complex in Vavuniya killed 10 Army soldiers and one Police constable. While seven airmen, nine Police constables and one civilian also sustained injuries as a result of exchange of heavy fire, the troops have so far recovered 10 bodies of militants, including five female cadres. Simultaneously, two LTTE aircrafts providing support to the artillery attack dropped two bombs which missed their intended target falling on the office area failing to cause much damage. Meanwhile, the SLAF fighter jets which had taken off from Katunayake Air Base intercepted the two fleeing aircrafts and shot one down.

September 1: Troops captured the strategically important Malawi town on September 1-afternoon, military sources said. Malawi, one of the main administrative hubs of the LTTE where they kept many of their foreign visitors arriving in the Wanni to meet their leaders, is located surrounding the ninth mile post on the Mankulam- Vellankulam road which links the Jaffna Kandy A-9 road and the Mannar- Pooneryn A-32 road. Malawi reportedly has a hospital, banks and a massive bakery complex which can make 5000 loaves of bread at once.

18 LTTE militants were killed and more than 21 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Palamoddai and Navakkulam in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while the troops recovered the dead bodies of five slain militants along with three T-56 weapons and one communication set.

August 31: The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Andankulam and north of Kokkuthuduvai areas in Vavuniya district killing at least 16 of them and injuring 19 others. Two soldiers were also killed and five soldiers sustained injuries in this incident.

During another encounter in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district, the SFs killed seven militants and wounded nine others. Three soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries in theses clashes. One more soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the same area.

The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants at Konketiyawa in the Padaviya area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of 10 slain militants.

August 30: Nine militants were killed and five others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam, Kariyalanmodai and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district. Seven soldiers also got injured in these confrontations.

Four LTTE cadres were killed while six others received injuries in confrontation with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

The LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards SFs in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district killing three soldiers while injuring nine others.

Three SF personnel were killed and four others injured when the LTTE militants fired mortars towards the troops at Konketiyawa in the Vavuniya district.

The troops during separate encounters in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in Vavuniya district killed three more LTTE cadres. One soldier also sustained injury during confrontation in the north of Palamoddai. In a separate encounter in the Palamoddai area, the troops eliminated another militant while injuring one more.

August 29: Eight LTTE militants were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Four more soldiers and at least three militants received injuries in the incident. Also, one soldier was killed while another got injured during a separate confrontation in the same area.

Five LTTE cadres were killed while three others got wounded during confrontations with the SFs in the area north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Separately, one soldier was injured in an LTTE laid booby trap explosion in the same area.

The troops killed four militants while wounded 14 others during separate encounters in the Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also received injuries in LTTE mortar fire.

August 28: Troops captured the strategic Palamoddai town, six kilometres northwest of the Omanthai entry exit point in the Vavuniya district.

The troops also captured Uluththuveli area in the Mullaitivu district.

19 militants and four soldiers were killed while 32 persons were injured during clashes between the two sides in the east of Thunukkai, Alankulam and areas about two kilometres to the east of Nachchakuda in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Troops later captured the Alankulam area.

18 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Vavunikkulam, Nitthikaikulam and Andankulam areas in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts. One soldier was also killed while 19 others sustained injuries during these clashes. Another soldier engaged in de-mining was wounded in an APM explosion in the Andankulam area from where the SFs unearthed 12 APMs.

The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Palamoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district killing at least 15 of them. Four soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes while another was wounded in an APM explosion in the Palamoddai area. The troops also captured four trench lines and recovered the dead bodies of two militants after the clashes.

August 27: 11 LTTE cadres were killed and 13 others injured during an encounter with the SFs in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in an improvised explosive device explosion while two others sustained injuries during the fighting and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

The SFs neutralised three LTTE trench lines in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing five militants and wounding seven others.

August 26: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 60 others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Koliyankulam, Navakkulam, Andankulam, Nitthikaikulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district, Alankulam in the Mullaitivu district and Wannarikulam in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines and booby traps during the fighting in these areas.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Kilali, Puthur and Therankandal areas of Jaffna district and killed 10 more militants.

August 25: Eight militants were killed and 11 others injured as the troops captured another 800m long stretch of land under their control from the Tannimurippukulam tank bund, about 9.5-km to the north East of Nedunkerni in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers also received injuries during the clashes.

The SFs neutralised an LTTE bunker line in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district killing six militants and injuring four others. One soldier was also killed while four others sustained injuries. Three more soldiers received injuries during several other clashes in the same area while inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE. The exact details of these clashes are awaited.

Four soldiers were killed and a similar number of them wounded when the LTTE militants opened mortar fire from the east of Thunukkai and also from the Ariyamadu area towards the troops to the west of Mullaitivu town centre. Also, one soldier sustained injuries in another LTTE fire in the Yogapuram, about 5-km southeast of Thunukkai.

August 24: 12 LTTE militants were killed and 12 others were wounded during clashes with the Army in the east of Tunukkai, Vannarikulam, Palamoddai, Andankulam, north of Kiriibbanwewa and other areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

August 23: Eleven LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured during an encounter with the SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in IED explosions in the same area.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Ranabapura and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district and killed five militants.

Five LTTE cadres were killed as the troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

The SFs killed five militants in an encounter in the Vedamakilam area of Kilinochchi district.

The troops neutralised a LTTE bunker in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district killing four militants.

Troops attached to the 57 Division and the Special Forces captured Thunukkai, the second most important administrative hub of the LTTE, taking the Forward Defences of the ground troop’s just 12-kilometres south of Kilinochchi, after capturing Uyilankulam, located eight kilometres north of Thunukkai. At least 20 militants and five soldiers were killed during the two days of clashed in Thunukkai.

The SFs captured three LTTE trenches killing seven militants and wounding 17 others in the north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants and killed three of them and injured three others in the north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district.

The SFs killed five militants and wounded 20 others in two separate attacks in the Anandankulam area of Vavuniya district.

Five militants were killed and nine others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the areas south of Malawi, Uyilankulam and Thunukkai in Mullaitivu district. Seven soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

During an encounter between the troops and LTTE militants in the Aithimundai and Maniarkulam areas, the SFs killed four militants while three soldiers were wounded.

August 21: Six militants and two soldiers were killed while nine militants and seven soldiers sustained injuries as clashes erupted between the twos sides in the Vanarakulam area of Kilinochchi district.

The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Thunukkai and south of Malawi areas in the west Mullaitivu and killed six of them. One soldier was also killed while two others were wounded in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

Five militants were killed during separate clashes between the two sides in the Nachchakuda and Palamoddai areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts. A soldier was also killed during the fighting in Palamoddai area.

The SFs killed five LTTE cadres and wounded 22 others during separate clashes in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

August 20: Six LTTE cadres were killed in clashes with the security forces in the Konakkarankulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

August 19: At least 21 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed while 23 soldiers sustained injuries as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas south and east of Vannavikulam, west of Thunukkai, south of Malawi and Andankulam in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Palamoddai and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

August 17: At least 23 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed and more than 46 militants and four soldiers injured as clashes erupted between the two sides at several places in the Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

The SFs attacked several LTTE camps in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing seven militants and injuring at least nine others. One soldier also sustained injuries in an APM explosion in the same area.

The troops neutralised three fortified LTTE bunkers in the Nachchakuda area of Kilinochchi and killed six militants and wounded 13 others. Two soldiers were also killed while 11 others sustained injuries in the incident. Elsewhere, a soldier was injured in explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap in the Mundampiddy area.

The SFs killed four militants and injured five others in the Uyilankulam area of Mullaitivu district. Two soldiers were also killed while four others sustained injuries in this incident.

Six militants were killed and 19 others wounded during separate encounters with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also killed during these clashes.

August 16: The troops captured LTTE’s ‘Jeevan Base’, a large underground training facility of the outfit, in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district at around 4.30 pm (SLST), the Defence Ministry said.

Five militants and four soldiers were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas south of Thunukkai and Malawi in Mullaitivu district. 11 militants and four soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

The troops captured an LTTE bunker in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing six militants and injuring another. One soldier was also injured during the exchange of fire.

Four militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district. One soldier was killed and two others were wounded in the incident.

During an encounter in the in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants and injured four others. Two soldiers were also killed while three others were wounded.

August 15: Nine LTTE militants and a soldier were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Nachchakuda and Panikkamadammadu areas of Kilinochchi district.

The SFs attacked several LTTE hideouts in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing seven militants while injuring six others. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in IED and anti personnel mines explosions.

The SFs in separate encounters at Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai in Vavuniya district killed three LTTE cadres and injured 16 others. Four soldiers were also injured in an IED explosion.

August 14: At least 35 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed while 48 militants and 10 soldiers received injuries as confrontations erupted between the two sides at places north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Panikkamadammadu, Kalaikadu, Poddimodikulam, Komankulam, Palamoddai, Navathkulama and north of Kalvilan in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts.

In the encounter at Palamoddai in Vavuniya district, the SFs captured four bunkers and one 81-mm mortar point killing nine militants while injuring 10 others.

Nine militants were killed by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

August 13: The troops captured Mulankavil, the second most powerful administrative base for the LTTE in the Kilinochchi district. 20 militants, including one area leader identified as Thennaman, were killed during the incident.

Troops attached to the 57 Division captured Kalvilan village in Mullaitivu district after two days of fighting. According to sources, more than 30 militants were killed as troops repulsed six counter attacks of the LTTE to foil the advance of the troops into the village.

Seven LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

The SFs captured one LTTE bunker and two trench lines in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing four militants while injuring seven others.

August 12: The SFs killed six LTTE cadres and injured eight others in the Vedamakilam, Navakkulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during these clashes.

The troops during separate encounters in the Janakapura north, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa north areas in Vavuniya district killed three militants and injured 26 others. One soldier was also killed while seven others sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered IED explosions and mortar fire.

Two soldiers and a militant were killed when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kidipidittankulam and Kalvilan areas, east of Vavunikkulam in Mullaitivu district. Three more militants and an equal number of soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

The troops captured two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring six others.

August 11: At least six LTTE militants were killed and four others wounded by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while eight others wounded in the confrontation.

The SFs in an encounter killed five LTTE cadres while wounded four others in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

The troops observed an LTTE boat movement in the seas off Adampan Kulam in Kilinochchi district and opened fire on the flotilla of about six boats completely destroying one boat while severely damaging the others. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the troops killed three militants while the militant’s counter fire killed one soldier.

The troops confronted the LTTE militants in the Koliyankulam area in Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

August 10: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured by the SFs as fierce gun battle ensued between the two sides in the area south of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaitivu district. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered the dead bodies of seven militants, including four of the Imran Pandiyan Group and three of the Sea Tigers.

The troops opened fire on LTTE positions ahead of the Kilaly FDL in Jaffna district and killed 15 militants.

Eight LTTE cadres were killed as the SFs captured an LTTE bunker complex with trenches that intercommoned each bunker in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were injured in the fighting, the SFs recovered three hand grenades and 250 rounds of ammunition from the area.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and Andankulam in Vavuniya district and killed seven of them and injured at least 15 others. One soldier was also killed while three others were injured.

During an encounter between the two sides in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district, the SFs killed seven militants. Three troops were injured in the incident.

The troops killed four militants in the Kunchankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

Three LTTE cadres were killed by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kopavitchanulam area of Vavuniya district.

August 9: During separate clashes between the two sides in the Palamoddai, Nadunkulam and Navathkulama areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed 16 militants and injured 10 others. One soldier sustained injuries during these clashes.

The SFs killed four militants and injured 14 others in the areas north of Janakapura and Andankulam areas in Vavuniya district.

August 8: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Thennayankuma area of Mullaitivu district. One soldier was also injured during the confrontation.

The SFs killed five militants during confrontations in the Thennayankuma and Malawi south areas of Mullaitivu district. Three soldiers were also killed while eight others wounded in the incident.

The troops captured two LTTE bunkers killing six militants and wounding 18 others during confrontations in the Andankulam, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

The SFs killed five LTTE cadres during clashes in the Kallamparawa, Adampan Kulam and Palamodaikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also injured in these incidents.

August 7: Nine militants were killed and at least 22 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also killed while 16 sixteen others received injuries in confrontations, explosions of IEDs and APMs.

The SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed four militants while wounding six others. One soldier was killed and another got injured during confrontations.

August 6: Seven LTTE militants were killed and more then 10 others wounded during clashes with the SFs in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One soldier also died in an improvised explosive device explosion in the same area.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed five militants while injuring 18 others. One soldier was also wounded during the incident.

Troops attacked Muhamalai FDL of the LTTE in the Jaffna district from seven different flanks killing at least five militants and injuring 25 others. Three soldiers were injured in explosions of APM in the area.

August 5: At least 26 militants were killed and more than 73 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. Three soldiers were also killed while eight others sustained injuries in these clashes.

The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed 10 of them and injured 20 others. Five soldiers were also wounded in these clashes and explosion of an LTTE laid landmine.

August 4: 11 LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Thunukkai, south of Kalvilan, Kalaikadu and Vellaimuntai areas in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries during these clashes.

Seven militants were killed and nine others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Paddikkudiyiruppu, Pullekyarkulam, Navathkulama and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. Among the dead was Kumaran Master, the Pullekyarkulam area leader of the outfit. One soldier was also injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Palamoddai area.

The troops killed six militants and injured 14 others in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

The troops attacked a fortified camp of the LTTE located north of Vellankulam in the Kilinochchi district and killed five militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were killed in mortar fire by the LTTE and another was wounded in an APM explosion.

August 3: Troops attached to the 58th Division advanced further northwards on the Mannar-Pooneryn road Troops attached to the 58th Division advanced up to 29th mile post on the Mannar Pooneryn road after shifting the entire 58th Division into the Kilinochchi district. "At least 15 Tiger cadres were killed in the confrontation that erupted yesterday in the North of Vellankulam," an unnamed senior military official said.

The troops advancing towards the areas north of Vellankulam in Kilinochchi district repulsed LTTE attacks and killed 12 militants and injured 14 others.

SFs killed nine militants and wounded seven others at Vellankulam in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed in the incident.

Five militants were killed and two others wounded during encounters between the two sides in the Uttimodai and Kovilan areas of Vavuniya district.

A LTTE makeshift camp on the Iranatheevu islands, about 12-km west of Nachchakuda beach in the Kilinochchi district, was destroyed by the Naval troops. During the raid, Navy destroyed one LTTE boat and killed four militants. Sailors also captured two LTTE boats along with their Out Board Motors, one stretcher, a haul of medical items, two cans full of fuel and a tent.

The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and Ranabapura areas in Vavuniya district and killed three of them and injured 20 others. One soldier was also killed in Ranabapura while another sustained injury in an APM explosion in the north of Kiriibbanwewa.

The SFs killed three LTTE cadres in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another was injured during the incident.

Three soldiers were killed while another sustained injuries in a grenade explosion in the Thanankilappu area of Jaffna district.

August 2: Sri Lanka military captured Vellankulam town, the northernmost town in the Mannar district. At least 30 LTTE militants were killed and the remaining reportedly used sea routes to withdraw. With the capture of Vellankulam, the entire Mannar district came under the control of the security forces for the first time. "The troops attached to the 58 Division killed 2,500 Tiger cadres in the Mannar battlefront by the time it completely liberated the Mannar district from the clutches of the LTTE and stepped into Kilinochchi district the last stronghold of the LTTE," the General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Shavendra Silva said. The troops on the Mannar front began their operation in September 2007.

Three militants were killed by the troops in the Palamoddai and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district.

The SFs killed three LTTE cadres and wounded another in the Kalvilan and Malawi areas of the Mullaitivu district.

August 1: At least 15 soldiers and nine militants were killed while 27 militants and 20 soldiers were wounded as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district.

Seven militants were killed during another encounter between the two sides in the Vellankulam area of Mannar district.

The troops killed eight militants and injured three others in the Navvi and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

Four militants were killed by the troops in the Paddadmutthukulam and Navathkulama areas of Vavuniya district.

Four LTTE cadres were killed and eight others injured in Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. 10 soldiers were injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of improvised explosive devices in the Kiriibbanwewa area.

The troops killed three more militants in the Vellankulam area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while two others were injured.

July 31: The troops crossed the district borders between Mannar and Kilinochchi at an undisclosed location on the Mannar-Vavuniya combined warfront 20 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed in the operation during which the troops established their control over five square kilometres area in the Mundampiddy area.

The troops attacked an LTTE camp in the Mundampiddy area of Mannar district and killed seven militants.

SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed six of them and injured 10 others. Two soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

Five top LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the SFs at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. Four women cadres, including, "Lieutenant Colonel" Kumaveri Thangeamma, leader of the LTTE’s women’s wing in Mullaitivu, and three of her accomplices, Kanthimani, Pushparani and Magolechchami, were among those killed. During another clash in the same area, one LTTE group leader, identified as Madavani, was killed by the SFs.

The troops neutralized three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Navvi and another in the Palamoddai area in Vavuniya district. Four militants were reportedly killed in these operations.

Four militants were killed and eight others wounded by the SFs during clashes between the two sides in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

July 30: While one LTTE bunker was destroyer, at least eight militants were killed and 17 others injured by the troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE cadres in the Navathkulama, Kattikulam and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district and killed eight militants and injured three others.

The SFs attacked and destroyed a heavily fortified LTTE camp in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district after a seven-hour long battle killing five militants. Among those killed include one LTTE woman leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Kadiravani, and "Captain" Vageesan. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

July 29: The LTTE militants operating in the Thunukkai and Kavilan areas of Mullaitivu district opened mortar fire towards the troops in the north of Thunukkai and killed two soldiers while injuring three others. In the retaliatory fire, the SFs killed eight militants.

Five LTTE militants were killed while three others were wounded by the SFs as the troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Kalmadu area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

The SFs neutralised several LTTE camps in the area east of Vellankulam in Mannar district. During the operation troops also ambushed a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them in Adampan Kulam. In a similar clash in the same area, the SFs wounded 10 militants.

July 28: Nine LTTE militants and three soldiers were killed while more than 25 other militants and six soldiers were injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, north of Kokkuthuduvai and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

12 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured by the SFs during clashes at Adampan Kulam and Iluppakadaweli in the Mannar district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

The troops clashed with militants in the Navathkulama, Vilakkavettikulam, Kuttimulei and north of Navvi areas in the Vavuniya district and killed nine of them and injured four others. While two soldiers were injured in LTTE mortar fire, one soldier sustained injury in an IED explosion.

July 27: SFs captured the Sugandan base, part of the LTTE’s One-Four base complex in the Mullaitivu jungle. The Sugandan satellite base was a small base which was being used by the LTTE cadres for communications, he added.

Seven LTTE militants were killed in three separate encounters with the troops in the areas north of Navvi, Parappukkal and Kattikulam in Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

Four LTTE militants were killed and 13 others sustained injuries when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ranabapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Ethawatunuwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were killed in mortar fire by the LTTE while five others were wounded in explosions of IEDs and APMs in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa.

The troops attacked two LTTE bunkers in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed five militants and injured seven others.

July 26: The troops killed six LTTE militants during clashes in the Navathkulama and Navvi areas of the Vavuniya district.

Troops confronted several group of LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed three of them and injured 10 others. Five soldiers were injured in explosions of IEDs and mortar fire.

Three more LTTE cadres were killed by the security forces in the Muhamalai and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district.

July 25: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured during separate clashes with the troops in the Pandiyankalli, north of Oddankulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. Eight soldiers were also reported killed while 10 others received injured during these confrontations. Troops alter recovered the dead body one militant along with T-56 assault rifle and five ration packets.

Eight militants were killed and 10 others injured by the SFs when clashes erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation.

July 24-25: The troops advancing towards the Mullaitivu district captured the Vavunikkulam tank located three-km south of Mallavi Town in the Mullaitivu district on July 24-morning. The troops later repulsed a LTTE counter-attack on the Vavunikkulam tank. "So far the troops have collected 36 Tiger bodies in the Vavunikkulam area killing more than 55 of them during the battle to capture Vavunikkulam tank bund and the subsequent attack to repulse the counter attack by the LTTE to regain control of the area," Brigadier Nanayakkara said. Eight senior LTTE cadres, identified as ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ Pallavan, ‘Major’ Ambumani, Selvakannan, Sellappu, Muhi, Illambu, Sudar and Jenathan, who were at the commanding level of the 'Charles Anthony' brigade in Mannar sector were among the slain militants.

July 24: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and more than 42 others injured during separate encounters with the troops in the Pandiyankulam, Navakkulam, Navvi, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed while 13 others sustained injuries during these encounters.

July 23: 23 LTTE militants were killed and 21 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Eelamaruttankulam, Pungntharumadu and Nauvi areas of Mannar district and north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district on. At least eight of them died when the troops attacked the outfit’s bunkers in the Nauvi and Kiriibbanwewa areas. While four soldiers were also killed during the clashes in Nauvi and south of Kalvilan, 10 others were reported injured in these clashes.

The SFs attacked an LTTE bunker in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district and killed three militants.

July 22: At least 22 Black Tigers were killed when the SLAF fighter jets carried out an air attack in the Mullaitivu area targeting an LTTE training centre in the Udayarkattikkulam area East of Iranamadu. Udayarkattikkulam area is considered as a nerve centre of the outfit in the Mullaitivu district and had been used for special training for its leaders.

12 LTTE militants were killed and about 30 others injured as the SFs launched an attack on the outfit’s Murunkaiyadippudi camp in Mannar district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed seven of them and injured 22 others.

The SFs killed five LTTE cadres and injured six others in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were wounded in the incident.

July 21: At least 24 militants were killed and 15 others injured as the troops launched an attack on LTTE camps in the Murunkaiyadippudi area of Mannar district. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the clashes.

During separate clashes between the two sides in the Kalawilan, Cheddapiddikulam and Pandiyankulam areas in Mannar and Palamoddai, Madam and north of Navvi in Vavuniya the SFs killed 10 LTTE militants and injured three others. One soldier was also killed and five others were wounded in these clashes.

The troops attacked one LTTE bunker complex in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants and injured four others.

Three LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

July 20: Troops captured the biggest LTTE base at Illuppukadavai, 10-kilometres north of Vedithalthivu, in the Mannar district. 15 militants and a soldier were reportedly killed and two soldiers wounded during the clashes that continued for the past two days.

14 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured by the security forces as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Omanthe, Vedamakilam, Pungantalvamadu, Parappukkal, north of Navvi and Palamoddai in Vavuniya district.

During a clash between the two sides in the Iluppakadaweli area of Mannar district, the troops killed 13 militants.

The SFs captured five LTTE trench lines in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district killing five militants and injuring three others.

Five LTTE militants were killed and 18 others injured by the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes and explosions of APMs and improvised explosive devices in these areas.

The troops attacked two bunkers of the outfit in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district and killed three militants and injuring five others. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

July 19: Eight LTTE militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the Karawaddivembu and Murunkaiyadippudi areas of the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured in mortar fire by the LTTE in these areas.

The troops killed five militants and injured 10 others during clashes in the areas north of Andankulam, north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One bunker was also neutralized by the troops in north Kiriibbanwewa.

Three militants were killed when the security forces neutralised a LTTE bunker in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

July 18: Nine LTTE militants were killed and 12 others injured by the SFs during clashes in the areas north of Navvi, Palamoddai and Pandiyankulam in Vavuniya district. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

Seven LTTE militants were killed and 27 others injured by the SFs during separate encounters in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

The troops killed three LTTE militants in the areas ahead of the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs in Jaffna district.

July 17: Nineteen LTTE militants were killed and 40 others injured when the troops attacked the outfit’s bunkers in the Thunukkai, Pandiyankulam, Oddankulam, Pallaimadu, Palaiandankulam, Thiravu, north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and Vellankulam areas in Vavuniya district. Five soldiers were also killed and 10 others injured in improvise explosion devices explosions in these areas. Troops also neutralised at least 11 bunkers, including eight bunkers in the Navvi area, during the operation.

July 16: The troops captured the biggest Sea Tiger base in the North Western coastal town of Vedithalthivu in Mannar for the first time after the early 1990’s. More than 70 to 80 militants were killed during the past few days, the General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Silva said.

12 LTTE militants were killed and 23 others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Periyamaraiillupai, Kattikulam, Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injury in the clashes. Troops captured three bunkers at north of Navvi and recovered one Global Positions System.

During a clash in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed eight militants and injured 25 others. While 10 SF personnel were wounded in the incident, the troops also neutralised two LTTE bunkers.

Three LTTE cadres and two soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire between the two sides at the Vidattaltive jetty in Mannar district. While six soldiers sustained injuries, the SFs recovered two trucks, one canter and a motor bike.

July 15: 28 LTTE cadres were killed and 40 others injured by the SFs in the Navakkulam, Maruthamadu and Nedunkandal areas in Vavuniya and Eachalarakkai in Mannar.

20 militants were killed as the Army troops along with the SLAF launched an attack on a convoy of LTTE while it was moving along A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn road.

20 Sea Tigers were killed as the SLAF MI 24 helicopter gun ships neutralised an LTTE camp located north of Vidattaltive area in the Mannar district.

SFs neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Maruthamadu area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants and injured four others.

During clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, the troops killed four militants and injured 20 others.

The troops captured two LTTE camps in the Ampandankulam and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring eight others.

July 14: At least 27 LTTE militants were killed and 69 others wounded during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ampandankulam, Palampiddi, Navvi, Nithyanagar, Parappakandattan and Puthukulam in Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Four soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries. The troops also captured one bunker and two trenches.

Three soldiers were killed and another injured in an LTTE-triggered IED explosion in the Kadolana area of Jaffna district.

July 13: At least seven militants were killed when the troops attacked a LTTE camp northeast of Sulathinakulam in the Mannar district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district killing seven militants and injuring 26 others.

The SFs opened fire on two LTTE bunkers at Periyavilankulli and Puthukulam in the Mannar district and killed five militants.

The troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district clashed with the LTTE militants killing at least three of them and wounded two others. An IED explosion in the same area injured two soldiers.

July 12: Four LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during clashes between the two sides in the Navvi area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers and a militant were injured in these clashes.

SFs killed four LTTE militants and injured 12 others in the Puthukulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

The troops killed four LTTE cadres and injured an equal number of them in the Sannarkulam area of Vavuniya district.

Three LTTE militants were killed and three others injured during clashes with the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

July 11: Five LTTE militants were killed and six others injured in clashes with the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

At least four civilians, including two women and a 12-year-old child, were killed and 25 others sustained injuries when a group of LTTE militants shot at a bus plying from Moneragala to Kataragma on the Buttala- Kataragma main road.

During an encounter between the two sides the troops killed four LTTE militants in the Wellaveli area of Mannar district.

The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured 11 others in the Maruthamadu, Eelamaruttankulam and Ampandankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

July 10: Seven militants were killed when the troops attacked LTTE camps in the Palamoddai, Navavi, Mundipurippu, Navakkulam, south of Ampandankulam, Illanthaimotai and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Chandamandankulam, Palaweddumodai, Pallimunai, Uthkamam, Palairaimotai areas of Mannar district and killed seven of them. Eight soldiers sustained injuries during the operation in which they neutralized two bunkers.

Four LTTE cadres were killed and 23 others injured by the SFs in the areas north of Janakapura, Uluthuvely and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Six soldiers were wounded in the incident.

Three civilians, identified as Surendra Kumara, Wasantha Premakumara and Asanka Namal Buddhika from the Wattegama area of Kurunegala district, were shot dead by a ‘pistol gang’ militant of the LTTE in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district.

July 9: Eight LTTE militants and one soldier were killed while six militants and two soldiers were wounded during clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

The SFs attacked three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and neutralised one of them killing nine militants while injuring 10 others.

The troops clashed with the militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed eight of them while injuring 10 others. Seven soldiers were injured in this incident. The troops during the operation also captured one LTTE bunker.

Six militants were killed and a soldier was wounded when the troops attacked several LTTE camps in the Anandankulam, Navvi and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

The SFs captured five LTTE bunkers in the Mathirmadu area of Mannar district and killed six militants.

During an encounter with the LTTE cadres in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants and injured five others. Two soldiers were also killed in this incident.

July 8: At least eight LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralised one bunker at Periyavalayankadu in the Vavuniya district.

The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed at least seven militants while injuring nine others. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

The troops captured four LTTE bunkers in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring another. The troops later recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants along with two T-56 weapons and one radio set.

July 7: At least nine LTTE militants were killed and 14 others injured during three separate clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa, north of Janakapura and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district and killed three of them while injuring at least 16 others. One soldier was also killed while two more sustained injuries in the fighting.

July 6: Seven LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Navathkulama, Ampandankulam and Palamoddai areas of the Vavuniya district.

Four LTTE militants were killed and 10 others wounded during clashes with the troops in the area north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were wounded in these clashes.

July 5: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 18 others injured as the troops clashed with the militants in the Ampandankulam, Puttakamam, Paranthekulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. Nine soldiers were injured in the LTTE mortar fire while four others sustained injuries in explosions of APMs and improvised explosive devices. One LTTE bunker was neutralised by the SFs in the Palamoddai area.

Four LTTE militants were killed and nine wounded in clashes with the SFs in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Naddamankulam and Anandankulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while four others sustained injuries.

July 4: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Parayanakulam, Palamoddai, Vidattaltive, Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were also in killed an IED explosion in the Palamoddai area. Separately, two soldiers engaged in clashes in the -Periyamadu areas went missing. Nine bunkers were also neutralized by the troops near Periyamadu.

20 LTTE militants were killed 12 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Maruthamadu, Navakkulam, Thunukkai, Nochchimunai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others were injured in these clashes.

17 militants were killed as the Army’s 59th Division engaged in an offensive on the Welioya front captured the LTTE’s strategic Michael Base. The Michael Base, part of the 1-4 Base, is located seven-km north of Janakapura and is similar to the Munnagam base - the first base in the 1-4 complex captured earlier -, is an underground structure.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Ranabapura areas of Vavuniya district and killed eight LTTE militants while injuring 22 others. Troops also captured one LTTE bunker.

Five LTTE militants were killed and 12 others wounded by the troops during clashes in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

Four more LTTE militants were killed and another injured by the SFs during an encounter between the two sides in the Ampachdankulam and Thiraktive areas of Mannar district. One soldier sustained injuries in the explosion of an anti-personnel mine.

During an encounter the SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

July 2: Twelve LTTE militants were killed by the SFs in the clashes at Kayamodai and Puthukulam in the Mannar district.

The troops killed 12 militants in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

July 1: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and more than 39 others injured as the troops confronted with the militants in the Ampandankulam East, Periyamadu North, Palamoddai, Navvi, Andankulam, Yalankulam, Echarakkai, Janakapura North, Kokkutoduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while 25 others wounded in LTTE-triggered explosions and firing during the clashes.

June 30: Five LTTE militants were killed while 11 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

Three soldiers were killed and two others wounded in LTTE-triggered IED explosions at Palamoddai and Kovitkanchikulam in Vavuniya district.

June 29: The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured four others near the Navakkulam FDL in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in the LTTE fire.

10 militants were killed and 32 others injured when the troops attacked LTTE camps north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

Six more LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured during a confrontation with the troops in the area north of Navavi area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured. One more soldier was reportedly missing in the confrontation.

During separate clashes between the two sides in the Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven LTTE militants and injured four others.

The troops captured one LTTE bunker ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district killing four militants.

June 28: At least 20 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured when troops opened fire on their positions in Ambaddankulam, Naddankulam, Navatkulam, Panichchanmadu, Naouarampu and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed and two others injured in the fight.

June 27: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as security forces captured the outfit’s strategic "54-Base", said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

25 more LTTE militants were killed and two soldiers sustained injuries as the SFs engaged in operation ‘Rice Bowl’ on the Mannar Front fully captured the Andankulam area and 13 square kilometres surrounding it, an unnamed senior military official said.

At least 20 LTTE militants were killed more than 40 others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while two more sustained injuries in the confrontations.

June 26: Troops operating on the Mannar front captured two and half square kilometres of land between Chalampan and Marattikannaddi on the Andankulam-Vedithalthivu road in Mannar district. "Twelve Tiger cadres were killed during the confrontation between 8 am to 3 pm yesterday to capture this terrain," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "With the capture of this key location all supply routes from Mannar Northwards to the Pooneryn road has been totally cut off to the LTTE."

Six LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the troops at Pandayan, according to Sri Lanka Army. Four soldiers were also injured during the clash.

The troops also eliminated five LTTE militants and injured eight others in the Morathandaman area of Mannar district. One soldier was also wounded in the incident.

The troops captured one more LTTE bunker in the Kanapputtukulam area of Mannar district and killed five militants while injuring six others. One T-56 weapon was also recovered from the incident site.

Four more LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured in an encounter with the troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers also sustained injuries in action.

June 24: The troops operating in the Mannar front captured several key locations in the North and North East of Adampan securing Mavilakkandi, Minnanirachchan and Marattikannaddi areas, Military sources said. At least 10 LTTE militants were killed in the confrontation that erupted from early hours of the day. Five soldiers also sustained injuries during these confrontations.

The SFs killed six LTTE militants and injured three others in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the incident.

At least five LTTE militants were killed and 24 others injured during confrontation with the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier also died in an anti personnel mine explosion during the clash.

The troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Mullikandal area of Mannar district killing three militants. One soldier was also killed in action.

June 23: At least 12 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed during separate clashes in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. 11 more militants and four soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.

At least 10 more LTTE militants were killed and six others wounded during separate confrontations with the SFs in the Periyamadu, Nedunkandal, Andankulam, Palamoddai and Werapiliyathura areas of Mannar district. Troops also recovered ammunition and explosives from the possession of the slain and injured persons.

Three policemen were killed and another injured when suspected LTTE militants carried out a bomb explosion near the Aiyththamalai Police post in Batticaloa district.

June 22: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and about 30 others injured as the troops captured an LTTE line of six bunkers built in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four solders were killed while seven others got injured in the clashes. One more soldier was reported missing in action.

10 more LTTE militants were killed by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Chalampan, Veddayamurippu, Kiraddikulam and Kovitakunchu area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while one more received injury.

The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the Muppankulam area of Vavuniya district on June 21-night and June 22-morning killing six militants and injuring a few others.

During another confrontation between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Mani Kindamalai and Veddankerni, the SFs killed three militants while inuring 30 others. Nine soldiers were also reported injured in the explosions of improvised explosive devices and LTTE fire.

June 21: Seven LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured during confrontations with the SFs in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Weddakulam areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes.

The SFs captured three LTTE bunkers killing four LTTE militants while injuring two others in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Four LTTE militants were killed as the Army troops serving in the Poovarasankulam area of Vavuniya district observed these militants, two males and two females, busy constructing a hut near a bunker.

June 19: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 14 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Vedamakilam, Periyamadu, Kayamunai, Nedunkandal, Eachalarakkai, Kuranchatalav and Andankulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Three soldiers were also killed while nine others sustained injuries.

Six more soldiers were killed and more than twenty others injured in encounters with the troops in the Mankindamulai, Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers also sustained injuries in the LTTE fire and anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive devices’ explosions during the clashes. The troops also neutralized one LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura.

June 18: Seven LTTE militants were killed as troops attacked LTTE camps in the Kiraddikulam and Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

June 17: At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and three others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Palamoddai, Karukkakulam, Kovitkanchikulam and south of Navavi areas in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

During another confrontation between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Ethawatunuwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded at least six others. Three soldiers also got injured in the confrontations.

Three soldiers were killed in a LTTE mortar fire targeting SFs in the Kayamodai Wanni area of Vavuniya district.

June 16: At least eight LTTE militants were killed and more than 10 others injured when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Echchalarakkai, Vannakulam, Pandiyankulam Periyamadu, Mullikkandy, Parappakandal, Palamoddai and south of Kovitkuchchikulam areas in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also injured in these confrontations.

Three LTTE militants were killed and at least 24 others injured by the troops during confrontations in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the LTTE mortar fire.

A suspected LTTE suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up in front of a Police building in Vavuniya, killing 12 police personnel, including three female Police officers and wounding 23 others, the military said,. The suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the SSP office complex in Vavuniya targeting the Police personnel leaving the SSP office for their duties at around 7:10am (SLST).

June 15: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured by the SFs as confrontations occurred between the sides in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ranabapura and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Three SF personnel were killed while four others sustained injuries during the clashes. The SFs also recovered one hand grenade from the area north of Kiriibbanwewa.

Six more LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Navathkulama, north of Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. One soldier was killed while four others were injured in LTTE fire.

The troops confronted with a group of LTTE militants and killed five of them in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in action.

Three LTTE militants were eliminated by the SFs during two separate confrontations in the Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of the three slain militants along with two T-56 weapons.

June 14: At least eight LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured as the troops in a fierce offensive operation captured a strategically important LTTE-held area in the Mannar district and brought the whole tank area under their control, the military said. Seven soldiers got injured in the confrontations. Capture of the entire perimeter of this strategically important tank area is a major setback to the LTTE, defence officials said.

The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Komankulam, Mundipurippu, Keevelikulam, Minukkal, Nedunkandal and Irathawelliyakulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts and killed four militants while injured four others. Two soldiers were also killed and five others received injuries during the clashes.

June 13: At least seven LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed during confrontations that erupted in the north of Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. At least 15 militants and five soldiers were injured during these confrontations.

During another confrontation between the two sides in the Periyamandankulam, Palampiddi, Kovitakunchu, Nedunkandal, Alankulam and Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts the troops killed five militants while injured eight others. Three soldiers were also reported killed and four others got injured. 500 T-56 ammunitions were recovered by the troops in the Palampiddi area.

June 12: The SFs killed five LTTE militants and injured six others during separate encounters in the Janakapura and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while six others received injuries during the clashes.

At Kiraddikulam in Vavuniya district, the SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed three of them on the spot. Two more militants and one soldier received injuries in the incident.

June 11: At least seven LTTE militants were killed in the Nedunkandal and the west of Navvi areas in Mannar district. Two LTTE bunkers were also neutralised in the Nedunkandal area.

Five more LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured during clashes with the troops in the north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries, the troops captured one bunker in the fighting in Janakapura area.

At least four LTTE militants and three sailors were killed as the SLN personnel foiled an LTTE attack on a SLN outpost at Erukkalampiddi in the Mannar Island. According to the defence sources, a group of outfit’s cadres who had come in six boats launched the attack at around 2.15 am (SLST). The SLN personnel defended the post effectively destroying a Sea Tiger boat in a counter-attack killing four militants, including their leader Sirimaran, sources added. However, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net admitting their loss said the outfit destroyed the camp and captured key weapons and radar equipment.

June 10: At least four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during confrontations in the Periyamadu, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured during these clashes.

Three ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE were gunned down during a Police and Army combined cordon and search operation at Pallikudiruppu in the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district. Reports said that a group of three militants had opened fire and lobbed a hand grenade at the SF personnel engaged in the search operation. The SF personnel had retaliated killing two militants on the spot while the other who had managed to escape was chased and shot dead later.

June 9: At least nine LTTE militants were killed as the troops stormed the outfit’s FDL in the Alankulam area, about 2-km north to the north bund of the Giant Tank, of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries during the clash that lasted nearly for four hours. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three female militants from the area.

June 8: At least 17 LTTE militants and six soldiers were killed as the troops stormed the outfit’s One-Four base at five places and captured 500-600 meters stretch of land in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district. 35 militants and 18 soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting which lasted for eight hours.

At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 33 others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Manipullkulam, Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Wedimurippu, Thalaweddi and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while about 19 others received injuries during these clashes.The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai, Mankumban, Ponnar and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed an unspecified number of militants. Three soldiers were also killed during the clashes. Six soldiers and an equal number of militants were reported injured in the incidents. Some of the soldiers were injured in LTTE triggered remote-controlled blasts in the area.

Five LTTE militants were killed and another five wounded by the troops during an encounter in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district. One soldier also sustained injuries during the clash.

Three more LTTE militants were killed by SFs in another confrontation in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district.

June 7: The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam, Periyamadu, Cheddiyankulam and Periyapallemullkaduu areas of Vavuniya district and killed seven militants while injured two others. Five soldiers were also injured while the SFs recovered the dead body of one female LTTE cadre after clashes in Periyamadu.

In similar confrontations that erupted between the two sides in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five militants and injured at least 19 others.

Three more LTTE militants were killed and two others wounded by the troops destroyed an LTTE bunker in the area north of Ethawatunuwewa in Vavuniya district.

June 6: 21 persons were killed and 40 others injured in a LTTE-triggered a powerful explosion on a public bus near Katubedda Shailabimbaramaya temple on the Katubedda – Piliyandala main road in Colombo. Eight women and 13 men were among the dead in the explosion in the bus which was proceeding to Mt. Lavinia from Kottawa.

At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 21 others injured by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ichchalankai, Nedunkandal, Periyamadu, Kovitkanchikulam, Itkanchikulam, Palamoddai, Alankulam and Kurukkallimotai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Nine soldiers were also reported wounded in the incidents.

Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district killed four LTTE militants and injured at least 13 others.

June 5: 30 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured one kilometre stretch of the main defence line of the LTTE covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' by reaching the edge of the 'Rice Bowl' north of Adampan on June 4-evening, military sources said. "This was the first time the troops in Mannar front captured a stretch of LTTE main defence line stretching from Pappamoddai in the north of Manthai from the seaside towards Parappakandattan in the north of Giant Tank for more than 11 Kilometres covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl'," an unnamed senior military official said. The LTTE constructed this defence line with a six to eight feet high earth bund, a water canal and a trench line forcibly using the civilians living in the un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) a few months back to face the advancing troops.

Four LTTE militants were killed and eight others inured during separate clashes with the troops in the Periyamadu, Periyamandankulam, Kopilkurunala and Villamadukulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while eight others received injuries during these confrontations.

The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed four more militants. One soldier was also killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.

June 4: The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the Villattikulam and Navavi areas of Vavuniya district killing 11 militants while injuring at least 15 others. Three soldiers also received injuries in action.

11 more LTTE militants were killed in confrontations with the troops in the Kaddupulan, Kurukkandai, Nedunkandal and Parappakandattan areas of Mannar district. Seven more militants and a soldier were reportedly received injuries during the clashes.

As clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kokkutoduvai, Andankulam, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district the SFs killed five LTTE militants and wounded an equal number of them.

At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead at least six militants and injured three others in two separate clashes.

The SFs at Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district opened fire towards a tractor with LTTE militants on board and killed three militants while others managed to escape.

June 3: 16 LTTE militants were killed and at least 10 others injured as the troops attacked several LTTE camps and bunkers in the Navathkulama, Periyamadu Kulam, Kowitkuchdu, Udaiyadi and Nedunkandal areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

June 2: At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 17 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Chunnikadukulam, Koddeikulam, Mullikannady, Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were killed and two others injured in the fighting at Janakapura, two more soldiers were reported wounded elsewhere.

June 1: Eight LTTE militants were killed by the security forces (SFs) during encounters in the Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.

Three militants were killed by the troops near Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs of Jaffna district.

May 31: Three soldiers and two LTTE militants were killed during clashes that erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers and an equal number of militants were injured in the clashes.

Five militants were killed and two others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Andankulam, Chandamandankulam, Panikkaneru, Periyamandankulam, Olumaduwai and west of Navavi areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

Three more LTTE militants were killed in encounters with the SFs in the Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were injured in these clashes.

May 30: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Kodikamam, Nedunkandal and Pullekyarkulam areas of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also killed while 10 others received injuries in these clashes.

Three LTTE militants were killed and four others injured by the troops during encounters in the Navathkulama, Periyamadu Kulam, Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district and killed three militants and wounded two others. One soldier was also injured in action.

May 29: The SFs foiled a pre-dawn sea attack by the LTTE sinking three Sea Tiger boats and killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries during the clash between the LTTE and troops at the Chiraththivu islet of Jaffna district. A combined Army-Navy operation at the Chiraththivu islet of Jaffna district foiled an attempt by the LTTE to infiltrate the military detachment located between the Jaffna mainland and the Mandaithivu Island from the sea. Defence reports said that the Sea Tigers launched a second attack in six boats towards the same islet from the Pooneryn area. Troops repulsed the offensive sinking three boats and heavily damaging another which sank in the shallow waters at around 2am (SLT). The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net, however, claimed that 13 navy personnel were killed in the incident.

14 LTTE militants were killed and 42 others injured as SFs captured one of the outfit’s major strategic bases known as "Munnagam" in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

LTTE militants opened artillery fire towards Jaffna town centre from their bases in Pooneryn which struck 18 people sleeping in their houses. While six of the civilians died, 12 others were injured.

Six LTTE militants were killed as the SLN launched an attack on two Sea Tiger boats transporting fuel barrels to un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) via the seas off Uddimukkanthurai in the Mannar.

Six militants were killed and more than 20 others wounded as the troops launched attacks in the jungle areas of Periyamadu Kulam, Palamoddai, Andankulam, Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident at Andankulam.

Three persons, including a woman, were killed by the LTTE militants at the Zone 18 village in Anuradhapura district.

May 28: 11 militants were killed and seven others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Olumaduwai, Periyamadu, Sinnamalayankaddu and Kappankulam areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

During another clash between the two sides in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district, the SFs killed four more militants while injuring three others.

Four LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured in clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

May 27: The SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded 14 others during encounters in the Janakapura, Andankulam, Punnankulam and Palaiandankulam areas of the Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with two groups of LTTE militants in the Nelukkulama and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

Four more LTTE militants were killed and 20 others sustained injuries during encounters with the troops in the Kuddeadi, Alankulam, Karankuddi, Piriyanweli, Veddayamurippu, Minnukandi and Mankadu areas of Mannar district.

May 26: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and a dozen others were injured in sporadic clashes between the militants and troops in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Clashes were reported from Palamoddai, Vedamakilam and Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district and Mundipurippu, Velankulam, Mampulikulam, Thampamoddai and Nedunkandal in Mannar district. Seven soldiers were wounded in the clashes.

Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the area north of Janakapura and Andankulam jungle areas in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

At least eight passengers, including four women, were killed when a LTTE parcel bomb with a timer exploded in a crowded train near Dehiwala, a suburb of capital Colombo, at around 4.50pm (SLT). More than 70 persons were injured in the explosion which occurred in the fifth compartment of the Kalutara district-bound train, Senior Superintendent of Police R. Gunasekara said.

May 25: 10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Mundipurippu area of the Vavuniya district on May 25. The SFs later recovered 10 IEDs, 10 anti-personnel mines (APMs), one Arul bomb, 400 T-56 ammunition rounds, 400 Multi Purpose Machine Gun ammunition rounds, eighteen 60-mm mortar fuses and 11 APM fuses from the incident site.

10 militants were killed and a dozen others injured during clashes with the troops in the Kurukkandai, Paleipperumalkadu, Pediyaarippu, Nedunkandal, Maravitikannadi and Welioya north areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Seven soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

In clashes between the two sides in the Palampiddi, Arsamadu and Periyamadu areas of the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six militants and injured three others.

The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the area north of Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district and also recovered three T-56 weapons.

May 24: Five LTTE militants were killed and 14 others wounded by the troops during clashes in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries in the clashes.

During encounters between the two sides in the Mundipurippu, Veddayamurippu, Malikaittidal and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts, the troops killed two more LTTE militants and injured eight others. One soldier was reportedly killed while another was injured in the incident.

May 23: 16 civilians, including six children comprising of four girls and two boys, were killed in a SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU)-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting a Hiace van returning from Muzhangkaavil hospital to Kilinochchi on the Murikandi - Akkaraayan Road at around 2:15pm, claimed pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. Earlier, Assistant Director of Fisheries in Mannar, J.G.Jujin, and another civilian were killed when a DPU triggered claymore mine explosion targeted an ambulance of the Kilinochchi hospital at Muzhangkaavil at around at 8:00 am. The SLA, however, denying its involvement and said that the areas alleged lie about 100-km away from the northern most Omanthai Entry/Exit point and defence lines under the Government control in Vavuniya.

Four LTTE militants were killed and more than a dozen injured by the troops during separate encounters in the Periyamadu, Navathkulama, Nedunkandal, Wedimurippu and Kurukkandai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

May 22: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed and about 12 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa and surrounding areas of Welioya in the Vavuniya district.

Two members of the TMVP and three civilians were killed and four other people were wounded by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents. "Two TMVP cadres, including the party's chief organiser for Katankudi, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen around 11.15 a.m. In a separate incident, also at Arayampathi in Katankudi area, three Muslim civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen around 12.45 p.m.," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, troops neutralised an LTTE bunker line and killed at least five militants while injuring four others. Three soldiers were also wounded in the clashes. Another soldier got injured in an LTTE laid APM explosion in the same area.

Five LTTE militants were killed during an encounter with the troops in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district.

May 21: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 26 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

The SFs killed three LTTE militants during encounters in the Mundipurippu and Palamoddai areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

May 20: At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during an encounter with the troops in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

Five LTTE militants were killed and 15 others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the Palaiandankulam, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Thunukkakulam and Pattankulam areas of the same district.

May 19: Four LTTE militants were killed and 20 others injured by the troops during separate incidents in the Kokkuthuduvai, Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district on May 19, reports SLA.

During an encounter in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed two militants. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of the Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

May 18: At least 26 LTTE militants and five soldiers were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries as the troops foiled two attempts by the militants to capture SFs defence line at Nedunkandal in the Mannar district. The first attack of the militants occurred at 3.00 pm which was repulsed by the troops killing 11 cadres of the outfit. Three soldiers were also injured in the attack. Again, the militants attempted to break the defence line around 5.45 pm and lost 15 of their cadres in troop’s retaliatory fire. Five soldiers were also killed while three others got injured.

SFs captured a LTTE bunker line at Kurukkandai in the Mannar district killing seven militants. Four soldiers were also killed in the clash while three others sustained injuries in the incident. Three more soldiers went missing during the clash.

During clashes between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Marudhakulam, Palamoddai, Mundipurippu and Kallikulam areas of Vavuniya district, troops killed 10 militants and injured six others.

Seven militants were killed and 12 others injured in clashes with the troops in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district. One soldier was killed while another was wounded in these clashes.

At Ampaddankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed six militants.

Three militants were killed while 13 others sustained injuries during encounters between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in action.

May 17: The troops captured Palampiddi junction in the Mannar district, killing 13 LTTE militants.

The troops killed seven LTTE militants and injured 10 others in clashes at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and areas north of Murunkan, Devolkandan, Veddayamurippu, north of Uyilankulam and Periyakulam in the Mannar district.

Six LTTE militants were killed and three others wounded by the security forces during clashes at Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

May 16: 10 persons, including seven police personnel, were killed and 95 others were injured as a LTTE suicide bomber on a motorcycle laden with explosives rammed into a bus carrying police officers around 12.05 pm at the Colombo Fort. 10 other vehicles were badly damaged during the incident.

The troops killed seven militants, including six women cadres, in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

During an encounter between the two sides in the Periyamadu, Palampiddi and Palamoddai areas, the troops killed five militants.

May 15: 18 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Vairapuliyankulam, Vilakkavatti Kulam, Palampiddi, Periyamadu and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in these clashes.

Nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district. One soldier was injured in the clashes.

During a series of clashes with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, the troops killed seven militants. One soldier who was injured in the explosion of an LTTE laid improvised explosive device in the area died later.

May 14: 14 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya in Vavuniya district.

The SFs attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least six militants.

During an encounter in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed four militants while one soldier died during the clash.

Troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants killing three of them while injuring three others in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. While four soldiers were wounded in the incident, one soldier reportedly went missing.

May 13: Four LTTE militants were killed and 11 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Andankulam, Vadukkanari and Janakapura areas of the Vavuniya district. Five soldiers were reportedly injured during these clashes.

Four militants, including a female cadre, are reported to have died and five soldiers were wounded during continuing clashes in the Sivarayankulam, Mundumrippu, Navvi, Chinnavahayankaddu, Nedunkandal and Palamoddai areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

May 12: Five militants were killed in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district as the troops destroyed four fortified LTTE bunkers.

The SFs killed five LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

May 11: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and more than five others injured during separate clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai, Palampiddi and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during encounters in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas, north of Welioya in Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries during the clash in Janakapura. The SFs also recovered the dead body one female militant along with one Icom set and one T-56 weapon following the Kiriibbanwewa clash.

May 10: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked the outfit’s hideouts in the areas north of Palampiddi, Vedamakilam, Kurukkandai, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

May 9: Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the SFs captured one square km. area in Alankulam of Mannar. "33 LTTE cadres were killed and 40 injured in the confrontation", Nanayakkara stated. One soldier was killed and five others wounded in the clashes. Five soldiers were reported missing in action.

The troops captured the strategic Adampan town in Mannar district. The LTTE reportedly retreated from its positions in Adampan town in the face of heavy firepower from the SFs. "At least 15 LTTE cadres were killed and many others injured when troops marched forward and confronted the Tiger cadres resulting in the capture of the Adampan junction and it’s liberate from the LTTE’s grip at around 8.30 a.m.", military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "The Security Forces launched an offensive attack at around 4.30 a.m. and the confrontation lasted till the Adampan town fell into the troops’ hands at around 8.30am." Two soldiers were killed and seven others injured in the incident.

At least 14 LTTE militants were killed during an encounter with the troops in the general (area under Government control) of Vavuniya district.

11 persons, including two women, were killed and 29 others injured in a bomb blast at the City Cafe Hotel near the Ampara Clock tower in Ampara town. According to Deputy Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon, the hotel’s second level collapsed and adjacent buildings were badly damaged due to the explosion.

During an encounter between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed 12 militants. Three soldiers were injured in the clashes.

In Mannar, clashes erupted between the two sides in the Manipullkulam, Nedunkandal and Mantota areas in which 11 militants were killed and five wounded. Troops also captured two bunkers connected to LTTE trenches during clearing operations in the Manipullkulam.

May 8: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed as the Army captured a two square kilometer stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory, about 5-6 km south of Adampan town in the Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while another was wounded in the incident.

During clashes with the LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam, Alkaddivalikulam, Palampiddi, Villiyakulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants while injuring five others.

Three more LTTE militants were killed and nine others wounded by the troops in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

May 7: During intermittent clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Parappakandal, Kathankulam, Alankulam, Chalampaikkulam, Nedunkandal and Adampampekkulam in the Mannar district, the SFs killed at least 12 militants. Six soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.

Three LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured by the SFs in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

May 6: The troops captured about 400-600 square metres stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory of Alankulam in the Mannar district and killed seven militants while injuring 10 others. Five soldiers were also injured in the operation. Also, the troops foiled an LTTE attempt to re-enter into the same area later and during the ensuing encounter killed six more militants.

The troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants through a jungle path in the area north of Periyamadu in Vavuniya district killing six militants aboard the vehicle.

The SFs attacked a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palampiddi area and neutralised six bunkers. Six militants were killed and a soldier injured during the incident.

The SFs in the Manthotam area of Mannar district in two separate attacks destroyed three LTTE bunkers killing five militants. 10 militants and two soldiers were reported wounded in the confrontation.

In the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, SFs opened fire towards a tractor carrying three militants and killed all of them. One LTTE bunker was also neutralised in the area.

May 5: At least nine LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured in intermittent clashes between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Palampiddi and Maruthamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants and killed five of them while injuring 12 others in Welioya area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were reportedly injured in the clash.

The SFs in Mannar killed five LTTE militants when they launched an operation and captured one square kilometer of land in the Chalampaikkulam area.

Ten LTTE militants, including two area leaders, were killed and 52 others injured by the security forces in an encounter at the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in the LTTE attack. One soldier, meanwhile, was reported missing.

May 4: During clashes between the SFs and LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed three militants.

May 3: At least 15 LTTE militants, most of them hailing from the "Imran Pandian regiment" – said to be LTTE’s most acclaimed regiment, were killed in an offensive launched by the troops in the Chettiyarkattaiadampan area, southeast of Giant Tank in the Mannar district. The outfit is reported to have lost some of their vitally important areas such as Veppankulam, Kallikulam, Pikkulam and Karukkandal during most recent confrontations with the troops who have already established their positions to the extent of 8.5 sq km, northwest of Giant Tank.

At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured during clashes with the troops in the Palampiddi, Adampan and Nedunkandal areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. One soldier was also killed while six others sustained injuries in the clashes.

The troops captured about 1.5 sq km stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory of Periyakulam in the Mannar district killing 10 militants while injuring 10 others. Two soldiers were wounded during the clashes.

During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven militants while more than 20 others were injured. Two soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries in the incident.

The SFs clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in the Ethawatunuwewa, Kokkuthuduvai, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district and killed four of them. Five soldiers were also killed in the incidents while three others were wounded.

May 2: An unspecified number of LTTE bunkers in the Veddayamurippu, Allikulam, Palamoddai, Manthai and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts were captured by the troops during confrontations in which 19 militants were killed and about 15 others got injured. Two soldiers were also killed while three others injured in the clashes.

May 1: Advancing troops captured the LTTE-held Karukkakulam town in the Mannar district, killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was killed in the incident.

The SFs neutralized four LTTE bunkers and killed 11 militants while injuring an equal number of them during separate attacks in the Navathkulama, Muttiramadittakulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district.

During a clash between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed five militants.

At Veddayamurippu in the Mannar district, the troops destroyed a LTTE bunker line killing five militants and injuring at least seven others.

Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal and Veddayamurippu areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

April 30: At least 40 LTTE militants, including a leader, were killed and several others wounded as the troops captured the outfit’s 18-Base in the Veppankulam and Kallikulam areas of Mannar district. Six soldiers were injured in the operation. Subsequently, two MI-24 fighter crafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force providing aerial cover to the advancing ground troops bombed two LTTE camps in the Karukkakulam and Chalampaikulam areas.

11 militants were killed and 21 soldiers were injured in fighting between the two sides in the LTTE-held areas of Periyakulam, Karukkakulam and Kathankulam in the Mannar district.

April 29: Seven LTTE militants, including six senior cadres, were killed when the troops neutralised two bunkers which were reportedly being used by senior cadres of the outfit in the Manipullaukulam area of the Mannar district.

The SFs attacked an LTTE camp in the Muttlamadittakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed six militants while injuring four others.

The troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Muttlamadittakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four of them. One soldier was killed while another sustained injuries in the exchange of fire.

At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized an LTTE bunker and killed three militants.

April 28: Three LTTE militants were killed when the troops launched attacks towards the outfit’s bunkers in the Kaddupulan and Kattikulam areas of Mannar district.

April 21: The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the LTTE main operation base in Mannar, codenamed "Lima-3", located east of Kathankulam. A stretch of about 1,300 meters also came under the troops’ control while seven militants were killed in the operation. Four soldiers were wounded in the incident.

April 20: 13 LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters with the troops in the Kathankulam, Veddayapiru, Veddayampuramkulam, Adampan and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district.

MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE mortar location and one of the outfit’s forward command posts in the area east of Adampan in the Mannar district. Reports confirmed that 12 militants were killed and an equal number of them wounded in the attack.

The troops captured two LTTE trenches and shot dead at least five militants during separate clashes in the Andankulam and Puttankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

April 19: Four militants were killed when clashes erupted between the LTTE and SFs in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

April 18: 13 militants were killed and three others injured as the troops launched attacks on LTTE hide outs at Kathankulam and Malikaittidal in the Mannar district. One soldier got wounded in the incident.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the area east of Madhu in the Mannar district and killed 12 militants while wounding eight others.

Three LTTE militants were killed and 21 others received injuries by the troops during confrontations in the area north of Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. One of the seven injured soldiers died later.

April 17: The troops during clashes with the LTTE in the Andankulam east area of Vavuniya district killed four militants and injured eight others. Two soldiers were also killed while five more sustained injuries in the clashes.

Six more LTTE militants were killed by the troops in a separate incident in the Andankulam east area of Vavuniya district.

During another clash between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed at least four militants. One trooper was also killed while another was wounded in the clash.

Four more LTTE militants, including two female cadres, were killed by the troops in the Kattikulam and Tenvadaiyan areas of Mannar district.

April 16: The troops killed six LTTE militants and injured nine others during clashes in the Andankulam, Palampiddi, Vinayakankulam, Palamoddai, Kanne Karappu and Periyakulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while eight others sustained injuries in the clashes.

The SFs killed five LTTE militants while injuring 47 others during clashes in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Nine soldiers were also wounded during the clashes.

During more clashes between the two sides in the Kaliaddanchan, Manthotam and Vediya Murippu areas of Mannar district, the SFs killed four LTTE militants and injured three others. Two soldiers were injured in these incidents.

April 15: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Paleipperumalkadu, Kaddupulan, Vettukkuly, Veddayamurippu and Veppankulam areas of Mannar district. One soldier sustained injuries in one of the clashes.

Three militants were killed when the troops clashes with LTTE militants in the Navakkulam, Narrikkulam and east of Madhu areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.

April 14: The SFs launched attacks on a few LTTE hideouts in the area east of Madhu in the Mannar district. Seven militants were killed in one of these attacks.

During a clash between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, five LTTE militants were killed while 11 others were injured. Two soldiers were also killed and seven others sustained injuries in the incident.

April 12: The troops extended their defence line in the areas north of Giant Tank, north Kathankulam, south east of Adampan and Periyakulam in the Mannar district after fierce confrontations with the LTTE. At least 66 militants were killed while over 50 others sustained injuries in the clashes. 10 soldiers were also killed and 20 others got injured in the incident.

Five LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in clashes with the SFs in the Villattikulam, Vinayagapuram, north of Madhu and Chinnavalayankulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were wounded in the incident.

April 11: The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

April 10: Five LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised outfit’s bunkers at Udaiyadi in the Mannar district.

During another confrontation between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs neutralised an unspecified number of outfits’ bunkers, killing three militants while injuring 14 others. Five soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

The SFs confronted with a group of LTTE militants in the Ilampiddi area of Mannar district and killed three militants while injuring seven others.

The troops attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants. Three more militants got injured in the incident.

Two more LTTE bunkers were neutralised by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district, killing three militants.

April 9: The troops killed at least seven LTTE militants during clashes in the Janakapura jungles and Kiriibbanwewa.

During another encounter between the two sides in the Adampan and areas north of Parappakandal in the Mannar district, the security forces (SFs) killed at least four LTTE militants. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.

April 8: Seven LTTE militants, including two females, were killed by the SFs in the Madhu, Adampan and Veddayamurippu areas of Mannar district.

Two soldiers and a civilian were killed and one soldier was wounded when a team of army soldiers on a patrol were wrongly identified to be LTTE militants and fired upon by the STF personnel at Komari in the Ampara district.

April 7: Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in the Palampiddi area of Mannar district.

In another ambush at Chennmaniattuaru, the troops killed four LTTE militants.

The troops killed three LTTE militants, including one female, in two separate incidents at Thirukethiswaram and Perankulam areas of Mannar district.

The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

April 6: The Highway Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 13 others were killed in a suicide attack carried out by the LTTE at a sporting event in the Weliweriya area, about 25-km north of capital Colombo, of Gampaha district. Fernandopulle was about to inaugurate a marathon when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber disguised as a marathon runner blew himself up, killing the Minister and at least 11 others, including National Athletic coach Lakshman De Alwis and Olympic marathon runner and national record holder K.A. Karunaratna. Over 90 people, including Gampaha Division Senior Superintendent of Police Hector Darmasiri, were injured in the blast.

At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured by the troops during separate clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

The troops killed at least eight LTTE militants in the Adampan, Manikilmarichchi, Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

Four LTTE militants, including two females, and a soldier were killed clashes between the two sides in the Madhu camp area of Mannar district. One soldier was injured during one of the clashes.

The troops neutralised three LTTE bunkers and killed four militants in the Malikaittidal area of Vavuniya district.

During an encounter between the two sides, the SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Chanakakulam area of Vavuniya district.

April 5: The troops clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed at least 14 militants while injuring several others. Four soldiers were injured in these clashes.

11 more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate clashes in the Palampiddi, Madhu, Mundipurippu, Nedunkerni and Thirukethiswaram areas of Mannar district. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

April 4: The troops neutralised an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed eight militants.

April 3: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

During a clash between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed four LTTE militants. One soldier died of gunshot injuries while four others sustained injuries.

The troops shot dead three LTTE militants near the Omanthe Entry/Exit point area of Vavuniya district.

April 2: The troops advanced another 800 metres into the LTTE-held territory neutralising the outfit’s FDLs in the Kaliaddanchan village of Mannar district, said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. "The fierce fire fight lasted for an hour and a half and troops advancing on the LTTE frontlines gained 800 meters of Tiger territory in the confrontation. Thirteen Tiger cadres were injured in the confrontation", he added. One soldier was also killed while 12 others were injured during the clashes.

The SFs in the newly captured Sinapandivirichchan area of Vavuniya district foiled an attempt by the LTTE to re-capture one of their bunkers in the area. In retaliatory action, the troops killed at least 11 militants and injured five others. Two soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries during the encounter.

The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Nikawewa area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring two others.

Three militants were either killed or injured by the troops when they attacked an LTTE hideout in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

April 1: At least 21 LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a bunker line of the outfit at Pikkulam in the Mannar district. 12 soldiers were injured during the operation.

21 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops at Puthukulam in the Mannar district.

The troops in the Sulanamaruthamadu and other areas of Vavuniya and Mannar district killed 12 LTTE militants. Five soldiers were also injured due to the explosion of LTTE laid booby traps.

The SFs neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Malikaittidal area of Vavuniya district and killed at least five militants.

During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of Manthai in the Mannar district, the troops killed four LTTE militants.

March 31: A tractor carrying LTTE militants was fired upon by the troops in the Mundimurichchikulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops confirmed that six militants were killed in the incident.

Four militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, at least four female LTTE militants were killed by the troops.

March 30: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during three separate encounters in the Malikaittidal, Veddayamurippu and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

March 29: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed during separate clashes with the troops in the Madhu area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while four others were injured in these clashes.

At least 10 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured an area of about 700-metre in the Ilantaivan region of Mannar district. Two outfit’s bunkers were also neutralised in the incident.

Three soldiers were killed and four others injured during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One militant was also killed while an unspecified number of them sustained injuries during the clashes.

The troops observed a movement of a group of LTTE militants in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district and opened fire. Four militants were confirmed killed in the troop’s firing.

March 28: Nine militants were killed during two separate clashes that ensued after the troops confronted two LTTE movements in the Kaduruvitankulam and Periyathampane areas of the Vavuniya district.

During two separate confrontations between the two sides in the Nagarkovil and Eluttumadduwal areas of Jaffna district, the troops killed seven militants. One female militant was among the slain militants, troops at Eluttumadduwal confirmed.

March 27: At least nine LTTE militants were killed and several others injured by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. One army officer was also killed while three soldiers got injured in the incident.

The troops neutralised an LTTE hide-out in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district, killing four militants. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the incident.

Five more LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured.

The troops retaliated to an LTTE attack in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed at least three militants. Two outfit’s bunkers were also destroyed in the troop’s fire.

March 26: The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed seven of them. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

Four soldiers were killed and eight others sustained injuries following accidental APM explosions in the Sulanamaruthamadu, Adampan and Koilmoddai areas of Mannar district.

At Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted two groups of LTTE militants and killed at least two of them. Two soldiers were killed while three others sustained injuries during the clashes. The troops later recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants along with one T-56 weapon.

The SFs retaliated and rescued eight fishermen when they detected a group of people trying to come out of a jungle patch three-kilometre east of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district under heavy small arms fire by the LTTE militants. Three of the escapees were killed while another three sustained injuries in the LTTE attack.

The troops shot dead three LTTE militants at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

March 25: The 11 sailors, who went missing when a locally–built fast attack craft of the Sri Lanka Navy was caught in a LTTE-triggered sea mine explosion in the Nayaru Sea off Mullaitivu coast on March 22, have reportedly died.

Five LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

The troops neutralised a LTTE bunker in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing at least four militants.

Air Force Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya reiterated that intelligence sources confirmed three LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in an air raid carried out by the SLAF at the Sea Tiger Coordinating Centre located in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district on March 22.

March 24: Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were injured in the incident.

The troops killed seven LTTE militants in the area south of Madhu in the Mannar district.

March 23: 10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during clashes in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. Six of the slain militants were inside a bunker when the Rocket Propeller Gun fire completely destroyed it.

The troops killed at least six LTTE militants during intermittent fighting that erupted in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops killed five LTTE militants in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district.

March 22: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured as the troops successfully responding to heavy resistance by the militants moved forward and captured an area of about one square kilometer in the Periyakulam and Ilantaivan regions, north of Uyilankulam in the Mannar district. Four soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries.

At least 13 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the areas southwest of Madhu and Kallikulam in Mannar district.

Seven more LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by the troops during clashes between the two sides in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed while seven others sustained injuries during the incident.

During two separate encounters, the troops killed four LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

At Kokkuthuduvai and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three LTTE militants.

March 21: The troops attacked and captured a LTTE strong point and bunker complex north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing three militants. Six soldiers were also injured in the confrontation.

Three more LTTE militants were killed and 22 others injured during another confrontation between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

March 20: The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Pandivirichchen area of Vavuniya district and killed at least four LTTE militants.

During another attack in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed at least four more LTTE militants.

The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them while injuring three others in the area of north of Janakapura. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Three more LTTE militants were killed while two others sustained injuries when the troops attacked another group of militants in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.

March 19: Eight LTTE militants were killed and two of their bunkers destroyed in an ambush carried out by the Army Special Infantrymen at Kottakkarankulam, West of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Soldiers also destroyed two LTTE bunkers and killed another three militants, he added.

The troops repulsed an attack by the LTTE in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants. Three other militants were injured in the incident.

The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three more militants.

March 18: At least four LTTE militants were killed and several others injured when the troops attacked and neutralised a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

The troops attacked two LTTE camps in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring another.

The troops recovered decomposed dead bodies of nine LTTE militants, including five females, from dense jungles in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the troops engaged in liberating the Wanni front launched an attack on the LTTE front-lines in Periyapanndivirichchan on March 8.

March 16: Three militants were killed as clashes erupted between the troops and a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

March 15: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a confrontation in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

Four soldiers were reported killed and three others injured during another confrontation between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

The troops killed four LTTE militants during confrontations in the Adampan and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district. One soldier also sustained injuries in the Malikaittidal incident.

The troops having observed four LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and Kirchudankulam areas of Vavuniya district opened fire and shot them dead.

At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops in an encounter killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation.

March 14: The troops during two separate attacks captured four LTTE bunkers and killed four militants in the Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.

The troops attacked an LTTE strong point in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit. Thought the exact detail of the outfit’s casualties are yet to be ascertained, the troops confirmed that three soldiers were killed while seven others got injured in the ensuing gun battle.

March 13: 11 LTTE militants were killed during several confrontations between the troops and the militants in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal, Vannakulam and Ilantaivan areas of Mannar district.

Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another confrontation that occurred in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

March 12: Nine LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured when the troops attacked three bunkers of the outfit in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries.

The troops fired on a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district and completely destroyed the tractor, killing six militants.

Four LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a gun position of the outfit in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

The troops killed three LTTE militants during an encounter in the Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district.

At Janakapura in Vavuniya district, the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants who were taking cover behind a bunker. In the ensuing gun battle the troops neutralised the bunker and killed three militants.

March 11: The troops operating ahead of the Maruthamadu FDL in the Vavuniya district killed five LTTE militants.

The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the immediate surroundings adjacent to the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates under their control after advancing about 500 meter to the east. Four militants were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries in the fight.

The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants, including the team leader Tallavan.

Three more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

March 10: At least 26 LTTE militants, mostly females, were killed and three others injured by the troops during clashes in the Puliyankulam area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while 13 others were wounded during the clashes.

The troops attacked one more fortified LTTE strong point in the Karampaikulam area of Mannar district and neutralized two of their bunkers and cleared a few trenches. Army’s artillery and mortar fire is reported to have inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit, though the exact details are yet to be confirmed. However, ground troops confirmed that four soldiers were killed while two others sustained injuries during the clash.

The LTTE militants directed 60-mm mortar fire on troop positions in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring two soldiers. In the retaliatory fire, the troops killed at least four militants.

In a pre-dawn attack on an LTTE bunker line in the Illanthaivan area of Mannar district, the troops killed 10 militants and injured an equal number of them. Troops also captured eight bunkers. Three soldiers were also killed while 12 others were injured.

March 9: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Umayarathuwarankulam, Vilathikulam, Venkalacheddikulam, Adampan, Pulmoddai, Ilantaivan and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Five soldiers were also killed during these clashes.

March 8: The troops killed 13 LTTE militants during encounters in the Udayanatankulam, Karampaikkulam, Palaimoddai, Palaikuli, Periyavalayankaddukulam and Perankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

10 LTTE militants were killed and several others injured during a fierce gun battle with the troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and four others sustained injuries in the incident.

Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kilaly and Muhamale areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the encounters.

Three soldiers were killed during clashes with the LTTE militants at Udayanatankulam, Sulainamarutamadu and Ampan areas of Mannar district.

Three LTTE militants were killed and one of their gun positions and two bunkers were neutralized by the troops in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

March 7: Six LTTE militants were killed during clashes in the Veddamkulam, Karampikulam, Madhu camp area, Periyawalandykulam, Tiruketishwara in the Mannar district.

Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops at Kollmoddai in the Vavuniya district.

March 6: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed during a gun-battle that erupted between the two sides in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while 10 others sustained injuries.

12 more LTTE militants were killed and their trench line destroyed by the troops during their operation to capture Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

The troops during clashes with a group of LTTE militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan, Kallikulam and Mundimurippu areas of Mannar district killed seven of them.

Four more LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed when the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured during the clash.

The troops attacked and destroyed one LTTE bunker ahead of their FDL (at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district and killed three militants.

March 5: The troops attacked an identified LTTE bunker in the Manthota area of Mannar district and killed five militants. One soldier was also killed while three more sustained injuries in the incident.

The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Periyapantichchan area of Vavuniya district and killed five militants. One soldier was injured in the incident.

The troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter in the Karampaikulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the clash.

During an encounter between the two sides at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was injured in the incident.

March 4: Army troops took under control Pallaikuli east and a LTTE cross-loading point on the Uyilankulam-Andankulam road in Mannar district (about 2.5 sq km in total). Troops reportedly broke into the LTTE dominated Pallaikuli east area and killed seven militants, including three women cadres, and injured five others.

The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Palaimodai area of Mannar district and killed at least three militants.

The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, killing three militants.

March 3: The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in Chettikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed five cadres. Four soldiers are reported to have been wounded in the incident.

March 2: Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in a clash that occurred in the general area of Kokkuthuduwai in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were killed while 10 others sustained injuries during the clash.

The troops at Kallikulam in the Mannar district attacked a LTTE hideout with Rocket Propeller Grenades and killed at least six militants. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

Troops attacked a group of militants in the Kovilmadu area of Vavuniya district and killed five of them. At least nine more militants were reportedly wounded in the incident.

March 1: Nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate confrontations between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Mullikulam and Kallikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Kilaly, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed five militants. One soldier was also killed during the confrontation.

During another clash that erupted between the two sides in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district the troops killed two LTTE militants. One soldier was killed while another sustained injuries during the incident.

The troops launched an attack on an LTTE strong point in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed two militants. During exchange of fire, one soldier was killed while four others sustained injuries.

February 29: Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes that erupted in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

The troops neutralized four LTTE bunkers in the Kokkuthuduvai and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

The troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter at Vallaikulam in the Vavuniya district.

The troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and destroyed eight bunkers killing five militants.

In a separate attack, the troops neutralized eight more newly-erected LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants.

February 28: The troops captured the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates and its adjacent areas north of Giant Tank in the Mannar district after an encounter erupted between the security forces and LTTE militants. At least 14 militants were killed and six T-56 weapons were recovered during the incident. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident.

Seven LTTE militants were killed in three separate attacks carried out by the troops in the Navakkulam and Periyapantrichurichchan areas of Vavuniya district.

February 27: During intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Perankulam, Parappakandal, Karukkakulam, Adampan and Mannar town areas of Mannar district, the troops killed at least 14 more LTTE militants.

At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralised LTTE bunkers and killed eight militants.

The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district and killed at least four militants. One soldier is reported to have died in the incident.

February 26: Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Troops also neutralized at least six bunkers of the outfit.

February 25: At least six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

During another clash that erupted between the two sides when the troops launched an attack on three LTTE bunkers at Koilmoddai in the Mannar district, six combatants, including five militants and a soldier were killed. Two soldiers and two militants were also injured.

Three LTTE militants were killed during clashes between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

February 24: Troops operating in Mannar advanced further into the LTTE-held territory on three fronts from Thiruketheeshvaran, Uyilankulam and Pallikuli, an unnamed senior Army official said. "At least 15 to 20 Tiger cadres were killed in these confrontations," the official added. The troops for the first time advanced further North of Thiruketheeshvaran and captured nearly 800-metre stretch during a two-day battle on February 23-24. Also in the Uyilankulam sector troops captured a stretch of more than one-kilometre close to the Uyilankulam tank bund area.

The Naval intelligence revealed that three senior Sea Tiger [sea wing of the LTTE] women leaders, including self-styled ‘Lt. Colonel Kalai Arasi’, a woman Sea Tiger instructor and six others had been killed in the air raids carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeting women’s Sea Tiger training camp at Kiranchi in the Kilinochchi district.

February 23: The troops stormed LTTE bunker line ahead of them in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district and killed at least 11 militants while destroying three bunkers. Five soldiers were also reported injured in the incident.

At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops stormed one of the outfit’s strong points in the jungle north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. Eight T-56 weapons, two cyanide capsules, one Icom radio set and three hand grenades were also recovered along with dead bodies of the slain militants.

The troops launched several attacks on LTTE bunker line at Mullikulam and killed seven militants while neutralising a number of their bunkers. An unspecified number of militants and five soldiers were also injured in the clashes.

The troops stormed a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed seven militants. One soldier was also injured.

The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants on two occasions in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

Four LTTE militants were killed and one of their bunkers was neutralised by the troops in the Perankulam area of Mannar district. One T-56 weapon was also recovered from the area.

The troops during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar district killed four LTTE militants.

At Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops attacked LTTE bunkers ahead of them and killed two militants. One soldier who sustained injuries in the incident died later.

Troops operating in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district shot dead three LTTE militants.

Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed three of them in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

February 22: A fierce gun battle erupted between the two sides when the troops assaulted a group of LTTE militants who were manning a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. At least seven militants were killed and three others were seriously injured in the incident.

Six LTTE militants were killed when a fierce gun battle erupted between the two sides in the area north of Welioya sector in the Vavuniya district. Subsequently, the troops recovered dead bodies of the six slain militants along with a Multi Purpose Machine Gun, five T-56 weapons and two radio sets.

In the Mankindamulai area of Vavuniya district, troops over ran a line of LTTE bunkers while killing at least five militants. One soldier who sustained gun shot injuries succumbed later.

Troops attacked another LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. One soldier was also injured.

One more attack on a LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district area by the troops resulted in the death of four more militants. Several T-56 magazines were recovered after the incident.

Troops in the Mantota area of Mannar district launched an attack on a LTTE strong point in the jungle and gunned down four militants.

February 21: At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised a bunker of the outfit in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured while three T-56 weapons and one Icom radio set were recovered from the incident site.

During another attack launched by the troops targeting a heavily fortified LTTE bunker in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, four militants were killed while several others got injured. Two soldiers were also killed while four more sustained injuries in the gun fire.

Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in two different attacks in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

Four LTTE militants were killed as a group of outfit’s militants attempting to infiltrate newly captured areas in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district were attacked by the troops.

Troops attacked another group of LTTE militants moving in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.

The troops attacked a few LTTE bunkers in the Mantota area of Mannar district and killed three militants.

Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in separate encounters in the Kokkuthuduvai and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

February 20: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during encounters with the troops in the areas west of Parappakandal and north of Pallikuli in the Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed in the LTTE attacks.

At least 13 LTTE militants were killed when the troops launched an attack towards a group of militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries in the incident.

The troops attacked another group of LTTE militants in the area north of Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed eight militants. Three militants and a soldier were injured in the gun fight.

At Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized a LTTE bunker and killed six militants.

Three soldiers were killed when the LTTE militants opened fire on an Army picket point at Dambakote in the Buttala district. Troops retaliated and injured at least one militant.

February 18: Troops advancing into the LTTE held areas in the eastern part of Mannar district, captured an area of about 600 square metre with an LTTE defence line and a strongly-built bund in the Andankulam area, north of Giant Tank. 10 militants were killed and an equal number of them sustained injuries in the attack. One soldier was also killed while four others received injuries in the fighting.

February 13: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s militants in the Parikariperiyakulam and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district. A soldier was injured during the confrontation.

The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed at least seven militants.

Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Thaddankulam area of Mannar district.

Three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers destroyed when the troops stormed the LTTE bunker line in the Sirukulam area of Mannar district.

The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured nine others in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

February 12: During an encounter between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district the troops killed at least seven LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants.

Six soldiers were killed and 10 others injured when LTTE militants fired artillery shells at the densely populated Thalladi town damaging the St. Sebastian Church in Mannar. Troops retaliated with heavy gun fire towards identified LTTE artillery positions in the non-liberated areas north of Mannar, security sources said.

Four LTTE militants were killed when the troops opened fire towards them in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops clashed with some infiltrating LTTE militants killing at least three of them while injuring six others.

February 11: At least 13 LTTE militants and 10 soldiers were killed during a gun-battle between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. The troops destroyed 12 LTTE bunkers and also injured an unspecified number of militants. 25 soldiers were reportedly injured in the incident.

At Udayanathankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked and neutralised a LTTE bunker, killing at least eight militants.

The troops killed five LTTE militants during an encounter at Periyapandirichchan in the Vavuniya district.

The troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants in the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and killed five of them.

The troops during a raid on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district killed four militants.

At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, during a clash with the LTTE cadres the troops killed four militants while destroying one of their bunkers.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was wounded in the incident.

Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during two separate clashes between the two sides in the area south of A-9 in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district.

February 10: Eleven LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters with the troops in the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam, Adampan and Parappakandal areas of the Mannar district.

The troops killed eight more LTTE militants and destroyed two of their bunkers during an encounter at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district.

Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

Troops operating ahead of the Mullikulam FDL in the Mannar district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them.

Troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Sivarayankulam area of Vavuniya and killed three militants.

February 9: Fifteen LTTE militants and three soldiers were killed and seven soldiers were wounded during a gun-battle at Periyapantrichurichchan in the Vavuniya district.

Six militants were killed during three separate incidents at Mullikulam in the Mannar district.

The troops launched an attack towards a group of LTTE militants constructing a bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants.

Troops killed four LTTE militants during separate encounters in the Chettukulam, Ittikandal and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

During a confrontation between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants.

Three LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops during separate encounters in the Koilmoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops shot dead three LTTE militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

The troops launched two separate attacks on the LTTE militants at Periyapantrichurichchan areas of Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

Three separate attacks launched by the troops at LTTE militants operating in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district caused the death of three militants.

February 8: The Army captured a one-square kilometer area to the south of Adampan Tank in the Mannar district after confrontations with the LTTE militants. 12 militants and two soldiers were killed during the clashes. Five more soldiers sustained injuries in the operation.

Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in the Sinnapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

Eight more LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during a gun-battle between the two sides at Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were injured in the incident.

Five LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops in the Sirukulam, Kallikulam and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

February 7: Troops confronted another group of the LTTE in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least 10 militants.

Five LTTE militants, including an area leader, were killed and 10 others injured by the troops during a gun battle between the two sides in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas along the A-9 road in the Jaffna district. One soldier was killed and five others sustained injuries during the clash. The troops also neutralized several bunkers of the outfit.

At Periyapanndivirichchan in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked a LTTE bunker and killed four militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

Two LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a gun battle between the two sides in the Janakapura area Vavuniya district. 10 militants and a soldier were also injured during the gun battle.

February 6: 12 LTTE militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when the troops deployed at the FDLs in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district stormed the outfit’s bunkers at about 5.30am. Five soldiers were also injured during the clash. Troops with the assistance of T-55 battle tanks completely destroyed 30 bunkers - four in the Nagarkovil area, 10 in the area north of A-9 and 16 in the Kilaly area.

At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when troops confronted a group of militants in the Welioya and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district.

Six SLN personnel were killed and one was rescued when the Sea Tigers [cadres of the sea wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)] attacked the SLN vessel in the seas off Thalaimannar, an unnamed defence official said. "Six Navy sailors have died and one has been rescued in an attack by the Sea Tigers off northern Thalaimannar," he said adding, the LTTE could have fired from a boat that disguised as an Indian trawler.

Two groups of soldiers who were on an ambush in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district shot dead four LTTE militants and injured at least nine others. At Kokkuthuduvai, the troops killed four more LTTE militants during another clash.

Army Snipers killed three LTTE militants in two separate incidents in the Parappanikulam and Sirukulam areas of Mannar district.

February 5: The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed nine militants. At least six more militants were reported injured in the confrontation.

Troops after observing the movement of another group of LTTE militants in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district opened fire towards them. In the ensuing gun battle four militants and three soldiers were killed while 14 other soldiers sustained injuries.

During another clash between the two sides at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead at least six militants. One soldier sustained injuries during the clash.

At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked and captured a LTTE bunker killing five militants.

The troops stormed the LTTE trench line in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

Two soldiers and a militant were killed when clashes erupted between the two sides at Adampan in the Mannar district.

Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kaduthodamalai area of Vavuniya district.

February 4: Troops in a series of confrontations with the LTTE militants at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district killed at least 12 of them. An unspecified number of militants were reported injured in the clashes that continued for a couple of hours.

Troops killed at least six LTTE militants during intermittent clashes in the Andankulam, Kaddutaddamalai and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the clashes.

The LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district. In the ensuing gun battle two soldiers and a militant were killed while another soldier sustained injuries.

February 3: Three LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a gun battle in the Periyapanchurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

Troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

In the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district, troops during a search and clear operations confronted the LTTE militants and killed four of them.

Four more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Madu area of Vavuniya district.

Troops killed four LTTE militants who were roaming in the jungle areas of Karampaikkulam and Adampan in the Mannar district.

Troops on a search operation shot dead four LTTE militants in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district.

At least three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers destroyed by the troops during two separate clashes in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

At least 12 persons were killed and around 100 injured, 10 of them critically, when an LTTE female suicide militant blew herself inside the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The bomber who apparently arrived at the railway station in a train blew herself opposite the station cafeteria on platform number three at 2.10pm. The head of the suicide cadre was lying on the platform along with a cellular phone connected to a handsfree kit. "They (LTTE) would have targeted Security Forces personnel who were returning to their bases after rehearsals at the Galle Face Green," an unnamed military official said.

February 2: At least 20 passengers aboard a bus were killed and 50 others injured when the LTTE militants detonated an explosive device at Dambulla bus stand in the Matale district. The bus was to play on the Kandy - Anuradhapura road. Initial reports quoting Dambulla police said that many Buddhist devotees on a pilgrimage to the sacred Anuradhapura city were among the dead and injured.

Troops killed 16 LTTE militants during separate confrontations in the Sirukulam, Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation at Kokkuthuduvai.

10 LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the troops in the Parappakandal and Vannakulam areas of Mannar district. Troops also neutralized three bunkers of the outfit.

Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

During another confrontation between the two sides in the Periyapanchurichchan and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district, troops killed seven LTTE militants.

Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the confrontation.

February 1: Troops killed 10 LTTE militants and neutralized 10 of their bunkers in an attack at the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers were killed six others were injured in the incident.

At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a group of the outfit’s militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

Troops attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Janakapura and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

Troops in the Sirukulam and Chettukulam areas of Mannar district during an encounter killed three militants.

January 31: Troops stormed an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least eight militants. An unspecified number militants sustained injuries in the incident.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants at Welioya in the Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

A LTTE suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself at Thinnaveli in the Jaffna district killing three civilians and injuring 17 others, the military said. Authorities, however, said that the explosion was premature since there was no target in the area.

January 30: The SFs captured the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilali FDLs of the LTTE in the Jaffna district destroying 35 bunkers of the outfit on January 30. 30 militants were killed and an unspecified number of them were injured during the operations in which seven soldiers also sustained injuries. "Around 12.45 am the Security Forces advanced from their FDLs in the Muhamalai area and smashed the LTTE bunkers in their first attack," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "In the pre-emptive attack the Security Forces overran 35 Tiger bunkers, physically 20 bunkers were destroyed and around 20 LTTE cadres killed." The LTTE withdrew to the second FDLs and the SFs advanced on this too forcing the LTTE to flee the area. The SFs launched another attack on the LTTE’s second FDLs in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil with T-55 tanks and destroyed 10 bunkers while killing 10 militants. "Vehicles of the fleeing Tiger cadres with their injured were also fired at by the Security Forces. LTTE communication intercepts confirmed that 10 LTTE cadres were killed in the skirmishes", Brigadier Nanayakkara said. In a subsequent search operation troops recovered a 60-mm mortar bomb, an RPG and a large stock of ammunition.

At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed during an encounter with the security forces in the Adampan area of Mannar district. The location, believed to be one of the outfit’s command posts, had been heavily fortified with a three-layer concrete slab.

Troops opened fire on a group of LTTE militants in the Kallikulam area of Mannar district and killed at least five cadres and injured several others.

Three civilians belonging to the same family were shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres at Chawakachcheri, defense sources said. The outfit had earlier issued death warrants to the civilians who it accused of acting as security forces’ informers. The Sri Lanka Army report identified the victims as B. Thalikalan (30), K. Baleshwari (28) and B. Pradeepan (17).

January 29: 17 civilians, including 11 children, were killed in a claymore mine attack on a school bus in the Mannar district. The military and the LTTE blamed each other for the incident. A military spokesperson said the forces did not operate in the area, adding, "The blame for the attack on the military is a cheap propaganda tactic by the Tigers cornered in the battlefield." However, the LTTE claimed that 20 civilians, including 11 school children, a teacher of Thadchanaamaruthamadu Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School, the driver, conductor and two hospital workers were killed and 14 wounded when a Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lanka Army triggered a claymore mine targeting the bus carrying school children in Madu division of the LTTE-controlled territory.

The last village of Vaiyttankulam in Adampan under the LTTE control fell to the SFs following heavy fighting in Mannar. The SFs destroyed 10 bunkers and killed 10 militants during the operation. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Vaiyttankulam was located 1-km towards the west of Adampan and the Security Forces destroyed 10 LTTE bunkers while killing 10 Tiger cadres," he said, adding, the fight lasted for two hours and the SFs successfully retaliated the outfit’s resistance forcing them to flee the area.

The SFs neutralized six LTTE bunkers and killed 12 militants in the area south of Pallikuli.

Army snipers killed seven LTTE militants when they were fired upon by the militants in the Karampaikkulam and Parappakandal areas of Mannar district.

During another confrontation between the two sides at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed seven militants. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Five LTTE militants who infiltrated into the general areas (areas under government control) at the Kokkuthuduvai FDL in the Vavuniya district were killed in an encounter by the troops.

Troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants moving in the Villattikulam area in of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

At Andankulam FDL in the in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed four more LTTE militants during two separate attacks.

January 28: During six separate clashes with the LTTE, the troops killed nine militants and injured five others in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. At Janakapura, militants fired artillery towards the troops killing one soldier.

Troops at Umayaratuvarankulam in the Vavuniya district launched an attack on an LTTE gathering and killed six militants.

During two encounters in the Villattikulam and Kallikulam areas, the troops killed six militants and injured four others. One soldier was injured at Villattikulam.

Troops fired mortar and small arms towards an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Mannar district and in the ensuing gun-battle, three militants and a soldier were killed while one soldier was injured. In another clash between the two sides in the same area, one soldier was killed and another wounded.

Troops opened fire on a line of LTTE bunkers in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district and destroyed four of them, killing four militants.

Troops launched an attack towards the LTTE bunker lines in the Pallikuli area of Mannar district and destroyed six bunkers, killing seven militants. One soldier was killed and two others sustained injuries during the clashes.

Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another clash in the area south of Adampan in the Mannar district.

January 27: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when clashes erupted between the two sides following militant’s fire towards the troops in the Pantrichurichan area of Mannar district.

Troops after observing the LTTE militants constructing a new bunker line in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district launched an assault towards them and killed six militants.

Troops in an encounter killed four LTTE militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

Three LTTE militants were killed in a similar incident by the troops at Vankalacheddikulam in the Mannar district.

Troops killed three LTTE cadres who attempted to enter into the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another clash ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. One soldier sustained injuries in this incident.

January 26: The troops launched an artillery attack on a group of LTTE militants in the jungle north of Palamoddai and killed six of them and wounded nine others.

Troops deployed south of Madhu area launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them. Two militants were injured.

Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter near the Kiriibbanwewa FDL of Vavuniya district.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE militants.

Troops attacked a LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants. An unspecified number of militants were injured in the incident.

Three militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured by the troops during their attack on an LTTE bunker line in the Vavuniya district. One bunker was also destroyed.

January 25: Troops marching forward captured a one-kilometer stretch of land in the Karpiththanmoddai area on Uyilankulam – Adampan road in Mannar district and killed nine LTTE militants. Troops also smashed seven bunkers. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

Seven LTTE militants were killed and four others sustained injuries during two gun battles that erupted between the militants and the troops at Madhu road area of Mannar district.

At least six LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops assaulted a pocket of militants who were firing at troops from a bunker in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district. One soldier who received injuries during the incident died later.

January 24: Police recovered the dead bodies of 16 youths hacked to death by suspected LTTE militants from a swamp at Kiriketuwewa on the Horoupathana-Kebithigollawa road in the Anuradhapura district. According to available information, the victims are believed to be a group of civilians who had gone searching for their cattle. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that 16 dead bodies, including one of a woman, were unearthed from two pits. Some of the dead bodies were found with their hands bound behind their backs.

Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in three separate attacks launched on the outfit’s bunkers at Anandankulam in the Vavuniya district.

The troops launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line in the area south of A-9 route at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed five militants.

January 23: Troops moving northward after clearing some LTTE-dominated areas surrounding Parappakandal and Adampan in the Mannar district in the past few days made further advance into the area west of Giant Tank and held on to the territory capturing the road that runs from the northwest towards the southeast. During the operations, troops destroyed two heavily guarded LTTE bunkers with Rocket Propeller Grenade, small arms, mortars and artillery. Further, troops also cleared four bunkers in the captured areas and are in the process of consolidating their positions. Three militants were killed during the clashes.

January 22: 10 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as troops in the general area (area under government control) of Pallikuli in the Mannar district attacked an LTTE strong point and destroyed four bunkers.

Troops stormed a LTTE bunker line in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed four militants.

January 21: Troops attacked a group of LTTE militants moving in the general area of Mullikulam in the Vavuniya district. In the ensuing gun battle, troops killed seven militants.

The troops in the general area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed six of them.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six more LTTE militants.

Troops launched an attacked on two LTTE bunkers and destroyed them in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Five LTTE militants were killed in the incident.

At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others inured as troops launched a pre-down attack against the outfit's bunker lines in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district and destroyed 24 bunkers. The troops destroyed 12 bunkers east of A-9 road and eight more bunkers west of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area while four bunkers were destroyed at Nagarkovil. Two soldiers were also killed nine others injured during the gun battle that lasted nearly for one hour.

Four LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during another clash between the two sides in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

A team of police personnel who were providing security at Allimankada in the Kithulkote area of Thanamalwila in the Moneragala district confronted a group of LTTE militants. In the ensuing gun battle three policemen were killed. The militants, however, managed to escape.

January 20: Seven LTTE militants were killed when troops attacked a bunker of the outfit in the Pullippankiyarkulam area of Vavuniya district, reports Sri Lanka Army.

Advancing troops captured another LTTE stronghold in the Vaiyttankulam area of Mannar district after a confrontation with the militants in which four of the militants were killed. Six soldiers were injured in the incident.

Four LTTE militants aboard a tractor were killed when troops opened fire towards the tractor moving about 5-km south of Madhu.

Troops shot dead three militants in the Madhu s area of Mannar district.

January 19: Troops confronted two groups of LTTE militants in the Mullikulam and Villattikulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya district respectively, killing seven militants. Two soldiers were also injured.

Six LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter at Janakapura FDL (forward defence line) in the Vavuniya district.

Troops on advance from their Chettukulam FDL in the Vavuniya district attacked and destroyed two LTTE trenches. Six LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured in the incident.

Troops killed four LTTE militants and injured nine others when a clash erupted between the two sides in the Chettukulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries.

At Pallikuli in the Mannar district, troops killed three LTTE militants in two separate incidents.

Two LTTE militants were killed and another injured as troops attacked and destroyed a bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. During the attack one soldier was also killed and two others were injured.

January 18: 10 LTTE militants were killed by troops during three separate confrontations in the Pullippankiyarkulam, Villattikulam and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Troops also destroyed one bunker.

Troops captured three LTTE strong points in the Pallikuli area of Mannar district and consolidated their positions in the area. During the process, troops killed nine militants.

Troops launched attacks on LTTE positions in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed six militants.

Troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Maruthamadu area, 4-km northwest of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district. Four female militants were confirmed killed and the bunker was completely destroyed.

January 17: At least 10 civilians, including two home guards, were shot dead by the LTTE militants at Hambegamuwa in the Thanamalwila area of Moneragala district. The military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that a group of militants opened fire at civilians in the Thanamalwila area, killing three and wounding three more and had fled into nearby bushes. He added that the troops later found seven more bullet-riddled dead bodies from several different locations in the area. A major search operation is currently underway to locate those militants, he added further.

Nine LTTE militants were killed when troops moving towards the north from their Mannar base confronted militants at Thirukeshwaram in the Mannar district.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides, troops captured another three kilometres patch of land along Uyilankulam – Adampan road in the Mannar district killing five LTTE militants.

During a confrontation between the two sides in the Kurunchakulam area of Vavuniya district, troops killed four LTTE militants.

Troops shot dead four LTTE militants in an encounter in the area north of Pallikuli, a suburb of Adampan in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured during the exchange of fire.

Three LTTE militants were killed and two others injured by troops when they attacked a bunker of the outfit at Janakapura in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district.

January 16: At least 26 civilians, including some school children and women, aboard a Central Transport Bus proceeding to the Buttala town of Moneragala district, were killed and 67 others injured in a claymore mine explosion triggered by the LTTE in the Helagama area near Ella road. The bus was simultaneously fired upon by the militants immediately after the claymore mine explosion.

A group of four LTTE militants, allegedly scurrying back into the jungles minutes after triggering the claymore mine explosion targeting the passenger bus, reportedly shot dead five farmers in their paddy-fields at Dambeyaya in the Heentenna area.

The same group of militants activated a claymore mine targeting a military Unicorn truck, about 2-km north of Galge, on the Buttala–Kataragama road and injured three soldiers.

The LTTE leader for Trincomalee south, Arichelvam, who was wanted for numerous killings and criminal activities in the east, was shot dead by the troops at Pachchanoor. Troops recovered a pistol from his possession.

January 15: Troops attacked and captured one LTTE bunker killing at least four militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of two female LTTE militants along with four T-56 weapons from the captured bunker.

A group of LTTE militants who were moving away from their defence line in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district were attacked by troops. Three militants were killed and one of their bunkers was destroyed.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, troops killed three LTTE militants and injured two others.

January 14: Eight LTTE militants were killed by troops during two separate encounters in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.

During an encounter between the two sides in the Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE militants.

Five LTTE militants were killed by troops during sporadic clashes in the Periyapantrichurichchan, north of Villattikulam, Kattikulam and Kutinchankulam areas of Vavuniya district. After the clash in Villattikulam, troops conducted a search operation and recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant along with two hand grenades and one pouch.

Four LTTE militants were killed during an exchange of fire with army troops ahead of the Kokkutoduvai FDL (Forward Defence Line) in the Vavuniya district.

Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and reportedly killed three of them. One soldier was injured in this incident.

The LTTE cadres triggered off a powerful claymore mine targeting one civil vehicle moving in the Kudakachchikudi area of Vavuniya district. Two army soldiers and the driver of the vehicle were killed in the explosion while three soldiers and one more civilian were seriously injured. The soldiers were providing escort to the vehicle which was carrying stuff to a quarry.

January 13: Nine LTTE militants were killed and eight others inured during clashes between the two sides in the area west of Parappakandal in Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and 15 others sustained injuries in exchange of fire. Troops also captured nine militant’s bunkers.

Troops killed four LTTE militants during another confrontation in the area east of Mantai in the Mannar district.

An LTTE bunker ahead of the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district was completely destroyed by troops. Three militants inside the bunker were killed in the incident. An unspecified number of LTTE militants in the close vicinity were also injured in the incident.

Three LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured when a confrontation erupted between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

Troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Kutinchankulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.

Troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE militants, including one decomposed female dead body.

January 12: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed during a fierce gun battle that erupted between militants and troops at Pallikuli in the Mannar district. One soldier was killed and five others were injured during the clash.

Troops in three separate incidents moved forward and destroyed three bunkers of the LTTE in the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district and killed six militants. Two soldiers were also injured during the incidents.

An LTTE bunker was fired upon by troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. While four militants were killed, one soldier sustained injuries during the clash.

During clashes that erupted between the two sides at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, three LTTE militants were killed and two others injured by troops.

January 11: At least 13 LTTE militants, including three female cadres, were killed in a pre-dawn raid carried out by troops on an LTTE bunker line in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Four bunkers were also destroyed in the raid.

Troops after observing two groups of LTTE militants in the area north of Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district launched an attack on them, killing 13 militants. While six militants were killed and at least one injured in the first attack, troops killed seven more militants and injured nine others in the second attack.

Troops attacked and destroyed an LTTE bunker in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, killing eight militants and injuring several others.

Eight LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by troops as they repulsed a militant attack in the area west of Puthukulam in the Mannar district. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Troops attacked an LTTE bunker line at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and killed six militants.

Troops operating ahead of the FDL in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district confronted group of LTTE militants and killed at least five of them. About four hours after the incident, terrorists fired mortar and artillery towards the troops, injuring 13 soldiers.

Troops launched two separate attacks on LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants, including one militant leader. Three bunkers were also destroyed in the incident.

During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Pulipanthayakulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed four militants. One soldier was also inured in the incident.

Troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants. Two other militants were injured in the incident.

January 10: Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district and killed at least five militants.

Troops killed five LTTE militants during an attack launched in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

Three LTTE militants were killed and several others injured by troops when they repulsed an LTTE attack in the Parappakandal area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the incident site.

January 9: The LTTE eastern leader Shanker was shot dead by the STF personnel at Shaukade in the Batticaloa district. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that Shanker who was spotted by the STF personnel on patrol at Shaukade, between the Sathurukanda and Eravur areas, opened fire towards them and was shot dead in the retaliatory fire. A micro pistol, three magazines and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession. "Shanker was appointed as the LTTE leader to the Batticaloa sector and was living in hideouts since the East was liberated," the Brigadier added.

At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and over 30 injured during clashes between troops and the militants in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district where troops further consolidated their positions capturing an area of about one kilometer covering north of Parappakandal.

10 LTTE militants, including a leader named Kalanadan, were killed when troops confronted a group of outfit’s militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

At least eight LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes between the militants and troops in the Parappakandal and Periyakulam areas of Mannar district.

In a clash between the two sides at Chettukulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed five LTTE militants and captured one bunker of the outfit. Three soldiers sustained injuries due to the explosion of anti-personnel mines during the clash.

Five LTTE militants were killed in two separate incidents in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. While three militants were killed and a bunker destroyed in the first incident, troops killed two militants and destroyed three bunkers in the second incident. Three soldiers and two militants were also injured due to the exchange of fire.

Troops at Kutinchankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed three of them. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

Troops attacked a LTTE stronghold in the jungle off Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

Three LTTE cadres were killed and two others injured by troops during an encounter in the area west of Mullikulam in the Mannar district.

January 8: Suspected militants of the LTTE killed Sri Lankan non-Cabinet Minister for Nation Building, D.M. Dissanayake, in a claymore mine blast near Rukmani Devi junction at Ja-ela while he was proceeding towards Colombo to attend. A personal bodyguard of the Minister, identified as K.P. Rathnayaka, also succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. According to the Police, 13 people, including seven civilians, were injured in the incident.

Troops killed six LTTE militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district when the militants were trying to enter the military-held areas.

Troops killed four militants in the Periyathampane area of the Vavuniya district when the latter tried to confront troops in the area after firing a few shots towards them.

January 7: Troops at Talaivankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them.

Three LTTE militants were killed in the general area of Kuchchaveli near Trinc