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May 5: Ten LTTE militants,
including two area leaders, were killed and 52 others injured by
the security forces when a fierce fight erupted between the two
sides at the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were
killed and 14 others sustained injuries in the LTTE attack. One
soldier, meanwhile, was reported missing.
The SFs repulsed an
LTTE attempt to launch an attack on the Kondampiddy Army and Navy
combined security point on the Mannar coast. A small flotilla of
Sea Tiger boats opened fire towards the SFs point manned by Army
soldiers and Navy sailors. As the troops opened retaliatory fire,
the militants fled further towards the north east with their casualties
onboard the sea craft that became targets of ground troops supported
by artillery. One soldier was injured and another was reported missing
during the incident.
A vehicle carrying
a sick Buddhist monk, Kahatagasdigiliye Chandrananda Thero, from
Mannar junction to Yaya-7 in the Vilachchiya area was targeted by
the LTTE with a claymore mine explosion. While the monk escaped
unhurt, the driver of the vehicle was wounded.
Sri Lanka appealed
to the international community to help stop arms supplies to the
LTTE. The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
(UN), Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam told the UN Security Council
in New York last week that Government efforts to achieve sustainable
peace have failed primarily as a result of the illicit arms flow
to the LTTE. "Unbridled violence and abominable terrorist acts
can be stopped only if supply and access to such weapons can be
halted immediately," he urged.
A RCMP affidavit, made
public on May 2 by the Federal Court, has revealed the Canadian
operations of the LTTE. The affidavit describes the WTM as a "foreign
branch" of the LTTE.
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May 4: During clashes
between the SFs and LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and Palampiddi
areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed three militants.
Two LTTE militants
were killed and more than 20 others wounded by the troops during
clashes in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Nikawewa areas of Vavuniya
district. Four soldiers were injured in the clashes.
The troops neutralised
three LTTE bunkers in the Weeayamurippu area of Mannar district,
injuring at least eight militants. One soldier was killed while
two others sustained injuries in the incident.
Another soldier was
killed and two others wounded in an LTTE attack in the Muhamalai
area of Jaffna district.
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May 3: At least 15
LTTE militants, most of whom were 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.
The troops retaliated
and injured an unspecified number of LTTE militants when they were
fired upon by the latter in the areas ahead of Nagarkovil and Muhamalai
FDL in Jaffna district. Six soldiers were injured in the LTTE attack.
One Special Task Force
soldier and a Civil Security Officer were injured when the LTTE
militants detonated a claymore mine using a remote controller at
Kelepuliyankulama in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.
The LTTE militants
triggered another claymore mine explosion targeting a team of CSOs
on foot patrol in the Aluthhalmillewa area on Palamoddai – Bogashandiya
road without causing any casualty. The CSOs opened fire towards
the militants who managed to escape.
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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 were injured in the clashes.
At least two militants
were killed as an LTTE hideout in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna
district was attacked and destroyed by the troops.
One soldier was killed
and another got injured when an army vehicle hit an LTTE laid claymore
mine in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.
One militant was killed
while four others wounded by the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa
in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in the
clashes.
SFs recovered the dead
body of an LTTE militant in the Somapura area of Trincomalee district.
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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 at least five militants.
At Veddayamurippu in
the Mannar district, the troops neutralized a LTTE bunker line killing
five militants and injuring seven others.
Three LTTE militants
were killed by the troops in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal and Veddayamurippu
areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
Troops in Jaffna killed
two LTTE militants and destroyed one of their bunkers in the area
south of A–9 road in Muhamalai.
Two soldiers were injured
in APM explosions in the Velankulam and Kandaperiyakulam areas of
the Vavuniya district.
Two soldiers engaged
in clearing operations were injured in an explosion in the Pullekyarkulam
area of Vavuniya district.
One SF personnel was
injured in an APM explosion in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in
Vavuniya district.
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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 injured in fighting between the two sides in the
LTTE-held areas of Periyakulam, Karukkakulam and Kathankulam in
the Mannar district.
The SFs retaliated
as one civilian was injured when the LTTE militants operating in
deep jungles, north of Janakapura, in the Vavuniya district opened
artillery fire towards a civilian settlement at Tissapura in the
Padaviya area.
One soldier engaged
in clearing operations was injured in an IED explosion in the area
north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.
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April 29: Seven LTTE
militants, including six senior cadres, were killed when the troops
neutralized two bunkers which have been reportedly used by senior
cadres of the outfit in the Manipullaukulam area of 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 died 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.
Troops shot dead two
LTTE militants ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district when
both of them were trying to infiltrate cleared areas (area under
Government control) through one end of the FDL.
Soldiers killed a militant
in the Chinnavalayankaddu area of Jaffna district and later recovered
25 APMs.
London's Metropolitan
Police arrested three suspects in London and Wales for allegedly
supporting the LTTE in Sri Lanka as a part of an investigation into
the funding of the terrorist group. Two suspects, aged 46 and 39,
were detained in the Welsh county of Powys, while a 33-year old
man was arrested in London's Mitcham area by the Metropolitan Police.
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April 28: One civilian,
identified as U. Jayawardhana, was killed when his motorbike hit
a LTTE laid claymore mine at Yakawewa in the Kebithigollewa area
of Anuradhapura district.
The Sri Lanka Air Force
fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE building complex, adjacent to
the Iranamadu air strip of the outfit.
The police recovered
a powerful bomb from the central bus stand at Galgamuwa area in
the Kurunegala district.
Three LTTE militants were killed when the troops launched attacks
towards the outfit’s bunkers in the Kaddupulan and Kattikulam areas
of Mannar district.
During a clash between
the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa
in Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants while injuring
six others. One soldier was injured in the incident.
Two LTTE militants
were killed and two of their bunkers were destroyed by the SFs near
the Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna district.
One soldier was killed
in an LTTE attack in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district.
Unidentified assailants
lobbed a hand grenade at a house of a candidate, contesting from
the Eeleawar Democratic Front in the provincial council elections
in the Eastern Province scheduled to be held on May 10, in the Pooncholai
area of Batticaloa district. Three persons, including two women,
inside the house sustained injuries due to the explosion. However
the candidate was unharmed.
Three soldiers engaged
in clearing operations were injured in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion
in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.
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April 27: An LTTE light
aircraft bombed military FDLs in Welioya, the military said. Military
spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said three bombs were dropped
by the LTTE at the military FDLs in Welioya but caused no damages
to property or personnel. "At about 1:35 a.m. they came and dropped
three bombs on the Welioya Forward Defence line. Nobody was hurt,
and no damage to any property," he stated.
At least 14 LTTE militants
were killed and several others injured during clashes that erupted
between the troops and the militants at several places in the Vavuniya
and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were also killed while four of
them sustained injuries.
The security forces
killed five militants in the area north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa
and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district area and recovered a large
number of anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive devices.
12 soldiers were injured in these clashes.
Five more LTTE militants,
identified as Yavili, Malarini, Wellappan, Malarmadhi and Manalan,
were killed by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.
The troops in an ambush
in the Palampiddi area of Mannar district killed four LTTE militants.
The troops attacked
a LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed
two militants.
One soldier was killed
in explosions of mines and improvised explosive devices in the Vedamakilam
area of Vavuniya district.
At Chinnavalayankaddu
in the Vavuniya district, the SFs shot dead one LTTE militant while
he was trying to infiltrate the general area (area under Government
control).
The troops also killed
one militant in the Minukkap area of Mannar district.
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April 26: 21 militants
were killed and several others injured when the troops retaliated
to an LTTE attempt to storm the SFs defence lines in the area north
of Janakapura in Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers were also reported
killed in the clashes.
At least 25 militants
were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when clashes
erupted between the troops and the LTTE militants at several places
in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. 11 soldiers were reported
wounded in the clashes.
The troops eliminated
four LTTE militants who were moving ahead of the security forces
FDLs in the areas south of Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in Jaffna district.
The troops attacked
a group of LTTE militants in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in
Vavuniya district and killed three of them.
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Aril 25: 26 civilians,
including 17 males and seven females, were killed and 40 others
injured when the LTTE militants detonated a bomb inside a Ceylon
Transport Board bus parked at the public bus stand in Piliyandala
suburb of Colombo, at around 7:00 pm on April 25. The explosion
took place when the bus stopped at the bus stop during the evening
rush hour and was about to leave the bus stand. It was an IED explosion
detonated through a time device.
At least 19 LTTE militants
were killed and several others wounded when the troops attacked
several LTTE hideouts and captured their trench lines at different
places in Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Four soldiers were also
reported injured in the clashes.
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April 24: At least
27 militants were killed and about 12 others injured as heavy fighting
erupted between the LTTE and the troops in the Malikaittidal area
of Mannar district when the troops attacked and captured outfit’s
fortified bunker line and a trench line. Three soldiers were also
killed and seven more injured in the clashes. At least bunkers were
neutralised in the operation.
At Parayanakulam in
the Mannar district, the SFs attacked a LTTE bunker with small arms
and killed four militants.
Three LTTE militants
were killed and 12 others wounded during confrontations with the
troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the
Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in these incidents.
The troops attacked
several LTTE hideouts in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam
areas of Vavuniya district and recovered the dead body of one LTTE
female militant, 270 anti personnel mines, six trapped 81-mm mortar
bombs, one 60-mm mortar bomb, one T- 56 weapon, one hand grenade.
One more LTTE cadre
was killed by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.
Two LTTE militants
were injured after the SFs opened fire in a group of five militants
in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
One soldier was also
injured in an anti personnel mine explosion in the Muhamalai area
of Jaffna district.
SFs after regaining
control over the sacred Madhu Church asserted that they have no
intention to deploy armed troops to provide security for the Church
premises. "Our only intention is to hand over the Church to the
relevant Church authority ensuring the security of the Church by
deploying our troops out of the sacred area," Lt. Colonel Senerath
Bandara, Brigade Commander of the 372 Brigade told the Daily News,
adding, "Our next objective is to carry out a proper de-mining programme
to clear all anti-personnel mines and booby traps the LTTE."
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April 23: 169 militants
and 43 soldiers are reported to have died in a fierce gun-battle
between the SFs and the LTTE cadres in and around Muhamalai FDL
in the Jaffna district. While 120 soldiers were wounded in the encounter,
33 soldiers were missing till last reports came in. "LTTE terrorists
came and attacked our forward line this morning, we have retaliated
and captured about 400 to 500-metres of LTTE area in Muhamalai,"
said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
At least 16 LTTE militants
were killed and more than 31 others injured during encounters in
the area north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.
One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries
during the incidents.
Five LTTE militants
were killed during separate encounters in the Navakkulam, Thachchanamarudamadu,
Kirichchuddan and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
One soldier also received injuries in one of the clashes.
Nine more militants
were killed and three others were wounded during encounters in the
Veddayamurippu, Mantota, Mankadu and Pullekyarkulam areas of Mannar
district.
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April 22: The SFs killed
six LTTE militants at different places in the Welioya area of Vavuniya
district. Over 20 militants and five soldiers were injured in these
clashes.
Two more LTTE militants
were killed by the troops in separate encounters in the Adampan,
Malikaittidal and Adaimurippu areas of Mannar district.
Clashes were reported
from the Palampiddi, Maruthamadu, Pinnawalayankulam and Umayarasawarankulam
areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts in which one LTTE militant
was killed while two others were injured.
The SFs neutralized
nine LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed
one militant while injuring two others. Five soldiers involved in
the attack sustained injuries in explosions of APMs and booby traps
planted by the militants around the bunkers.
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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.
The SFs shot dead a
LTTE militant who attempted to infiltrate into the cleared areas
(area under Government control) in the Thiriyaya area of Trincomalee
district. The SFs later recovered the dead body of the slain militant
along with a T-56 weapon and 31 rounds of live ammunition.
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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.
One Grama Niladhari
(village officer) for Pandirippu in the Ampara district, Kandaiyah
Nagarasa, and his wife Kanagaratnam Anandi, were shot dead by suspected
LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militants inside their home. Kanagaratnam Anandi
was also a Grama Niladhari. The 16-year-old daughter of the victims,
who was also at home, was left unharmed.
A Roman Catholic priest
and human rights activist, Father Karunaratnam, chairperson of the
North East Secretariat on Human Rights, was killed in a roadside
bomb blast at Ambalkulam in the LTTE-held territory while he was
travelling towards Kilinochchi on April 20, reports Colombo Page.
The LTTE in a statement accused the Deep Penetration Unit of the
Sri Lankan Army for the attack. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya
Nanayakkara, however, rejected the outfit’s claims denying any involvement
in the event and said the military is not responsible for what is
happening in the LTTE controlled areas.
The SFs launched an
attack on an LTTE base in the jungles, north of Kokkuthuduvai, in
the Vavuniya district, killing one militant and injuring 11 others.
Three more groups of
LTTE militants moving separately in the jungles north of Kiriibbanwewa
were attacked by the troops, killing or wounding at least 19 militants.
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April 19: Four militants
were killed when clashes erupted between the LTTE and SFs in the
Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.
The SFs killed two
more LTTE militants and injured 16 others in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa
in the Vavuniya district.
The troops neutralized
a LTTE bunker in the Navathkulama jungle area of Vavuniya district.
Two militants were killed while two others sustained injuries in
the incident.
Troops neutralized
another LTTE bunker at Illamarudankulam and killed at least two
militants in the Vavuniya district. Two more militants were reported
wounded in the incident.
Troops following an
encounter with a group of LTTE militants in the Thachchanamatarathamadu
area of Mannar district conducted a search and clear operation and
recovered the dead body of a female militant along with three T-56
weapons, one radio set, four hand grenades and 38 APMs.
One more LTTE militant
was killed by the troops in the Madhu area. Two soldiers were also
injured in the incident.
The LTTE-triggered
a claymore mine explosion targeting a police route clearing patrol
in the Pokurani area on Kanniya – Thambalagamuwa road in Trincomalee
district.
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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 confronted
with LTTE militants in the area east of Madhu in the Mannar district
and killed 12 militants while inuring 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.
Five LTTE bunkers were
neutralised by the troops in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.
Details are awaited. One soldier, however, was reported injured
in the exchange of fire.
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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.
Two Tamil civilians
were shot dead by LTTE militants at separate locations in the Jaffna
district, Ministry of Defence Website reported. According to Jaffna
Police sources, a civilian was shot dead by the militants who stormed
into a privately owned communication centre at Browns Road in the
Kalladi area. Similarly, another civilian was killed by the militants
near the Sinnakaddai market area in Gurunagar.
The LTTE opened fire
towards SFs in the Sulanamaratumadu area, north of Madhu in the
Mannar district. The SFs retaliated and killed two female militants.
At least six militants
were killed or injured when the troops attacked groups of LTTE militants
in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.
Three soldiers sustained
injuries during a clash between the two sides in the same area.
Two more soldiers were injured in an LTTE triggered improvised explosive
device explosion in the Palamoddai area of Mannar district.
A woman, identified
as Vinayagamoorthi Rajeswari, was injured and five houses were badly
damaged in the artillery fire triggered by the LTTE, from un-cleared
(area not under government control) areas of Palali and Sorampattu,
towards the civilian-dominated Ushan village in Jaffna district.
The troops destroyed
an LTTE trapped 81-mm mortar bomb, two 60-mm mortars and several
LTTE bunkers during separate clashes in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai,
Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and a few areas to the north of Welioya
in the Vavuniya district.
The Sri Lankan Government
said that it will be ready for talks with the LTTE if they eschewed
terrorism but has not made any formal contact with the Norwegian
peace facilitators on resuming the process of stalled negotiations.
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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.
One more LTTE militant
was killed and six others wounded when the troops attacked LTTE
hideouts near the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers
were wounded in the incident.
One civilian, Yoganadan
Wasanthan, was shot at and injured by a suspected LTTE militant
in the Sinnakaddai area of Jaffna district.
Suspected LTTE militants
are reported to have destroyed two power transformers in Kandy.
The transformers supply power to Yakgahawewa and Panwila areas in
Kandy covering over 25,000 households.
During a routine search
conducted on vehicles in the Pethavadiya area of Puttalam district,
the police seized a vehicle carrying 663 bags of explosives, each
containing 150-gm and seven rolls of 35 ft-long detonator codes.
Two persons aboard the vehicle were arrested.
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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.
Two soldiers were killed
and 12 others sustained injuries in an LTTE artillery and mortar
fire attack towards troops in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa,
north of Janakapura and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.
The troops killed two
LTTE militants in separate incidents near the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna
district.
At least 30 LTTE militants
were injured during an encounter with the troops in the Welioya
area of Vavuniya district.
Two civil security
officers were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion
in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.
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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 another 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.
The troops neutralised
four LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of the Jaffna
district, killing one militant while injuring two others. One soldier
was also wounded during the clashes.
Four soldiers were
wounded in an LTTE attack and anti-personnel mine explosions in
the Palampiddi, Karampaivillu and Madhu camp areas of the Mannar
district.
The SFs neutralised four LTTE bunkers
in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district, killing
one militant while injuring two others. One soldier was also injured
in the clashes.
The Canadian Government issued a
Federal Court restraining order against the World Tamil Movement
(WTM), a non-profit organization for Canadian Tamils, Canadian media
reports said. Counterterrorism police in Quebec and Ontario on April
11 reportedly shut down the WTM office in Montreal alleging that
the organization has been raising money to finance terrorist activities
in Sri Lanka after a Federal Court judge has issued an order to
seal the office. According to the Canadian media, the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police has accused the WTM of collecting "war taxes" from
Canada's large ethnic Tamil community and financing the LTTE war
machine in Sri Lanka.
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April 13: The troops killed two
LTTE militants in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.
One soldier was killed and another
sustained injuries in an LTTE mortar fire attack at Ilantaivan in
the Mannar district.
The troops neutralised eight LTTE
bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed one
militant. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.
SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants
in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them
while eight militants were wounded.
One more LTTE militant was killed
while two others wounded by the troops in the Vedamakilam area of
Vavuniya district.
In another encounter, six LTTE militants
were injured in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya
district.
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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.
SFs killed two LTTE militants and
wounded over 14 others in clashes in the north of Kiriibbanwewa
and north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.
The troops moving ahead of the Muhamalai
FDL in the Jaffna district neutralised two LTTE bunkers killing
two militants and injuring five others.
The LTTE militants lobbed a hand
grenade targeting troops at Nelliadi in the Jaffna district, killing
one soldier while injuring another.
One more LTTE militant was killed
and two of the outfit’s bunkers were neutralised by the troops during
two encounters in the area north of Welioya in Vavuniya district.
Three soldiers and two militants sustained injuries in the attack.
Three more soldiers were wounded
in an LTTE attack and the explosion of an anti-personnel mine in
the area north of Welioya in Vavuniya district.
April 11: The troops ambushed a
group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district
and killed three of them.
The troops killed two LTTE cadres
in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.
The troops confronted another group
of LTTE militants in the Vinayakankulam area of Vavuniya district
and killed two of them.
A suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militant
killed a civilian, identified as Kunam, in the Chiruppiddi area
of Jaffna district.
Another LTTE militant was killed
by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.
The SFs attacked an LTTE bunker
in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district and killed one militant.
Three soldiers were injured in an
encounter with the LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura
in the Vavuniya district.
Another soldier was injured in the
Sulanamaruthamadu area of Vavuniya district.
Four militants were injured in another
attack by the troops in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.
The troops captured two trenches
in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring three militants.
Two more militants were injured
in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district.
At Muhamalai in the Jaffna district,
the troops attacked an LTTE bunker and injured three militants.
LTTE militants and sympathizers
who have surrendered are putting pressure on the Sri Lankan Government
to arrange for overseas jobs for them, fearing assassination for
having deserted the outfit. "We always fear for our life by the
LTTE though we have been put up in well guarded buildings," an unnamed
former LTTE militant told a group of journalists in Jaffna recently.
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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.
The troops attacked and captured
one LTTE bunker and two trenches in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya
district. One militant was killed and three others got injured in
the confrontation.
Five soldiers of a route clearing
team advancing from their new defence line in the Madhu camp area
of Mannar district sustained injuries due to the explosion of LTTE
laid anti personnel mines and IEDs.
One soldier was injured when the
LTTE militants fired mortars at the troops in the Ramathankulam
area.
Two LTTE militants fired on an Army
foot patrol near Nallur town in the Jaffna district, injuring one
soldier.
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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.
Two more LTTE militants were killed
by the troops in the Madhu camp and Sirukulam areas of the same
district.
SFs in the Muhamalai, Kilaly, Ponnar
and Eluttumadduwal areas of Jaffna district destroyed several LTTE
bunkers, killing at least two militants. One soldier sustained injuries
during the clashes.
One soldier was killed and another
wounded in two LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosions
in the Madhu area of Mannar district.
Armoured tanks deployed in and around
Ariyalai point in Jaffna after observing the presence of about seven
Sea Tiger boats directed 100-mm fire rounds on April 9-morning between
10:20-10:30am, causing one of the boats to explode. The boats were
reportedly on a reconnaissance mission with loaded explosives. Less
than an hour later, the troops detecting one more LTTE boat in the
Jaffna lagoon area opened heavy fire on it. However, troops restrained
from further firing since the LTTE boat managed to creep into fishing
boats in the seas. Later, the dead body of a suspected LTTE militant
was found washed ashore.
Three soldiers were injured in an
LTTE mortar attack in the Sirukulam area of Mannar district.
Another soldier was injured in an
LTTE attack in the Madhu area of Mannar district.
The troops neutralised LTTE hideouts
in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district killing
or injuring three militants.
The troops ambushed a group of LTTE
militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and subsequently
recovered four hand grenades, two bags and some civil clothes.
Police recovered a large stock of
TNT explosives from Nilagammana in the Kandy district. Approximately
110 pounds of TNT explosive slabs were found on information obtained
from an LTTE militant arrested recently who swallowed a cyanide
capsule following the arrest. The militant is presently undergoing
treatment at the Peradeniya hospital.
The SFs arrested an LTTE militant
along with a hand grenade from Vavuniya town.
The largest ever 'anti-LTTE'
petition, sponsored by the Sri Lanka United Nationals Association,
with 1,068 signatures from the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and
Burgher communities from the Sri Lankan expatriates, was submitted
to the House of Commons by Art Hanger, Member of Parliament of Conservative
Party.
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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.
At least two LTTE militants
were killed and 20 others injured when the troops launched operations
in the Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Janakapura and Puttankulam
areas of Vavuniya district.
The troops confronted
a group of LTTE militants in the Eelamaruttankulam area of Vavuniya
district and killed one militant while injuring two others.
The troops killed one
LTTE militant and injured two others in an ambush at Ilamaruththankulam
in the Vavuniya district.
Three soldiers engaged
in clearing operations in the Madhu and Palampiddi areas of Mannar
district sustained injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines
and Improvised Explosive Devices.
The troops captured
a major LTTE camp consisting of six underground bunkers with overhead
protection, in the Kokkuthuduvai area, injuring at least five militants.
The huge underground base where over 60 persons could be accommodated
at a time has been connected to another area with the support of
a 15 feet long tunnel. The troops later recovered two claymore mines,
three mortar bombs, four water cans, 30 ration containers, 12 milk
powder packets and some personal belongings of the militants. It
is believed that militants were using this base as a operating point
before they directed attacks on the troops.
The troops neutralised
LTTE bunkers in the Eluttumadduwal, Nagarkovil, Muhamalai areas
of Jaffna district. LTTE bunkers in the Adampan, Palampiddi east
and areas north of Madhu camp in the Mannar district were also neutralised
by the troops.
In the Periyakulam
area of Mannar district, the SFs destroyed a heavily fortified house
occupied by armed LTTE militants. However, no loss of life was reported.
The troops captured
two LTTE trenches in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya
district.
-
April 7: The LTTE-triggered a claymore
mine explosion targeting a STF route clearing patrol at Urasari
in the Vavuvathivu area of Batticaloa district. The STF personnel,
however, escaped unhurt and in retaliation killed the two militants
involved in the explosion.
The Washington Times reported
that the LTTE’s political wing has established its branches in at
least 12 countries, including the United States. Citing federal
law-enforcement authorities, the report said that the LTTE have
quietly established a presence in the US to help bankroll and equip
its secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka. "As part of a global expansion
to purchase millions of dollars worth of anti-aircraft weapons,
automatic rifles, grenade launchers, ammunition and other military
equipment, the LTTE has set up its branches," it reported, adding,
the expansion includes operations in Maryland, New York and New
Jersey.
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.
At Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district, the troops captured one LTTE bunker and killed
two militants. One soldier was injured in an IED explosion during
the operation.
Two LTTE militants
were killed and another sustained injuries in an ambush by the troops
at Chinnavittu.
During another clash
that erupted between the two sides in Welioya area of Vavuniya district,
one soldier was killed while three others were wounded.
The SFs confronted
a group of LTTE militants in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district
and killed one of them. Two other militants were reportedly injured
in the incident.
The troops captured
another LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya
district, killing or injuring two militants.
In the area north of
Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted another
group of LTTE militants and injured three female militants. One
soldier sustained injuries in the clash.
Four more LTTE militants
were injured when the troops attacked an LTTE hideout in the area
north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.
The troops neutralized
three LTTE bunkers in the Thirukethiswaram and another in the Villattikulam
area of Vavuniya district. Later, one soldier engaged in a reconnaissance
mission in the area was injured in an APM explosion.
Another soldier was
injured during a clash with the LTTE militants at Janakapura in
the Vavuniya district.
One more soldier was
wounded when an APM exploded in the Chinnavittu area.
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April 6: Sri Lanka 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 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 another encounter between
the two sides, the SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Chanakakulam
area of Vavuniya district.
At Karampaikkulam in the Mannar
district, the troops killed one LTTE militant.
Two persons were injured in an LTTE
triggered claymore mine explosion at Halmillawetya in the Kebithigollewa
area of Anuradhapura district that targeting a combined route clearing
team of the Special Task Force and Civil Security Officers.
Two Ceylon Electricity Board electric
transformers at 8th milepost of Arambepura, on the Kandy – Matale
road, in the Kandy district were blown up with explosives by suspected
LTTE militants.
-
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.
Four soldiers were injured in these clashes.
11 LTTE militants were killed by
the troops during clashes in the Palampiddi, Madhu, Mundipurippu,
Nedunkerni and Thirukethiswaram areas of Mannar district. Five soldiers
sustained injuries in these clashes.
An unspecified number of LTTE militants
were injured in an encounter with the troops at Nagarkovil in the
Jaffna district. During three separate attacks in the Muhamalai
area, the troops destroyed five LTTE bunkers.
-
April 4: The troops neutralised
an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya
district and killed eight militants.
Army troops with the support of
Sri Lanka Air Force attacked several LTTE hideouts at Alankulam
and neutralised them. Two militants were killed while eight others
were wounded in the attacks.
The troops killed one LTTE militant
and injured three others in the area north of Janakapura in the
Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and another sustained
injuries in the incident. Separately, troops operating in the Adampan
area of Mannar district killed one LTTE militant.
Three soldiers sustained injuries
in an LTTE-triggered anti-personnel mine explosion in the Madhu
and Puliyankulam areas of Mannar district.
The troops neutralised seven LTTE
bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
-
April 3: At least 11 LTTE militants
were killed by the troops during clashes in the Navathkulama area
of Vavuniya district.
During another clash between the
two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya
district, the troops killed four LTTE militants. One soldier also
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.
The troops captured one LTTE bunker
in the Janakapura area. One soldier was killed during the operation.
The SFs confronted a group of LTTE
militants and killed one militant while others managed to escape.
The SFs later recovered one T-56 weapon, three T-56 magazines and
one harness kit from the possession of the slain militant who had
a cyanide capsule around his neck.
Priests at Madhu Church in Mannar
transferred the Sacred Statue of Our Lady of Madhu to a safer place
following a virtual takeover of the Church premises by the LTTE,
reports from un-cleared areas (area not under government control)
said.
Three LTTE militants surrendered
to the troops at Kattaiadampan camp in the Mannar district.
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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.
Suspected LTTE militants killed
a man and his son when they had gone to collect firewood in the
Anuradhapura district.
The troops, after heavy resistance,
captured an LTTE bunker and one of their trenches in the deep jungles
north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured
during this incident.
The SFs foiled an attempt by the
LTTE to attack the troop’s positions in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya
district.
Suspected LTTE militants reportedly
stormed a grocery in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and
looted 10 milk packets, 15 bottles of soft drinks, 44 biscuit packets,
30-kgs of rice and 30 coconuts after threatening the shop-keeper,
the Palamoddai Police said.
The LTTE had employed its cadres
to give threatening calls to certain leading Colombo businessmen
to extort money, Colombo Crime Division (CCD) officers informed
the Colombo Chief Magistrate. The CCD report said the anonymous
callers had asked businessmen to provide accommodation to their
operatives in their houses or to pay money to the LTTE.
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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 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.
One LTTE militant was killed and
eight sustained injuries when the troops neutralised a bunker line
of the outfit in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Eight
soldiers were wounded in the LTTE mortar fire during the operation.
The troops neutralised four LTTE
hideouts in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.
Six militants were injured in the incident.
Five LTTE militants were injured
when the SFs neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Maruthamadu area of
Vavuniya district.
The LTTE opened 120-mm artillery
fire at the Murunkan hospital causing heavy damage to the building,
military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. However, no
casualties were reported.
Catholic priests at the Madhu Church
have reportedly confirmed that the LTTE had directed mortar fire
to the Church premises twice.
The SLAF jets bombed and neutralized
an LTTE base camp at Pyramidal in the Mullaitivu district.
-
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.
Two soldiers were killed while an
equal number of them were wounded in APM and IED explosions in the
Periyavalayankadu, Karampaivillu and Karampaivillu areas.
The troops captured two LTTE bunkers
in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district, killing two militants.
The SFs also shot dead two militants
in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district.
SFs neutralised 17 LTTE bunkers
in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, killing one militant.
Three soldiers were wounded in APM
and IED explosions triggered by the LTTE in the Andankulam area
of Vavuniya district.
One soldier was injured in an LTTE
mortar fire at Kattikulam.
-
March 30: Six LTTE militants were
killed by the troops during three separate encounters in the Malikaittidal,
Veddayamurippu and Adampan areas of Mannar district.
The troops destroyed an LTTE bunker
in the north of Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed two
militants. Two militants were also injured in the incident.
The troops shot dead an LTTE militant,
identified as Iravendran, in an encounter in the area east of Villattikulam
in the Vavuniya district.
One more LTTE militant was killed
by the troops in the Periyavalayankadu area of Vavuniya district.
One soldier was injured in a LTTE-triggered
APM explosion in the area northeast of Madhu in the Mannar district.
Another explosion of an LTTE laid
APM in the area northwest of Kiruchuddan Kulam in the Vavuniya district
injured one soldier.
A soldier sustained injuries when
LTTE militants opened fire on the troops in the Kathankulam area
of Vavuniya district.
The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter
carried out an aerial attack and neutralised a Sea Tiger base at
Chilawatta in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu district.
Prapa Thambithurai, a 45-year-old
satellite dish installer who emigrated from Sri Lanka two decades
ago and now living in a suburban duplex north of Toronto in Canada,
is alleged to be a bagman for the LTTE. The Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) arrested Thambithurai on March 14-night in New Westminster.
Police seized more than $1,000 in cash as well as pledge forms,
Thambithurai told the National Post in his first public comments
since his arrest. The RCMP said in a press release that he was "targeting
residents of the Lower Mainland of Tamil heritage to make cash donations
to support the LTTE."
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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.
Deputy Chairman of the Moneragala
local council, A. Muththulingam, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.
According to the sources the victim, who was a doctor, was at his
clinic in the Moneragala town when he was assassinated.
An LTTE women music group has cut
a disc titled 'Sparks of earthquake' that highlights through a song
the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka. The cassette was released
recently at Kilinochchi. The CD was released in the institute, named
after Sencholai, one of the earliest female militant to die in the
battle field. The first cassette was presented to Shankar, whose
two brothers were killed while fighting with the Sri Lankan army,
the report said.
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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.
Another militant was killed in an
encounter in the Thirukethiswaram area of Mannar district.
At least eight LTTE militants were
injured when troops opened fire towards an LTTE hideout in the Puttankulam
area of Mannar district.
The troops advanced towards the
LTTE-held areas in the Kilaly region of Jaffna district and inflicted
heavy casualties to the outfit, though the details are awaited.
One bunker was reportedly neutralized by the troops.
Five soldiers sustained injuries
in an LTTE attack in the Mannar district.
Two soldiers on clearing operations
in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district sustained injuries
due to the explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap.
The troops repulsed an LTTE attack
in the Iramtyankulam area and subsequently recovered one T-56 mark
III weapon, two hand grenades, one T-56 magazine, 30 rounds of T-56
ammunition, two solar panels, one DC electricity storage system
box, a few rechargeable batteries and one LTTE pack from the area.
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March 27: At least nine LTTE militants
were killed 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 hideout
in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district, killing four militants.
One soldier was also killed while three others were 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 of the outfit’s bunkers were also destroyed
in the incident.
Two civilians were killed while
another sustained injuries when suspected LTTE militants opened
fire towards them in Ampara.
At the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna
district, the troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers and killed two
militants while injuring four others.
The troops killed two LTTE militants
during an encounter in the Madhu area of Mannar district.
The LTTE militants opened fire towards
troops and killed one soldier in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.
Another soldier was killed due to
the explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap in the area south of A-9
road in the Kilaly region of Jaffna district.
Two soldiers were injured in two
separate LTTE-triggered APM explosions in the Janakapura area of
Vavuniya district..
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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
while they were clearing the areas.
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.
The troops captured an LTTE bunker,
killing at least two militants at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.
The troops captured an LTTE bunker
in the at Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and during subsequent
search operation recovered one decomposed dead body of a LTTE militant
along with one T-56 weapon and six hand grenades.
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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, are reported to have died.
Five LTTE militants were killed
by the SFs during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar district.
The troops naturalised a LTTE bunker
in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing
at least four militants who were inside the bunker.
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.
Troops confronted a group of LTTE
militants in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district
and killed two militants. Two other militants were injured in the
incident.
The troops killed two LTTE militants
who were trying to infiltrate into the troop held areas in the west
of Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.
The SFs recovered the dead bodies
of two LTTE militants from the Kattikulam area of Vavuniya district.
Two soldiers were injured due to
the explosion of a LTTE booby trap in the area north of Janakapura
in the Vavuniya district.
A cluster of LTTE boats launched
form the Nayaru area in Mullaitivu district proceeding towards Pulmude
was intercepted and attacked by naval craft. The LTTE boats thereafter
retreated under heavy gunfire towards Nayaru. The intercepted communication
among senior LTTE militants revealed that one boat was heavily damaged
and was towed to the Nayaru lagoon. Nayaru, an active LTTE hideout
for Sea Tiger movement, has been used by the militants in the last
several years to direct attacks against the security forces.
The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter
jets neutralised an LTTE arsenal and equipment storage in the Udayankattu
area, west of Mullaitivu.
Police arrested five LTTE suspects
along with four kilograms of C-4 explosives, 10 electric detonators
and four time devices from a house in the Aluth Mawatha area in
Colombo district.
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara informed
that more than 501 LTTE militants have been killed in the last 20
days and that an unknown number of militants and 223 soldiers have
been injured in clashes from March 5 to March 24. 50 soldiers died
during this period. Nanayakkara also said military operations were
continuing in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna district's Muhamalai
area. "The Security Forces have been successful in capturing 31
square kilometres of territory south of the A14 road in Mannar,"
he added. He said so far this year some 115 bodies of militants
have been handed over with 11 more bodies to be delivered to the
International Committee of the Red Cross.
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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 neutralised four LTTE
gun positions and killed one militant in the Nagarkovil area of
Jaffna district.
Three soldiers were injured in an
LTTE-triggered anti-personnel mine explosion in the Ramanathankulam
area of Vavuniya district.
The troops extended their FDL, north
of Kiriibbanwewa by about 500-meters forcing LTTE militants operating
in the area to further northward. At least five militants were injured
in the incident.
Troops attacked LTTE positions on
A-9 road in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and destroyed
at least five bunkers.
The Vavuniya police foiled an LTTE
attempt to abduct the area manager of a leading local insurance
company for ransom. The victim, Sugath Prasanna, was on his way
to attend a function in Thirunaikulam when he was abducted by LTTE
‘pistol gang’ militants. Police later arrested four militants from
Niddur in the Pampaimadu area and also seized two motorbikes, one
hand grenade, one pistol and one magazine with seven rounds of ammunition
from the possession of the militants, one of whom unsuccessfully
tried to commit suicide swallowing the cyanide capsule.
The troops killed seven LTTE militants
in the area south of Madhu in the Mannar district.
The Colombo High Court Judge, Kumuduni
Wickremesinghe issued notice on the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran,
Intelligence Wing leader Pottu Amman, Charles Master and Komadee
Manimekala in connection with the assassination (August 12, 2005)
of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
stated that the LTTE maintains links with international terrorist
groups such as the PKK and certain affiliates of al Qaeda. He also
said that certain reports mentioned about Tamil youths receiving
training in Palestinian camps in Syria and Lebanon.
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March 23: Two LTTE militants trying
to launch an attack on the troops were shot dead in the Kathankulam
area of Vavuniya district.
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.
During an encounter in the Malikaittidal
area of Mannar district, the troops killed one LTTE cadre.
The troops attacked an LTTE bunker
in the area south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna
district and killed one militant who was trying to infiltrate.
At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya
district, the troops shot dead one LTTE militant.
The troops on search and clear operations
in the Sirukulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district recovered
one decomposed dead body of an LTTE militant.
Three soldiers sustained injuries
due to APM explosions in the Ramanathankulam, Koilmoddai and Karampaikkulam
areas of Mannar district.
Another soldier was wounded when
a booby trap exploded in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.
The troops foiled an attempt by
the LTTE to infiltrate the security force’s FDL in the Muhamalai
area of Jaffna district after overrunning six of the outfit’s bunkers.
An LTTE van laden with explosives
was seized by the STF personnel from the Kanchkudichchiaru area
of Ampara district.
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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.
The troops in an encounter killed
two more LTTE militants in the area south of A-9 road in the Jaffna
district.
During another encounter between
the two sides at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, one soldier
was killed while two others were injured.
The troops killed one LTTE militant
in the area north of
