LEAFLETS URGE WANNI CIVILLIANS TO MOVE TO SAFETY

THE SLAF has started air-dropping leaflets requesting civillians in the Wanni areas to move to safety behind government areas, ostensibly as a prelude to a final drive to liquidate the remaining LTTE forces in their last stronghold.

Even though the leaflets are air-dropped, there will be little evidence whether the helpless civillian population would be either able to access the literature, and even if they did, act according to the government's instructions. It takes little or no imagination to understand how easy it would be for the LTTE to order the civillian population not to access the papers falling from the skies.

The SLG has so far failed to utilize all available resources that must be put to test in this moment of truth. One such resource that has not only been wasted, but has even turned hostile occasionally when not managed properly, are the International non-governmental organizations, or more infamously known as INGOs. Given the open bias shown by some of them towards the LTTE and its activities, it is no secret that to the SLG and majority of the population the title INGO itself is a dirty word.

Nevertheless it must be boune in mind that some of these organizations are bound by charters that hold their officials accountable for the activities entrusted to them. Similarly there are some which are independent of funding from any government/s, and sustain themselves through donations recieved from individuals and organizations for their genuinely charitable activities.

The time has come for the Sri Lankan government to approach or even coax some of these more dependable INGOs and specialist entities such as the International Committe of the Red Cross [ICRC] to intervene and provide safe passage to the Tamil civillians in the Wanni to move into designated areas until the LTTE is disarmed. There is no necessity for any discussion of Government writ and/or objectives of its counter-terrorism operations.

Having taken such an action, the Government could deny responsibility subsequently for any potential charges for possible civillian casualties that may result from planned future combat operations.

NEW REALITIES, NEW PERSPECTIVES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES

AS the anti-terror operations in Sri Lanka reach a decisive and euphoric climax, it is important to stay dis-engaged from the evolving drama, to be able to continually evaluate each change which comes with its own inherent set of new opportunities.

Most people in Sri Lanka, including those les miserables caught up in the malarial Wanni jungles are hoping for a quick end to the violence and establishment of a sustainable peace. The only thing which stands between achieving that peace and prevention of a huge loss of life in the process are the rabid LTTE leadership and a few die hard adherents of a bankrupt argument for racist segragation.

The message the Sri Lankan government carries to the civillians and the rank and file of the LTTE must focus around the possiblities that exist for those who are willing to make peace. It is easy to surmise they would be listeining intently, given the fact that the majority of the new conscripts are unwilling pawns of a suicidal campaign for the LTTE even while its leadership makes elaborate plans to escape from being held accountable for monstrous human rights violations.

Sri Lanka must seriously consider motivating the middle level cadre of the LTTE, some of whom may yet be untainted by crimes against humanity, to liquidate the top rung of the terror outfit, and thereafter become partners in a civilized dialogue towards achieving a sustainable and dignified peace.

To be truly effective, the alternate to that choice should leave no doubts in the minds of the LTTE members; that is, failure to accept this offer would ensure that they too would be treated as similarly as the leadership in time to come.

LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS AND ANTI-TERRORISM OPERATIONS

UPFA the ruling party is winning the local govt elections with sweeping margins. Though there was election related violence and possible rigging in some of the electorates, an end result which leaves this govt firmly in power is definitely in the interest of the country, given the war situation. A significant power shift could have caused problems Sri Lanka does not need at this hour.

The SL Defence Forces continue to perform credibly in the anti-terrorist operations being conducted in the last remaining two districts, Mullaitivu and Killinochchi. The Army is poised within 12 kilo meters of Killinochchi while Special Forces are deep into the jungles of Mullaitivu. Some elements of the 58th Division are also reported to be already within striking distance of LTTE targets in Killinochchi.

The fighting is bound to take a different style, and is going to be difficult. The LTTE has had all the time in the world and have the traditional advantage of the defender. Nevertheless, the initiative still remains with the SLDF since the initiative for the first strike even now is largely with them. That is unless the LTTE is capable of moving a large contingent of men and material to cause siginificant damage to the amassed forces and precipitate a recognizable change in the conduct of the next phase.

SL forces are expected to be handicapped by not being able to resort to wide use of artillery and air-superiority, two aspects that have dominated to keep the momentum in their favor so far. A weapon which has proven decisive in the fighting so far, the Multi-barrel rocket launchers will have reduced utility due to the proximity of civillian centers in the battle ahead. That is unless the SLG manages to move the civillians out of harm's way first.

The LTTE will do their utmost to prevent the loss of their 'human shield' the civillian population that also has been now armed. Even though a civillian armed against a legitimate government is technically operating outside the law and liable to face consequences, changing geo-politics demand the SLG treat them differently. How this plays out, when combat weary troops reach them will be unpredictable. The govt forces will definitely need to minimize civillian casualties and focus on communicating with them to disarm any, without loss of life on either side.

The coming weeks promise to be an era of historical significance. As the LTTE fights with its back to the wall, and a determined SLA pushes home its attacks to decisively finish off the enemy, the task before the politicians and diplomats is going to be challenging. As much as our military forces have proven more than adequate and professional in dealing with the tasks entrusted to them so far, whether the Sri Lankan diplomatic community will prove a match to the task that is now going to be placed before them, will remain to be seen.

CHASING PEACE IN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka may be close to peace
Ravi Velloor

Sri Lankans have just completed another month of introspection, as they have every July for so long now. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the country’s Tamil insurgency.After 70,000 deaths and years of despondency, however, there is a glimmer of hope that the Sri Lankan army’s recent battlefield successes might presage an end to the civil war in the north of the island.Troops have fought their way into Tamil Tiger strongholds. The feared fighters are said to have lost two-thirds of their strength. Their supply lines from sympathisers in India have been crimped by a vigilant New Delhi working in tandem with Colombo.

“Never before have the Sri Lankan forces been better placed to defeat the Tamil Tigers,” says retired Major-General Ashok Mehta, an expert on military affairs. He commanded Indian forces in Sri Lanka’s Batticaloa sector when New Delhi intervened in the civil war between 1987 and 1990, sending its troops, unsuccessfully, to subdue the Tigers. Such assessments fall on welcome ears in Colombo as it ponders the effects of a generation lost to the war.Racially similar but culturally apart, Sri Lanka’s Sinhalas and the Tamil minority began drifting apart in the 1950s when Sinhala politicians made a series of decisions on language and education that were unfavourable to the Tamils.

Most people reckon the island’s simmering ethnic tensions passed boiling point in July 1983, when Sinhala mobs in Colombo set upon Tamils in the streets. Hundreds of innocents were slaughtered. Sinhalas were reacting to news that 13 soldiers had been ambushed and shot in Jaffna, the centre of the Tamil region.For those with longer memories, July resonates for another reason.

On July 27, 1975, a man on a bicycle rode up to Jaffna mayor Alfred Duriappah, as he was walking to a Hindu temple, and shot him. Duriappah, a Christian Tamil who stood for national unity, died on the spot. The killer, it turned out, was a little-known smuggler named Velupillai Prabhakaran.Today, the 53-year-old Prabhakaran, as head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, is the world’s most durable guerilla chieftain. With other Tamil militants going mainstream, Prabhakaran alone stands in the way of the country’s resurgence.

The country’s economic outlook ‘depends critically’ on an end to the war, according to the International Monetary Fund. If Colombo succeeds in vanquishing Prabhakaran, there is little doubt that Sri Lanka could be looking at renewed prosperity. Indeed, back in 1977, when it began to liberalise some thought the tear drop-shaped island could turn into a Singapore in the Indian Ocean.

But the move to free up the economy by the late JR Jayewardene surprised India’s then prime minister, the socialist-oriented Indira Gandhi, who was close to Russia. Sri Lanka’s tilt towards the US also troubled her. To counter Jayewardene, Mrs Gandhi stoked Tamil nationalism on the island.In the 25 years that Tamil separatism has raged, Sri Lanka’s enormous potential has been shackled. Its $28-billion economy, suffering some of the worst inflation in Asia, is dependent on tea exports, tourism and overseas remittances.

But despite all its troubles the economy has been growing by more than 6 per cent annually in recent years. In the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, Sri Lanka outscores every significant South Asian economy, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.Dr Nihal Samarappulli, executive director of the country’s Board of Investment, says realised foreign investments passed $700 million last year, a 15 per cent jump from 2006.

“This is an economy waiting to take off,” says Mr Mahen Dayananda, who stepped down two weeks ago as chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. “If investors wait for the entire problem to go away before coming in, they could be too late.”Who knows what may have been if the island had avoided its ethnic convulsions. Such are the thoughts passing through the minds of people in Colombo who have known better times.

Sri Lanka may yet gain back its economic muscle but its return to innocence may be a while coming.

The Straits Times/ANN

THE RAINS ARE COMING AND THE GAME COULD CHANGE

THERE is a lot of speculation in the pro-LTTE Tamil media, most of which predicts a counter-strike by the Tigers once the heavy monsoon rains start and logistics in the western coastal areas become a nightmare.

"...For instance this was what Thinakkural had to say in its August 8 issue.
“The forces restlessly fighting will be fed up and disgusted owing to their inability to achieve the goal and will also be subjected to battle stress and fear due to which they will not be able to face the fierce retaliation of the rebels.

Troops are now thinned out in a vast area between the areas of Manthai, Illuppakkadavai, Mannar-Vavuniya Road and Paliaru River. The jungle areas and the basins of Parangiyan Aru and Nayaru in this terrain will cause havoc to the troops during the forthcoming monsoon, because there are no proper road networks in this sector and when these rivers begin to flood, troops will be bogged down.

If troops continue to advance northwards, the Tigers who are in a strong position in Palamottai and Moonrumurippu might move westwards cutting across the troops’ supply route and trapping them in Vavunikulam, Panankamam and Sivattikulam into death. Also the Sea Tigers will play havoc by their sea borne operations. In such an event army would be deprived of even the Thalladi base in Mannar, as they lost the elephant Pass base complex in 2001.”

Almost all Tamil newspapers except the Thinakaran published by the Lake House foresee the future of the Wanni battles on the same line of thinking, apparently because they want to appease the general Tamil psyche..."

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=23507

Sri Lankan defence planners should be aware of these facts and anticipating a conuter-strike in the areas of highest vulnerability. Pre-empting the LTTE's ability to conduct such a counter-strike must surely be topmost on their minds.

LET'S GET A MOVE ON...

THE NGOs are at it again. They are howling blue murder and want the war to be stopped, so that 'Internally Displaced Persons' can be attended to.

These so called IDPs have a choice. They can easily move into the government controlled areas and will be looked after better than most other working people of Sri Lanka are. Of course they'll have to slip past the Tamil Tiger human shield collectors who are marshalling them further towards the LTTE's garrisons to be put in front of the SLA's guns. The NGOs prefer to play blind to this aspect.

And then there are the Tamils who choose to do it on their own and support the LTTE. While these guys should be allowed to make their choices and take the consequences, the NGOs apparently think the SLG should be accountable for them too. We do feed the bastards anyway.

While Sri Lankans have been embroiled in war for two decades, the world moved on. Recently a British group directly connected brain cells harvested from a lab rat into a robot. This invention jumps the previously unsurmountable problem of interfacing neurons and electronics and opens a whole new realm of possibilities. Hello Robo Cop...!

Check this out http://www.sciam.com/video.cfm?id=AE158F95D6F734922F2394D69B2B59AB

BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS...WHAT YUH GONNA DO

..WHEN THEY COME FOR YUH...

Few in military circles believed that the Tamil Tigers would give up Vedithalthivu, the main sea Tiger base in the north western coast without a fight. True to its strategic importance, the Vedithalthivu Sea Tiger Base was heavily fortified.

A 10 Km trench was built from 2 km south of Vedithalthivu on the coast to Paramarayankulam, which is located 10km east of Vedithalthivu. That trench line functioned as the primary defence of the sea Tiger base. This defence line had been fortified with eight feet high sand dunes and the vicinity of the camp and its access routes had been heavily mined with anti personnel mines and booby traps. Inside the trench line aka primary defence line, the secondary defence line was located. Bunkers had been built in close proximity to each other and battle hardened Tiger cadres of the Charles Anthony Brigade had been assigned to front line duties.

Vedithalthivu had been under the control of the LTTE since the departure of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1990. In 1999, the security forces engaged in operation Ranagosa and attempted to seize control of the sea Tiger base, but in vain.

The military operation to capture the Vedithalthivu base gathered momentum after the clearing of the Rice Bowl area of the size of 152 sqkm. With the capture of the Rice Bowl area, the security forces succeeded cutting off the supply routes to the Vedithalthivu sea Tiger base.

On June 30, 2008, the two military divisions - 57 and 58 Divisions- who are inching into the Tiger hinterland of the Wanni linked up in Pallaimadu, west of Vedithalthivu. 10 Gajaba Regiment and 12 Gajaba Regiment attached to the 581 Brigade began to advance further northwards from 12th mile post on the A 32 Pooneryn Sangupiddy- Mannar road. The two battalions were supported by the fifth armoured corps.

On the southern flank, troops of 6 and 8 Gemunu Watch pushed further northwards. From the eastern direction, two other battalions - 9 GW and 12 GW- advanced towards the sea Tiger base. Second commando regiment of Sri Lankan Army was deployed in small teams to engage in reconnaissance duties, ambushes and sabotage attacks on the enemy logistics.

On July 3, 2008, three small groups of four -man commando teams of the Bravo Company under Capt. Bandara Subesinghe shattered the perceived impregnability of the camp with a daring raid against a fortified Tamil Tiger bunker line in the southern perimeters. This swift assault during which four commandos lost lives had been a turn around in the battle for Vedithalthivu.

Armed to the teeth, 12 Bravo men approached the Tiger bunker line, carefully avoiding the booby traps and anti personnel mines. When they launched an attack on the southern perimeter defences of the Tiger base, it took the defending Tiger cadres by surprise.

The three “four- man teams”- were led by Sergeant Asitha Kumara, Cpl N. V. Vanasinghe and Lance Cpl Indika Kumarage. The commandos advanced two hundred meters ahead of the heavily fortified Tiger defenses. During their assault, they decimated five LTTE bunkers.. As the battle raged, frenzied radio communications between the Tiger cadres and LTTE Mannar leadership indicated a collapse of the peripheral defences. Yet, the Tigers put up stiff resistance. MI 24 attack helicopters were called in for close air support.

Sergeant Asitha Kumara was hit by a Rocket Propel Grenade attack as he raided a Tiger bunker line; Cpl Vanasinghe thrust himself in defence of his wounded comrade. In the meantime, the Tigers inducted an estimated 200 cadres to fight the twelve commandos. During the fight, Cpl Vanasinghe was hit by a shrapnel and succumbed to injuries. The battle raged for five hours and the Army sent another team of commandos led by Lt Kollurai as replacement. Lt Kollurai was also wounded in the battle.

Finally, Lance Cpl Indika Kumarage decided to pull back with his wounded and fallen comrades. Sergeant Asitha Kumara and Cpl N.V. Vanasinghe were killed in action and the commandos were compelled to leave the body of Sergeant Asitha Kumara inside the trench when they pulled back after decimating nine bunkers of the LTTE. His body was later handed over to the Army through the ICRC.

Sergeant Asitha Kumara and Cpl Vanasinghe were posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and Sergeant respectively. Intercepted LTTE communications revealed that 28 LTTE cadres had been killed in the five hour battle. Seventeen cadres were killed in the first thrust of the attack when the commandos decimated five bunkers. Cpl Ariyaratne, who was also killed in the battle after his team was sent for the assistance of the besieged commandos, was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Lance Cpl Indika Kumarage was promoted to the rank of Corporal and recommended for the Weera Vickrema Vibushana gallantry award.

This swift daring assault by the Bravo company of the 2nd Commando Brigade had been a turn around in the battle for Vedithalthivu. The capture of about 200 meters of the southern perimeter defence of the camp killing at least 28 cadres had been the prelude to a series of daring small group operations by 2nd Commando Brigade. These small opertions led to the fall of the mighty sea Tiger camp so fast.

With the capture of the southern perimeter, the Army Chief ordered Brig. Shavendra Silva to go ahead with the main operation to invade Vidattaltivu. The 8-man teams of the 2nd Commando Regiment was prepared for the operation on 10th of July. The teams were approaching Vidattaltivu from all directions.

Commandos operating in small teams had been carrying out surprise attacks on selected strategic locations in the LTTE defence line. Small groups of commandos approached the camp in every direction, mainly conducting reconnaissance missions on the LTTE build- up in the area. A stretch of the Mannar-Pooneryn Road was under observation by the 8-man team of Lt. Marasinghe of Delta group under Maj. Jaliya Dehideniya.

Alfa group of 2nd Commando Regiment under Maj. Samantha Kodituwakku attacked an LTTE bunker in Walimarandamadu area on July 13. The following day, a group of tigers erecting a bunker came under attack by the 8-man team of Sgt. Sanjeewa. Seven terrorists were killed in the confrontation. Five bodies of the slain Tiger cadres were retrieved by the commandos. Meanwhile, Echo group under Capt. Sha Hameed and the 8-man team of Cpl Rajakaruna were advancing from the direction of Paramarayankulam, east of Vidattaltivu. Capt. Nalin Soysa was the acting Officer Commanding (OC) of Bravo group under Maj. Ratnayake. The platoons under Lt. Thusitha Kumarage and Sgt Kumarasinghe (Rodney) were advancing along the Uvilanundiyaru canal bank in Vidattaltivu. Lt. Marasinghe’s and Cpl. Chandralal’s teams were about 600 metres behind them.

The 8-man teams of Echo group under Capt. Sha Hameed and the 8-man groups of Sgt. Rodney, Sgt. Bandara and Lt. Thusitha Kumarage advanced from several directions and joined them. They had reached the target area and were ready for the operation. In the morning of Tuesday 15th of July 2008, LTTE cadres had been deployed at regular intervals of 150 metres on access roads to Vidattaltivu and Pooneryn.

However, The Tigers, realising that Vidattaltivu was under siege, started to retreat by Tuesday afternoon. Cpl Chandralal’s team that climbed up a tamarind tree got at their targets accurately. The fugitive LTTE cadres transporting their heavy weapons by tractors and Canter lorries came under artillery attack in Thaddampiddi teak plantation losing at least 50 of them. By Wednesday morning (16), the tigers destroyed their vehicles and the main water tank in Vidattaltivu. They blasted the buildings and the vehicles one by one.

Meanwhile, Echo group of Capt. Sha Hameed lay in ambush to target vehicles leaving Vidattaltivu base. They gunned down two cadres attempting to flee on a motorcycle. The soldiers immediately hid the bodies and prepared for the next attack. The soldiers noticed two trucks moving towards Vidattaltivu. When they opened fire, one truck sped off despite gunshot injuries to its driver while the other ran off the road and turned turtle. One of the cadres was captured. The two trucks had come to move camp at Vidattaltivu.

Sgt. Bandara, Sgt. Kumarasinghe and Lt. Thusitha Kumarage proceeded toward Vidattaltivu by the west of the main road. LCpl. Priyantha and his team joined them. Bravo group was advancing from the east of Vidattaltivu and Delta group from the southeast. When the four groups met, they were about a km. ahead of Vidattaltivu.

Alpha group under Maj. Samantha Kodituwakku entered from the direction of the town and Echo group from the direction of the lagoon. Bravo group entered from the east. The 581 and 583 Brigades broke into the FDL from the direction of Nedunkandala. 6 Gemunu broke down a part of the FDL. The base, earlier manned by about 200 LTTE cadres, was deserted in the face of the military operation.

The MI 24 attack helicopters were called in to target the sea Tiger boats. Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force also conducted several sorties against another sea Tiger camp located in Vallaipadu, north of Vedithalthivu The only casualty in the military mission was Lance Cpl Kumara of the Delta team of the 2 commando regiment. He was caught in a booby trap as he stormed an LTTE bunker.

The advancing Commandos, under LTTE gunfire, broke into the LTTE stronghold. Vidattaltivu town fell to the security forces by Wednesday 16th of July 2008, afternoon. They painted over “Welcome to Vidattaltivu Sea Tiger Base” on a board at the entrance to the camp with “Welcome to Commando Base”, hoisted the Lion Flag and celebrated their victory.

“It was a successful operation. Our forces marched steadily and intensified their attacks after July 14. LTTE leaders Bhanu and Luxman lost control of their forces. Our soldiers fought valiantly and broke down the most formidable LTTE FDL. The Tigers fled from the area faster than they did during the attack on the Rice Bowl. Their leaders had nowhere to turn,” said Brig. Shavendra Silva.

[Source; http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4445 ]

LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF..

HERE'S a hooter from Sri Lanka Guardian. Posted verbatim from
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/08/another-senior-ltte-leader-killed.html

August 13, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian)

Let.Col.Vikkeswaran, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) deputy Commander of Northern Region killed.

He joint LTTE 16 yours ago also married and have children, source said. (Image: Theepan who is a one of military commanders with collogue of his Vikkeswaran )“His brother also LTTE member was killed in Elephant pass in 1991,” reliable source told the Sri Lanka Guardian.

“Let.Col.Vikkeswaran was inside charls Antony Group their after joint with Col.Theepan from 1997”, he added.

INDIA RETURNS TO SRI LANKA

A couple of interesting articles that refer to India's changing role in Sri Lanka are featured here.

India takes the economic way to score political points in Sri Lanka;
http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/12000611/India-takes-the-economy-way-to.html

Has Sri Lanka really played international policy games such as a balancing act between China and India ?
http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/13002201/Dragon-on-emerald-island.html?d=1

Both these shed a valuable insight into the strengthening relationship between Sri Lanka and India and the overall direction it is heading.

SCORCHED EARTH STYLE ATTACK CRIPPLES THE LTTE

SUPPORTERS of the LTTE are firm believers in the almost mythical invincibility of brand name terrorist teams. While some of these have earned their place in history through combat proven expertise, most of the reputation is made up for them by a gullible Tamil population starved for entertainment. Imran Pandian and Charles Anthony teams are two of the highly considered troops of well trained and equipped marauders the LTTE and their supporter diaspora have built up their hopes around, to defend the claimed territories of a mono-ethnic tamil homeland.

That was until the realities of the 'Final War' declared by the LTTE came home to haunt them.

A myth sometimes can take time to die. In most cases however, the myth does not survice its first confrontation with the truth.

In a number of confrontations with Sri Lankan Defence Forces, both these combatants considered to possess invincible military prowess by the Tamil diaspora have died like flies. They have performed so poorly in some fights and have been completely routed by regular infantry of the SLA.

One particular such confrontation is made of the stuff of legends and happened when groups of Imran Pandians and Charles Anthony teams took on the SLA's 57th to feel the wrath of a 'Spetznaz' style counter-attack.

Here's the fascinating story from DefenceWire.blogspot.com

The LTTE's Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian units launched a massive attack on the 57 Division at Kalvilan, 2km southwest of the strategic town of Tunukkai on Tuesday. Around 500 cadres attempted to breach the SLA line established by advancing small groups.

Fighting started around 10am and continued will 8pm the same day (5). As the fighting raged on, Tigers attacking in full force with all their might seemed to be gaining some ground. The small groups on the ground were outnumbered but were still capable of withholding the thrust, although about 7 soldiers were killed in the process. One soldier went missing and his body was later captured by the LTTE.Just then ground Commanders made a bold decision.

They ordered for an attack using Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers. A hail of 80 rockets (two Tatra trucks) rained down on the LTTE. Immediately afterwards, all Tiger attacks ground to an abrupt halt.The Army believes around 80 Tigers perished in the entire assault. Around 30 bodies and other remains of bodies were observed by SLA units at the front. The fight was the largest concentrated assault mustered by the LTTE since the start of the war, only to be dismantled in a matter of minutes by two MBRL units.

The Army is hoping the Tigers launch at least a few more of these attacks in the coming weeks in and around Tunukai and Mallavi. The concentration of the LTTE's 'elite' units is very high in this area and the Army is eager to get at them given the first available opportunity.

BIG TERROR, SMALL TERROR

THE army continues to do its job with scarcely concealed relish. Early sunday morning they undertook a devastating hunter-killer op deep inside enemy controlled territory in Kilali, eliminating 16 terrorists.

Meanwhile the UN is making arrangements to care for over 200,000 civillians expected to be displaced as the Tamils caught up in LTTE areas manage to escape as the Army extends its areas of control. The LTTE is digging in furiously but is unable to face attacks by the Army's specialized small teams that visit them with devastating fire power. The SLAF kicked in taking out 3 identified logistical and intel targets across the northern battle front. The videos of the airstrikes, now available on the http://www.defence.lk/ website are thrillers to watch. An unmanned probe (UAV) which crash landed in Anuradhapura has been recovered and is declared operational.

The government in the meanwhile is apparently unable to reign in its own in-house terrorist; the self-appointed 'doctor' Merv the Perv. Irrespective of highly publicized reprimands even by the President, this scoff-law and his bandit troops operate freely, as freewheeling gun-slingers against all and sundry. Even the Speaker of the Parliament appears to be unable to contain his virulent outbursts and the nation suffers one indignity after another as its intelligentsia and media are subjected to attacks by this rabid creature.

TAMIL TIGERS BEGGING FOR A REPRIEVE

AS THE SRI LANKA DEFENCE FORCES CONTINUE TO GO AFTER THEM

Two years on: LTTE ON the brink of losing Wanni - Sunil Jayasiri

The Sri Lanka armed forces has now entered the Kilinochchi district exactly two years after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a massive attack on the military in Mutur and Kattaparichchan in the Trincomalee district. With this entry the Sri Lanka armed forces is heavily pressurizing the LTTE in the district, where the headquarters of the LTTE is located.

More : http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=22695

SAARC AND OTHER THINGS

SAARC was yet another milestone which no one in Sri Lanka seems to understand the value of. Other than pandering to the over-inflated egos of some politicians, this forum has achieved nothing of significance for Sri Lanka, while it yet again cost the tax payer dearly. At least this time, the government seems to have heard the voice of the voters and there were some comments about making SAARC into a meaningful entity.

The LTTE's unilateral cease-fire turned out to be a joke, even among some of the visiting dignitaries. One had even humorously inquired why the glorious leader of eelam was not invited to join the party. Quite credibly, the SLG didn't miss a step in their military operations even while the regional summit was on.

The military is proving to be a match for the task at hand. Already formidable forces are moving rapidly towards Pooneryn at the northernmost point on the western coast, while at least two brigades are on a continuous assault into the Killinochchi district. Special forces are operating in deep battle space and have successfully crippled the LTTE leadership's movements.

The coming weeks will most likely see an escalation in the conflict as the SL Defence Forces will be required to fight their way through populated areas to avoid civillian casualties. The LTTE has meanwhile intensified their re-inforcements by forceful conscription of civillians both as combatants and human shields to protect the terror leadership from the Sri Lankan military.

This developing situation needs pro-active efforts on the part of Sri Lankan government to warn civillians in the affected areas to avoid falling into the LTTE trap. The President or the senior political leadership must make prominant appeals to the civillians to fall behind military lines and seek protection and assistance.

PLAY NICE SRI LANKA -

INVITE THE GLORIOUS LEADER OF EELAM TO ATTEND SAARC

SRI Lanka was presented with a one in a million chance to make headway and finish its festering problems in one day. And they dropped the ball.

The Tamil Tigers went as far as declaring a unilateral ceasefire for the SAARC summit. Probabaly expected the President of the glorious e-Lam to be invited to attend the regional summit as well.

But the Silly-Lankans did not have the capacity to think that through. Instead of extending a cordial invitation to the Head of the Glorious e-Lam, the Sri Lankans dismissed the cease-fire offer out of hand.

HELLO POONERYN...HOW 'VE YUH BEEN..?

SRI LANKAN Defence Forces yesterday overran Vellankulam, yet another mile stone on the western sea-board.

Map found here;

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=9.2485144&lon=80.3691101&z=11&l=0&m=h&v=2

From Vellankulam the SLDF has access to the A-32 highway and our boys will be soon visiting their friends and cousins couped-up in Pooneryn.

The SLDF planners need to recognize several facts and keep them firmly in mind as they get closer each day to the decisive battles in this sorry episode in our history;

- the LTTE has retained majority of its strike capability and holds in excess of 100 artillery pieces and substantial stocks of ammunition

- a large number of well trained, experienced and heavily armed cadres are still available for deployment

- the closer the SLDF gets to the main heavy weapon deployments such as Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Pooneryn, our personnel present a sitting target to the LTTE artillery

- LTTE leadership will not be averse to an attack where large numbers of civillian casualties are caused. In such an outcome, any time lapse during which the government is unable to place the blame indisputably on the LTTE, would provide them a lifeline propaganda event to bring in overwhelming pressure from the International community to stop operations. The government should assume that the support structure for such a media and pressure campaign is already locked, loaded and ready to fire. There are plenty of cases from our recent history with Tamilnadu's maritime interests.

This may be a good time for the government and especially the President to make well publicized political speeches re-stating the justifications for the military effort and a genuine appeal to the Tamil people in the affected areas to move over into liberated land.