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.