I will not allow terrorism to ruin economy- President

Transcription

1 Daily News, 1 August 2006 I will not allow terrorism to ruin economy- President Terrorism should not be allowed to ruin the economic development achieved by the Government through its implementation of various development programmes amidst confronting the challenges posed by terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. No room will be allowed for terrorism to achieve its goals by ruining the economy of the country, the President added. Addressing a ceremony at Temple Trees to pay compensation to 3,200 employees deprived of their jobs due to the closure of Kabool Lanka (pvt) Ltd in 2003, the President said that the prime aim of terrorism was to ruin the economy of the country... Daily News, 1 August 2006 Forces continue humanitarian mission amidst LTTE fire (Ranil Wijayapala and Chamikara Weerasinghe) Elite commandos of the Sri Lanka Army braved LTTE mortar fire to inch their way to the Mavilaru anicut yesterday as 'Mission Watershed' launched by the Security Forces entered its fourth day yesterday. Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily News that seven Army personnel including two Army officers were killed and eleven others injured as the LTTE rained mortar fire towards advancing troops yesterday. According to reports more than 40 LTTE cadres have also been killed due to intermittent aerial bombing, mortar, artillery and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher attacks by the Security Forces, he added... Colombo Page, 1 August 2006 Sri Lanka fighting 'will not lead to a full-scale war' - SLMM chief The Ceasefire Monitoring Chief today said he believed the ongoing fighting between the government forces and LTTE would not lead to full-scale war in Sri Lanka. Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents' Association here, Monitoring Chief Ulf Henricsson said, I still don't believe in a full-scale war and none of the parties are prepared to face a fullscale war. That would be disastrous for both sides. He also said the fighting since Wednesday could lead to a possible negotiation between the two sides... Colombo Page, 1 August 2006 LTTE accuses Sri Lanka govt of breaching Ceasefire Agreement The LTTE today accused the Sri Lanka government of violating the Ceasefire Agreement by launching an offensive against them. A spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said the LTTE has lodged a formal complaint with them about the offensive action in the Mavilaru area, which began last week. However, the SLMM says the LTTE does not have any intention to resume the war or withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement... Colombo Page, 1 August 2006 Sri Lanka troops near Trincomalee anicut, destroy Sea Tiger base Fierce fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE continued for the second day today in the Mavilaru area of Trincomalee. The military claimed they have killed more than 40 LTTE cadres in the battle, which also took the lives of eight Sri

2 Lankan soldiers and two officers. Military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said, Troops were fighting through heavy resistance and troops retaliated with the assistance of Air Force and Artillery to reach the sluice gate with the intention of ensuring this much needed humanitarian aid to the civilians. Ground sources confirmed that over 35 Tigers are also killed during the retaliation.... Daily News, 2 August 2006 Govt has a right to provide water to people - Defence Spokesman Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella reiterated that the ongoing military operation to free Mavilaru was all about gaining control of the sluice gates and release water to over 15,000 families who have been affected by the water blockade created by the LTTE. Minister Rambukwella was speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Colombo on the current situation with regard to the military operation carried out to open the sluice gates of Mavilaru anicut. There is no declaration of war. We as a responsible Government have a right to provide water to the people and to assist them in their livelihood, Minister Rambukwella added. Describing the military operation, the Minister said the military operation was launched a week ago with the aerial support of the Air Force... Daily News, 2 August 2006 LTTE makes abortive strike on Naval craft (Ranil Wijayapala and Rafik Jalaldeen) A naval passenger craft disgorging unarmed security forces men returning for duty after leave, came under a fierce LTTE attack in Trincomalee at around 2.20 p.m yesterday. The passenger ship 'Jet Liner' was ferrying around 854 security personnel when it came under artillery and motar attacks by the LTTE cadres. Meanwhile, five personnel were killed and thirty injured when the Trincomalee Navy base came under LTTE mortar fire. The LTTE is reported to have suffered over 30 casualties... Tamilnet, 2 August 2006 LTTE advances into SLA controlled Muttur, Thoppur, Selvanagar Fighting formations of the Liberation Tigers have overrun three key locations in Trincomalee district after fierce artillery shelling since 2:00 a.m. Wednesday. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps and positions in Kaddaiparichchan, Thoppur, and Selvanagar have been overrun, civilian sources said. Well armed LTTE fighters were seen entering Muttur town. Military sources in Colombo remained tightlipped and declined to comment on the ground situation. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets continued to bomb LTTE controlled Sampoor area. Fierce fighting is also reported near Kallaru where attempt by SLA forces to capture the Mavil Aaru sluice gates was averted, according to initial reports... Tamilnet, 2 August 2006 Heavy fighting in Muttur, 4 SLA soldiers killed in Mahindapura Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed when LTTE cadres retaliated the attack from the Mahindapura and Selvanagar SLA camps located in the Serunuwara division, south of Trincomalee district in the early hours of Wednesday, sources said. Heavy fighting is also reported in the vicinity of SLA camps located at Kaddaiparichchan

3 and Thoppur in the Muttur and Serunuwara divisions in the Trincomalee district between the SLA troops and LTTE cadres, both sides using artillery shells and mortar bombs, sources said. Tamilnet, 3 August 2006 Hundreds of Tigers in Muttur - residents Intense fighting is underway in Muttur in Trincomalee district as hundreds of heavily armed LTTE cadres who have taken control of the town centre laid siege to four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps on its periphery, residents said Wednesday evening. An effort by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to land reinforcements on Muttur jetty was routed by LTTE fighters battling SLN troops at one end, reports said. Sri Lanka s military insisted however that the Army was in control of the town and that the desperate LTTE was retreating before its counter-attack... Tamilnet, 3 August 2006 Norway urges cessation of hostilities and return to prior positions Peace facilitator Norway Wednesday said that the intensive military operations by the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka had resulted in deadlock and could easily escalate the armed conflict. The first statement issued by Oslo comes one week after Sri Lanka s military began to advance into LTTE controlled areas and on the day the LTTE launched a major counter-offensive. It calls on both sides cease hostilities and withdraw to their prior positions. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer is to make a prescheduled visit to Sri Lanka Thursday despite the outbreak of hostilities, International Development Erik Solheim said... Daily News, 3 August 2006 Water obstruction an insult to humanity - PM Obstructing the water supply to thousands of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims living in Seruwila is an insult to humanity and human values, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said. A common question asked by many was whether the Government had re-started the war, he said. The Government wishes to categorically state that it had not started a war, the Prime Minister said. Obstructing the water supply to thousands of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims living in Seruwila is an insult to humanity and human values, he said... Tamilnet, 3 August 2006 Muttur hospital closed down due to artillery fire Muttur district government hospital has been closed down as its maternity ward was hit by artillery fire, Wednesday afternoon. Medical officers, nurses, attendants and health workers fled from the hospital seeking safety, sources in Muttur said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy stationed in Trincomalee base stepped up its artillery and mortar fire towards Muttur east villages, from 4 p.m, Wednesday. The Tigers also reported to have fired artillery shells towards the SLN base in Trincomalee... Daily News, 3 August 2006 Forces hold camps amidst fierce LTTE attack

4 The Security Forces yesterday successfully repulsed an LTTE attack on the Muttur, Thopur, Kattaparichan, Selvanagar and Mahindapura camps, according to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) which however stated that terrorist attacks launched since 1.30 a.m. yesterday caused severe damages to Muttur town and resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. According to a spokesman for the MCNS the attack lasted for around five hours. The Security Forces retaliated and they beat back the terrorist advance. Sporadic attacks are however continuing with the LTTE using small arms fire directed at the forces from strategic positions one of which was a Tsunami camp, a MCNS spokesman said... Daily News, 4 August 2006 Government in full control of Muttur The Muttur town is under the total control of the Security Forces, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. The LTTE had fired artillery and mortars towards the Defence establishments and public institutions around 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday. At present small groups of LTTE cadres are sheltered among the civilian population and small business houses and are directing firing using small arms, the Minister told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday. The Minister categorically denied rumours and Tamil Net reports that the Police Station was totally overrun together with three military camps in Muttur. This is a totally false and fabricated news item, he said... Daily News, 4 August 2006 LTTE terrorists indiscriminately attack people at camps (Ranil Wijayapala) Fifteen civilians taking refuge at the Al-Nuriya Muslim School in Thoppur and Arabic School in Muttur were killed and more than 30 injured when LTTE terrorists indiscriminately fired artillery at two different times yesterday, military sources told the Daily News. The LTTE fired mortars and artillery towards Muttur town yesterday too while Security Forces were engaged in search and clearing operation to flush out groups of LTTE terrorists from Muttur town. According to the Media Centre for National Security, five refugees were killed and 10 wounded at the Al-Nuriya Muslim School in Thoppur, Trincomalee during LTTE artillery shelling at the school around 3.15 p.m. Ten civilians were killed and more than 20 injured around 1.15 p.m. when the LTTE fired artillery towards the Arabic School in Muttur where hundreds of civilians were taking refuge following fighting between the Security Forces and the LTTE... Tamilnet, 4 August 2006 SLMC accuses SL Army of shelling Muttur civilians Sri Lanka s largest Muslim party Thursday accused Sri Lankan security forces of shelling Muslim civilians in embattled Muttur town, killing dozens of people and wounding scores more. As Sri Lanka s military blamed the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader, Rauf Hakeem told AFP: the people were killed in attacks carried out by the security forces. In the third day of pitched battles in Muttur town between LTTE units and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops, artillery shells hit schools where Muslim civilians had sought shelter, killing over twenty people and wounding forty others...

5 Tamilnet, 4 August 2006 Bystanders during attack on SLA, remanded Two men who were brought before the Mallakam Magistrate's Courts Thursday, bearing serious wounds, are innocent civilians, according to legal sources. S Jayakumar, 40, and Thuraisingam Rameshkumar, 22, were arrested following an attack against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Chunnakam, Wednesday... Daily News, 7 August 2006 Govt. seeks SLMM help to probe Tiger massacre (Manjula FERNANDO) The Government yesterday sought SLMM intervention to investigate the site of the massacre of hundred civilians by retreating LTTE cadres in the Muttur jungles. We requested the SLMM to visit the site and make a report since it is not safe for our troops to move in there, Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the Daily News yesterday adding that the area was now under Government control. The Minister said the area where the massacre has taken place was dense jungle and the SLMM officials too were not immediately prepared to visit the area due to security concerns. Defence sources on Saturday reported that the LTTE carried out mass execution of people fleeing the fighting areas in Muttur. Quoting eyewitness accounts, reports said the fleeing families were rounded and massacred by the LTTE at Pachchanoor on Friday night... Daily News, 7 August 2006 No compromise with LTTE on Mavilaru - Defence Spokesman Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday reiterated the Government's stand of not acceding to any conditions from the LTTE to settle the Mavilaru issue. He said Norwegian special envoy Jon Hanssen had no mandate to accept any condition on behalf of the LTTE for opening the anicut without Government concurrence. He said as a sovereign Government it cannot condone a bunch of terrorists taking upon itself the task of opening the sluice-gate by force of arms. Meanwhile, the Government in a media release said any discussion on the Mavilaru issue must ensure that the situation at the sluice-gate returns to its original status in which the Engineer of the Irrigation Department can have unimpeded access to the sluice-gates freely and safely to manage the water distribution at Mavilaru. This position has been conveyed to the Norwegian facilitator... Tamilnet, 7 August 2006 Sri Lanka s shelling declaration of war - LTTE The Liberation Tigers said Sunday that the Sri Lankan government s artillery bombardment of LTTE-controlled territory as amounting to declaration of war. The LTTE has not said if it is going to retaliate. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen- Bauer is undertaking hectic diplomatic efforts from Kilinochchi where he had been meeting LTTE officials... Tamilnet, 7 August 2006 SLA shelling kills 15 civilians, injures 20 At least 15 Tamil civilians were killed and 20 others were seriously injured when artillery

6 shells fired by the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy Sunday hit Nallur and Upooral villages in the Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division in the south of Trincomalee district. This incident took place Sunday night around 7.15 p.m., sources in Muthur said... Tamilnet, 7 August 2006 Senior STF officer killed in claymore attack A senior commander of the Special Task Force (STF), the elite counter-insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan police, was mortally wounded Monday when his vehicle was ambushed by attackers with a claymore mine. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Upul Seneviratne was seriously wounded in the blast at Digana, 10 km southeast of Kandy, around 4:15 a.m. Monday. He succumbed to his wounds at Kandy hospital around 6:20 a.m., medical sources said... Daily News, 8 August 2006 STF Director Training killed by LTTE claymore Director Training of the Special Task Force, SSP Upul Seneviratne and his driver were killed in an LTTE claymore blast at Digana yesterday. The incident occurred in Rajawella, Digana at around 4.45 a.m. while the SSP was on his way to his Office at the STF Training Centre in Katukurunda. The SSP and his driver PC S. Adhikari succumbed to their injuries at the Kandy General Hospital where they were rushed to in a critical state. STF Commander DIG Nimal Leuke told the Daily News the blast was activated by a remote controlled device... Daily News, 8 August 2006 No ethnic cleansing as long as Mahinda Rajapaksa is President - MNA Reacting to the violence in Muttur, Presidential Advisor and Muslim National Alliance (MNA) Secretary General Nazeer Ahamed in a media release said, the LTTE should be held responsible for the bloody violence in the East, which had claimed over 150 lives of innocent civilians, many of whom were children. Secretary General Ahamed said that he believed the LTTE had worked to a well-planned strategy to ethnically cleanse Muttur of Muslims similar to the manner in which they did the same thing in Jaffna. Muslims had lived in Jaffna for generations, but today you don't find any living there. The LTTE ethnically cleansed Jaffna of all Muslims, he said. Ahamed said, it was only a few weeks ago the LTTE apologised for the crime and now the same group was repeating the same exercise in Muttur... Tamilnet, 8 August 2006 Thousands flee amid new Sri Lankan bombardmthousands flee amid new Sri Lankan bombardmentent Six hundred Tamil families fled an intense bombardment of villages in LTTE held Eachchilampathu division Tuesday and sought refuge in Vaharai division in Batticaloa district. Continuous artillery fire from Sri Lankan military installations in Trincomalee and its suburbs and from Kallaru Army (SLA) camp drove the four thousand people from their homes. Sri Lankan troops at Kallaru are blocking international and local aid workers from reaching the displaced...

7 Tamilnet, 8 August 2006 Muhamalai, Pallai residents flee to Kilinochchi Residents of Muhamalai, Pallai through Iyakachchi on A9 highway are fleeing for safety towards Kilinochchi. Two elderly refugees, Mrs. Thavamanithevi Mahalingam, 56, mother of 5 children, and Seran Selliah, 85, who trekked, found transport to Kilinochchi under severe duress, detailed their ordeal to TamilNet reporter. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shells were targeted to hit A9, fleeing civilians said... Tamilnet, 9 August 2006 SLA blocks food convoy to Vaharai S.Jeyananthamoorthy, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament for Batticaloa District, accused the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) for stopping food convey of NGOs to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the LTTE controlled Vaharai area and worsening the already dire situation prevailing in Vaharai for essential supplies for the IDPs. Eight lorries carrying food and other essentials were barred from entering Vaharai by soldiers of the Kajuwatta Camp on the orders from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence (MoD), civil society sources said... Tamilnet, 9 August 2006 Fighting in Maavilaru Heavy fighting is reported between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and LTTE fighters near the Maavil Aru sluice gates in southern Trincomalee district. Sources in Trincomalee town said close-quarter battles are raging and that heavy weapons fire has been stopped by both sides to prevent hitting their respective troops... Daily News, 9 August 2006 Three killed, ex-epdp MP injured in blast Three persons were killed and eight others including former EPDP Parliamentarian S. Sivadasan injured when a bomb ripped through the vehicle transporting the ex-mp at Milagiriya yesterday. The bomb, suspected to be concealed inside the vehicle, went off near St. Paul's Girls School, Milagiriya around 1.00 p.m., Defence officials said. Among the dead was a two- year--old child who was on the road at the time of the incident and an official from the Ministerial Security Division, sources at the scene said. There were also two bodies trapped inside the vehicle that was in flames... Daily News, 9 August 2006 Security Forces open Mavil Aru sluice gates The sluice gates of the Mavil Aru anicut were opened at 8.00 last night accomplishing the noble objectives of the humanitarian mission which lasted for 19 days, the Media Centre for National Security, Ministry of Defence and Pubic Security said. The free flow of water from the Mavil Aru anicut was stopped on July 20 by the LTTE terrorists, depriving life sustaining water to over 15,000 families and damaging over 30,000 paddy lands. This inhuman act by the LTTE terrorists was a threat not only to their livelihood but also to their very survival.since no responsible government can turn a blind eye to such an inhuman atrocity, after resorting to all possible peaceful means, a limited military action was launched to open the sluice gates, the media release stated...

8 Tamilnet, 10 August 2006 Tamil youth shot dead in Akkaraippattu The body of a youth with gun shot wounds was discovered by Akkaraipattu Police at Panankadu junction in Alayadivembu area, 9.30 a.m Thursday, police sources said. The diseased, Samithamby Mohanathas, 17, of the same area, was abducted from his house around p.m. the Wednesday night by unidentified gunmen, who shot him dead and dumped his body by roadside, Akkaraippattu Police said... Tamilnet, 10 August 2006 Blast destroys SLA ammunition store A massive explosion at a Sri Lanka Army base (SLA) at Allai-Kantalai in the Trincomalee battle area caused severe destruction Thursday, military sources said. The reason for the blast, which destroyed the camp s main ammunition store, is not known. Military officials, confirming the explosion, refused to comment on casualties. The ammo dump was seen burning till Friday morning. Wounded Sri Lanka Army troopers have been air-lifted to Anuradhapura hospital. Eight of the wounded have been brought to Colombo... Daily News, 10 August 2006 Troops consolidate after re-opening anicut (Ranil WIJAYAPALA) Troops engaged in operation 'Water Shed' continued with their operation yesterday too despite the re-opening of the Mavilaru sluice gates on Tuesday night to secure the areas adjacent to the anicut under Security Forces' control, a military spokesman told the Daily News. Troops engaged in the operation continued to secure the area after opening the sluice gates on Tuesday night, the spokesman said. Nineteen days after the LTTE forcibly closed the sluice gates, troops took steps to restore the water supply to more than 20,000 families in Seruwila, Ithalampattu and Muttur Divisional Secretariat Divisions. According to the military, Security Forces will continue to dominate the area to ensure a continued water supply for farmer families living in these three Divisional Secretariat areas... Daily News, 10 August 2006 Temporary arrangements to off set EU exit from SLMM (Rashomi SILVA) Norway yesterday said temporary arrangements were being worked out by their top peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer early this week to increase the monitoring mission's strength, with Iceland and Norway agreeing to increase their monitors, once the three EU nations pull out from the team. Embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said Norway and Iceland, the two non-eu nations in the monitoring team have agreed to 'slightly' increase their monitors. The arrangement, he said will be in place as a 'transitional phase ' before the possible re-constitution of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), that is acceptable to all stakeholders... Tamilnet, 11 August 2006 Oslo s envoy returns as Sri Lanka expands offensives As Sri Lanka s government widened its onslaught against LTTE held areas, opening new

9 fronts in Batticaloa and Jaffna districts, in addition to its continuing offensive in Trincomalee district, Norwegian Special Envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer return home Friday... Tamilnet, 11 August 2006 LTTE shells hit Palaly, civilians urged to move Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopters, an Mi-24 gunship and a Bell 212 transport, were damaged by LTTE shells which hit the base Friday night, military sources said. The LTTE Friday vowed to repel a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensive on the Elephant Pass area and warned people living close to SLA positions in Thenmaradchchi and some of the islands off Jaffna, including the troubled Allaipiddy, to move away from Sri Lanka military positions for their own safety... Tamilnet, 11 August 2006 Tiger aircraft rockets Palaly base, curfew in Jaffna At least one unidentified aircraft flew over the Sri Lankan military base at Palaly firing rockets at around 9.30 p.m. Friday, sources in Jaffna town said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery fire being directed from the base stopped after the attack, the sources said. Meanwhile a curfew has been clamped on Jaffna town. The LTTE has vowed to repel the SLA offensive on the Elephant Pass area... Daily News, 11 August 2006 Troops repulse LTTE fire in Mavilaru (Ranil WIJAYAPALA) A convoy of lorries carrying food and essential items left Batticaloa yesterday for the uncleared area of Vakarai where a large number of displaced civilians had taken refuge following the fighting in Mavilaru. Government Agent of Batticaloa S. Punniyamoorthy dispatched essential food and medical items to the civilians displaced in the uncleared Vakarai area due to the recent clashes between the LTTE and the Security Forces in Mavilaru following a directive by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. Ten lorries carrying food and medical items left at 1 p.m. from Batticaloa to Vakarai along with the Government officials led by Additional Government Agent K. Mahesan... Daily News, 11 August 2006 No direct Indian intervention in Lankan peace process, says Narayanan National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan on Wednesday made it clear that the Government of India would not directly intervene in the peace process in Sri Lanka. But we are using all persuasion. Interacting with reporters after meeting Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat, he said India was an important factor in the thinking of the Sri Lankan Government. As the Sri Lankan Government had also been sensitive to India's efforts, it agreed to go ahead with devolution of powers to Tamils. But the Sri Lankan Government had problems dealing with the LTTE, he said... Daily News, 12 August 2006 Forces retaliate major attack on Jaffna FDLs Security Forces in Jaffna yesterday retaliated a major LTTE artillery and mortar fire on Muhamalai and Nagarkovil Forward Defence Lines (FDL) from 5.45 p.m. yesterday,

10 Senior Coordinator to the Media Centre for National Security, Major Upali Rajapakse told the Daily News. Fierce fighting erupted at 5.45 p.m. as security forces began retaliating the LTTE fire with the Tigers continuing with their artillery fire that commenced at 5.10 p.m. Security forces retaliated the LTTE artillery and mortar fire at 5.45 p.m. since there was no sign of the LTTE ceasing their artillery attacks, Major Rajapakse said... Daily News, 12 August 2006 Another LTTE weapons haul seized Security Forces yesterday foiled another bid by the LTTE to smuggle weapons to the south to be used against possible VIP targets.the detection was made at the Muhamalai Army checkpoint at around 9.30 am. The weapons haul was seized from the hood of a private bus which had left the uncleared area, a spokesman for the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. This shows that the LTTE is hell bent on creating mayhem and destruction outside the areas of conflict, a MCNS source said... Tamilnet, 12 August 2006 Muhamalai, Pallai residents flee to Kilinochchi Residents of Muhamalai, Pallai through Iyakachchi on A9 highway are fleeing for safety towards Kilinochchi. Two elderly refugees, Mrs. Thavamanithevi Mahalingam, 56, mother of 5 children, and Seran Selliah, 85, who trekked, found transport to Kilinochchi under severe duress, detailed their ordeal to TamilNet reporter. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shells were targeted to hit A9, fleeing civilians said... Tamilnet, 12 August 2006 Jaffna curfew, troops block anxious residents Frightened residents of various parts of Jaffna are unable to flee their homes due to a total curfew imposed by Sri Lanka s military, sources in the northern peninsula said. Amid heavy shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) towards LTTE-controlled Palai and Elephant Pass and warnings by the LTTE last night that it would retaliate against SLA camps in Thenmaradchchi and Jaffna islets, large numbers of people are anxious to move away from SLA positions... Tamilnet, 14 August civilians feared killed, 100 wounded in SLA shelling At least 15 persons were killed and 20 severely wounded when rockets and artillery shells fired from Palaly military base hit St. Phililp Mary Church in Allaipiddy, Sunday morning, where civilians had sought refuge. Ambulances dispatched from Jaffna hospital Sunday evening brought the wounded to the hospital. 37 wounded civilians were rushed to Jaffna hospital from other areas, Allaipiddy, Mankumban and Mandaithivu. Meanwhile, SLA soldiers resumed firing rockets from a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) from Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna town, Sunday evening, sources said. Tigers repulse SLA counter-thrust, 14 August 2006 Tigers repulse SLA counter-thrust A counter-thrust by the Sri Lanka Army s (SLA) elite 53 division to recapture areas in

11 Jaffna lost to the Liberation Tigers in the past two days was destroyed by LTTE forces using artillery and close quarter fighting, sources in Kilinochchi said. In Colombo, ambulances have been shuttling between Ratmalana and hospitals in the capital since early hours Sunday carrying military wounded, sources said... Daily News, 14 August 2006 APRC Secy, Deputy SCOPP head killing: 'Appalling barbarism' (Manjula FERNANDO) Condemning the assassination of Government Peace Secretariat Deputy and Secretary of the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC), Ketheshwaran Loganathan by LTTE gunmen on Saturday night, the Government said yesterday by this act the LTTE had once again demonstrated its ruthlessness and the resentment towards free thinking Tamils. SCOPP Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona declared Saturday night's incident as 'appalling barbarism'. He said Loganathan will join the long list of Tamil dissidents who have sacrificed their lives because they chose to defer from the LTTE... Daily News, 14 August 2006 Government to LTTE cadres: Surrender to Security Forces The Government has requested all child recruits and other LTTE cadres to surrender to the nearest Security Forces camp or Police Station and that the Government would take full responsibility for their safety. The Media Centre for National Security, Ministry of Defence,Public Security,Law and Order in a press release said that the Government was also making arrangements to hand over surrendering youth to their parents after rehabilitation. The full text of the press release: Information reaching Security Forces, confirm that LTTE cadres are deserting their organisation, despite their leadership's orders, following the LTTE's continuous defeats against the Security Forces in the confrontations which took place in Muttur, Mavil Aru and Jaffna during the past few days... Tamilnet, 17 August 2006 SLTMA condemns SLA search of Tamil daily Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in a statement issued Wednesday condemned the cordon and search operation carried out by the Sri Lankan Armed (SLA) forces on the media office of the Tamil national daily Sudar Oli, Tuesday. The Tamil Media Alliance called upon the Minister to ensure that the threats posed to the media freedom are stopped and to guarantee the safety and security of Tamil media persons in Sri Lanka... Tamilnet, 17 August 2006 SLTMA condemns SLA search of Tamil daily Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in a statement issued Wednesday condemned the cordon and search operation carried out by the Sri Lankan Armed (SLA) forces on the media office of the Tamil national daily Sudar Oli, Tuesday. The Tamil Media Alliance called upon the Minister to ensure that the threats posed to the media freedom are stopped and to guarantee the safety and security of Tamil media persons in Sri Lanka...

12 Daily News, 17 August 2006 Norway urges Tigers to stop using child soldiers Norway's peace envoy to Sri Lanka on Wednesday urged LTTE terrorists to stop using child soldiers and said international patience with the conflict was running thin. There are persons under 18 years of age among the Tigers, that is true, Jon Hanssen-Bauer told The Associated Press in an interview. It is important that they stop using children and that they gradually find a way to reinsert these child soldiers, eventually, into the society. Hanssen-Bauer, who returned to Norway on Friday after a weeklong visit to Sri Lanka, said battles between the terrorists and government forces were still limited in scope and objective, but warned that there is a potential of civil war. Hanssen-Bauer said the conflict had been overshadowed in recent weeks by Middle East violence, but predicted the cease-fire in Lebanon would help turn the world's attention to the island... Daily News, 17 August 2006 ICRC given only one hour to remove bodies by LTTE (Ranil Wijayapala) The LTTE yesterday permitted ICRC team less than one hour to visit areas in Pachchanoor to search for bodies of Muslims massacred when thousands of the community fled Muttur towards Kantale. ICRC Communication Officer Davide Vignate told the Daily News that their team which visited the area with the permission of the LTTE could find only two decomposed bodies. We were given one hour to visit the area and the LTTE asked us to leave the area within less than one hour and we found only two decomposed bodies there, Vignate added... Daily News, 18 August 2006 LTTE must cease all acts of violence - US envoy (Ranil Wijayapala) There is a clear and direct responsibility for the LTTE to cease all acts of violence immediately and return to negotiations, Steven Mann, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs said yesterday. He said the Government and the LTTE at this important time must show that they are willing to make the political compromises needed for a political solution within an undivided Sri Lanka. The visiting US envoy said the US Government demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities as they see the current situation as a threatening one. Mann yesterday conveyed this message to the Government after meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera... Daily News, 18 August 2006 Anti-War Front members assault Bhikkhus The Viharamaha Devi Park was turned into a virtual battle ground yesterday as members of the Anti-War Front set upon a group of Bhikkhus who enjoined the Front to have its anti-war demos in Kilinochchi instead of Colombo. The incident occurred while a meeting of the Anti- War Front was in progress preceded by a protest march which commenced at Hyde Park calling on the Government to put a halt to its military operations in the North. Prominent anti-war crusaders in the march included Kumar Rupasinghe, UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne and Deputy Minister Dilan Perera...

13 Tamilnet, 18 August 2006 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister condemns Sri Lanka Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister (CM) of the southern Tamil Nadu state of India, has condemned the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing, in Vallipunam in Mullaithivu district in NorthEast Sri Lanka, where tens of schoolgirls were killed and more than 100 wounded Monday. Describing the SLAF air-strike as an atrocious and inhumane act, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, home to 60 million Tamils in India, has urged the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, to request the Sri Lankan government to hold talks to settle the issue peacefully and stop killing innocent Tamils... Tamilnet, 18 August 2006 Canada must break silence on atrocities in Sri Lanka - Albina Guarnieri It is time Canada sent a forceful message to the Sri Lankan Government that it must now be held to account for a long series of atrocities by its military, said Albina Guarnieri, Member of Canadian Parliament and a former Minister of Veterans Affairs, in a press statement issued on Tuesday... Daily News, 19 August 2006 Forces open Omanthai entry-exit point (Ranil Wijayapala) Security Forces yesterday opened the Omanthai entry-exit point on the Jaffna Kandy A-9 highway at 2.30 p.m to facilitate the transportation of essential items to uncleared areas in Killinochchci and Mullaitivu districts, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said yesterday. MCNS Senior Coordinator Major Upali Rajapaksa said the decision to open the entry exit point in Omanthai was also aimed at facilitating hundreds of civilians stranded in Vavuniya due to closure of the road on Saturday after fierce fighting erupted in the Jaffna peninsula... Daily News, 19 August 2006 LTTE attempt to abduct child inmates foiled The Security Forces on Wednesday foiled an attempt by the LTTE to abduct 50 child inmates from the Revatha Children s Home in Trincomalee by firing grenades and mortars at the Home. The Security Forces who acted promptly had repulsed the attacks forcing the terrorists to flee, according to the OIC China Bay Police Inspector Aruna Chandrapala. The Home was empty at the time as the children had left for an outing, police said. Three Security Forces personnel and a home guard sustained injuries in the exchange and were admitted to the Trincomalee hospital. They were part of the security provided to the Children?s Home. A nearby temple was also damaged by the mortar attack... Tamilnet, 19 August 2006 Sencholai air-strike killed 55, details released Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, have informed their respective Government Agents the details of the 55 victims killed in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing on Sencholai campus in Vallipunam Monday...

14 Tamilnet, 19 August 2006 Thousand civilians enter LTTE held Wanni region Stranded Tamil civilians in Vavuniya town for about six days were allowed to travel through Omanthai check point to the LTTE held districts of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya North division in the Vavuniya district Friday. The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reopened the Vavuniya-Omanthai check point Friday afternoon around 2.30 p.m for limited hours due to combined effort taken by Mr.Kishore Sivanathan, Wanni district parliamentarian and officials of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Vavuniya district secretariat... Daily News, 21 August 2006 LTTE office in Jaffna campus The Army seized a massive stock of anti-government leaflets and LTTE propaganda material within the premises of the Jaffna University acting on a tip-off that the campus was housing an LTTE office. It also stumbled on deadly arsenal in the University's vicinity which included anti-tank mines. According to Military sources, a cordon and search operation was conducted on the university premises on a tip-off by a Tamil civilian indicating that some persons in the university were engaged in anti-government activities... Daily News, 21 August 2006 Norway, Iceland to increase monitors (Manjula FERNANDO) Norway and the Iceland will increase the number of their truce monitors from the existing 20 to 30, once the EU members are withdrawn from the SLMM in response to the LTTE's unilateral demand which is to come into effect on September 1. The SLMM said it has given up on the hope that the LTTE will drop its demand to withdraw EU monitors in the body after two months of negotiations with the LTTE leaders. We were trying to convince the LTTE that their demand was not realistic. They did not listen. We did not have other alternative, SLMM spokesman Thorffinur Omarsson said... Tamilnet, 21 August 2006 Sivamaharajah assassinated Managing Director of Jaffna Tamil daily Namathu Eelanadu and the veteran chairman of Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) in Tellippalai, Jaffna, Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, 68, was shot and killed at his temporary residence inside the High Security Zone of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Tellippalai Sunday night around 7:20 p.m. Mr. Sivamaharajah is a former parliamentarian (TULF) and a senior member of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)... Tamilnet, 21 August 2006 Tamil youth shot dead in Valaichchenai Unknown gunmen Sunday night around 8:45 p.m. shot and killed a Tamil youth, Subramaniam Chelvakumar, 18, a day before his wedding was scheduled to take place, Police said. Gunmen took the victim from his house in Vinayagapuram to Kalmadu Road, shot him dead and placed a note beside his body labelling him traitor, according to

15 the Police. Ellalan Force has claimed responsibility for the killing, Police said. Police further said that the victim had been abducted last month and released later. Chelvakumar's body was handed over to Valaichchenai hospital... CNN.com, 22 August 2006 U.S. charges 8 over 'Tiger plot' Eight men have been charged with plotting to buy surface-to-air missiles for Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, U.S. federal prosecutors have announced. The men also are accused of plotting to bribe U.S. State Department officials into removing the Tamil Tiger group from a list of terrorist organizations and of trying to obtain classified information... Daily News, 22 August 2006 Government seeks clear commitment to truce by LTTE President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a meeting with Donor Co-Chair representatives yesterday said the Government will seriously consider any initiative 'incorporating a clear commitment to a comprehensive and verifiable Cessation of Hostilities by the LTTE Leader.' At the meeting held at President's House the President stressed 'such a Cessation of Hostilities should include modalities to ensure that the Sampur area does not pose a military threat to the Trincomalee Harbour and its environs due to the LTTE military presence in Sampur violating the CFA.' Assuring the diplomats the Government was still open for a peaceful solution to the North East issue, President Rajapaksa also asserted that his Government was awaiting the LTTE to return to talks on the ceasefire and substantive matters... Daily News, 22 August 2006 Security Forces consolidate positions in Muhamalai, Kilaly After ten days of intense fighting, the Security Forces yesterday further consolidated their positions in Muhamalai and Kilaly Forward Defence Lines in Jaffna as the intensity of the LTTE artillery and mortar fire eased yesterday consequent to limited operations conducted by the Air Force over the weekend taking on identified LTTE targets. The Air Force carried out limited operations over the weekend and engaged LTTE artillery gun positions in Pooneryn effectively destroying a number of their artillery gun positions, military sources said. A spokesman for the Media Centre for National Security told the Daily News that except for intermittent artillery and mortar fire the situation remained relatively calm in the area... Tamilnet, 22 August 2006 Sivamaharajah assassinated Managing Director of Jaffna Tamil daily Namathu Eelanadu and the veteran chairman of Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) in Tellippalai, Jaffna, Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, 68, was shot and killed at his temporary residence inside the High Security Zone of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Tellippalai Sunday night around 7:20 p.m. Mr. Sivamaharajah is a former parliamentarian (TULF) and a senior member of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)...

16 Tamilnet, 22 August 2006 SLA bans Colombo bound heavy vehicles from east The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed a total ban on heavy vehicles transporting cargo such as fish, and other perishable goods from the districts of Amparai and Batticaloa to Colombo. These vehicles are stopped at Welikanda and Ottamavadi and sent back to Batticaloa and Amparai. The ban has come into effect since Saturday, civil sources said... Daily News, 23 August 2006 US charges eight with backing Tigers The United States unveiled on Monday charges against eight accused of supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Authorities said they had unsealed two complaints against defendants who had been in close contact with the LTTE and some of them had met with its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. Four were arrested on Saturday after trying to purchase surface-to-air missiles and AK-47 automatic assault rifles in Canada from an undercover police agent posing as a weapons dealer, the US district attorney in Brooklyn, Roslynn Mauskopf, said in a statement... Daily News, 23 August 2006 Major disaster averted (Rafik Jalaldeen) A diabolic attempt by the LTTE to cause mayhem and destruction in the city was thwarted last morning with the timely detection of a claymore mine in the heart of Borella. The detection was made by a police constable on routine patrol acting on information about a suspicious looking object strapped to a pushcycle. The bicycle was parked close to the Borella fuel station and opposite the Hatton National Bank at the D.S.Senanayake Junction. Observing a suspicious looking box fitted into the luggage of the bicycle the PC summoned police personnel on traffic duty. When the police checked the box they found a claymore concealed under some vegetables, a spokesman from the Media Centre for the National Security (MCNS) said... Tamilnet, 23 August 2006 Tigers compelled to defend against Sri Lanka s aggression - Thamilchelvan Responding to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse s call for the LTTE to declare its commitment to the ceasefire, the head of the LTTE s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan said that it was the Colombo government which launched a major military offensive in Trincomalee against the Tigers and thereby triggered defensive measures by the Tigers resulting in an escalation of hostilities. The Norwegian facilitators and the SLMM monitors are witness to the fact that Colombo deliberately chose to launch an offensive in Maavilaru despite the civil dispute being resolved peacefully, Mr. Thamilchelvan said... Tamilnet, 23 August 2006 Two men killed in Jaffna A man alleged to be an informant of the Sri Lanka Army was shot dead at Kilavi Thoddam in Karaveddy, around 5 p.m., Tuesday. He was identified as Perumal Chandrakumar,44. Separately, a vegetable vendor was shot dead while he was on his way to Chunnakam public market, around 8 a.m., soon after after the curfew was lifted.

17 Kandiah Ganeshalingam, 34, was shot dead by assailants came in a car. The body was lying along the road between Chunnakam and Urumpirai for several hours without being taken to hospital, eye witnesses said... Daily News, 24 August 2006 Path still open for dialogue - Foreign Minister (Ranil Wijayapala and Rashomi Silva) Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said that the Government still believed that the LTTE would give up its path of violence and enter the process of dialogue without placing any conditions. It is now time for the LTTE to focus on the substantial core issues of devolution of power rather than chase an unattainable chimera of a monoethnic separate state which does not belong in today s civilized world, the Minister asserted... Daily News, 24 August 2006 TNA MP slams US as terrorist TNA Parliamentarian S.Elaventhan yesterday slammed the United States Government describing it as a terrorist. They are terrorists he said while interrupting the speech of Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa during an Adjournment debate in Parliament on the North-East situation. Minister Yapa praised the United States Government for taking action to arrest elements engaged in arms purchases for the LTTE... Tamilnet, 24 August 2006 Cowardly act, says Vallipunam survivor Paranthan Hindu Mahavidyalam student, Mary Arulappan Juliet, 18, a survivor of the August 14 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jet attack which killed 51 girls and four staff at Sencholai children's home campus in Vallipunam in Mullaithivu district, in an interview to TamilNet Tuesday, said the attack was a cowardly act, and appealed to the International Community to unreservedly condemn the Sri Lanka Government for the attack on school girls... Tamilnet, 24 August 2006 RSF condemns Sivamaharajah assassination The journalists and employees of Tamil news media continue to be eliminated at a horrific pace, said the France based media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF). The organisation condemned the slaying of Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, the managing director of the Tamil-language daily Namathu Eelanadu Sunday night in Tellippalai... Daily News, 25 August 2006 'Never speak Tamil' student couriers instructed by LTTE operative in Canada A LTTE operative in Canada identified by the name Waterloo Suresh Sriskandarajah allegedly used student couriers to smuggle war-related items to the Tigers under the noses of Sri Lankan Security Forces. FBI documents claim he told the students to hide the contraband with teddies and chocolates. It is alleged in the documents that in an Oct. 23, 2005, , Sriskandarajah told three students in explicit detail how they would deceive customs officials at the Colombo Airport...

18 Daily News, 25 August 2006 Terrorists wanted heavy artillery (Tom Godfrey) The outlawed LTTE terror group was filling a shopping list of deadly arms to be used to blow up Indian aircraft, ships and even submarines, U.S. court documents allege. Frontmen for the Tigers were trying to buy from undercover agents so-called needles, or Russian-made SA-18 surface-to-air missiles, missile launchers, 500 AK-47s and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of jamming radio and radar frequencies, the FBI documents indicate... Tamilnet, 25 August 2006 Sri Lanka on EU FMs' agenda The situation in Sri Lanka is amongst matters European Union Foreign Ministers will discuss Friday afternoon at a meeting in Brussels, officials said. The 'extraordinary' meeting of EU Foreign ministers is primarily to deal with contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon by the EU member states, but will also consider other international matters, according to Finnish news agency STT... Daily News, 25 August 2006 Another Christian priest reported missing in Jaffna A priest of Christian Church of the Apostle has been reported missing in Jaffna since August 11, according to a complaint made by a fellow priest at the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. Rev. Fr. Vincent Vinodharaja, 35, father of one, had left his home at Ellaiththeru village in Meesalai in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna, on August 11. He is the second priest to be reported missing since the fighting broke out in Jaffna... Tamilnet, 26 August 2006 Thamilchelvan thanks Nordic EU Members The outgoing Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Major General Ulf Henricsson and the newly appointed Acting Head of Mission, Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg, met Liberation Tigers Political Head Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi Friday evening. Mr. Thamilchelvan, on behalf of the LTTE leadership, thanked Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson for his courageous and determined efforts, at the risk of his own safety, to resolve the Maavilaru dispute and thanked the truce monitors of Nordic EU Member States for their four and a half year profound service... Tamilnet, 26 August 2006 LTTE to release Sri Lankan policeman The leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on Friday, decided to release the third Sri Lankan Policeman held in custody since October The decision was made following a request for goodwill-gesture from the outgoing Head of SLMM Major General Ulf Henricsson, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said.. Daily News, 26 August 2006 More LTTEers arrested in Canada Three Canadian residents accused of supporting Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil