Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Military says navy, air force attack rebel boats off Sri Lanka's northern coast

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's navy, assisted by warplanes and helicopters, launched a massive attack against a flotilla of nearly 20 boats belonging to separatist Tamil Tiger rebels off the island's northern coast Thursday, the military said.

The boats were spotted off the coast of the rebel stronghold of Mullaithivu and the navy, with air support, engaged them, an official at the Defense Ministry's information center said on condition of anonymity.

The rebel naval base from which the boats were launched was also attacked causing a fire, he said, adding that details of casualties were not available.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be immediately reached for comment.

The sea attack took place hours after air force planes bombed a rebel camp also in Mullaithivu, according to the military. Ilanthirayan said earlier that no rebel camp was damaged in the air attack, and that all the bombs fell in civilian areas. No casualties were reported.

Government troops have had significant success in recent months, seizing the entire Eastern Province from the separatists after 13 years and bringing a key northern coastal territory that served as a rebel supply point under control a week ago.

However, the rebels who are fighting to create an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils, still hold a large area in the north where they run a virtual state there.

A Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002 brought relative calm to the country, but a new wave of violence that began in December 2005 has killed more than 5,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. More than 70,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began.

Despite the cease-fire's collapse, neither side has officially withdrawn from the pact, fearing international isolation.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/13/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.php

But peelam was also expected......about 15-20 years ago......by Goolanka and hela modayas

Sri Lanka jets bomb rebel territory

COLOMBO (AFP) ? Sri Lanka's military said it had bombed the rebel-held north of the island and caused 'heavy damage' to Tamil Tiger targets, but rebels said the attack only sparked panic among civilians.

The defence ministry said its aircraft had bombed suspected Tamil Tiger facilities in Mullaitivu district on the northeast coast.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said there were no casualties.

'Two Sri Lankan air force jets have bombed the populated area at Puthukudiriruppu (village),' Tiger spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said. 'Twelve bombs were dropped. School children panicked and scattered. Two fainted.'

The guerrillas meanwhile said they had killed two police commandos in the east of the island Thursday, but there was no immediate word from the military.

More than 5,400 people have been killed in the fighting in the past 21 months following the breakdown of a Norwegian-brokered truce.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jmoBolM6EywPHzEFCzfGYYoXtd7A

LTTE hammering

Then how comes these planes came from wanni and processed few guys to R.I.P in Katunayaka and went back to wanni...

Chief Inspector Lal Senavirathne said 25 people donated their pets Thursday, but only 18 dogs could be enlisted as the others did not meet the recruitment criteria.

School children panicked and scattered. Two fainted

These children will soon be returned to their parents once they have finished the LTTE academic course on suicide bombing 101.