Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

The problem here this withdrawing is too much...started from eastern and now in Kilinocchi....isnt it too far...? :-)

'We are aware that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has amassed military hardware close to Manalaru in preparation for a major offensive towards Mullaitivu area. Consequence of this offensive will be a catastrophic bloodbath across Sri Lanka,' said Mr. Thamilchelvan, Head of LTTE Political Wing, speaking to TamilNet after meeting the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar and Norwegian Embassy official Erik Nuremberg, in Kilinochchi Monday.

Tigers urge SLA surrender

The Liberation Tigers Friday appealed to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in the Jaffna peninsula to surrender 'to avoid a bloodbath.' The LTTE said in a statement from its London offices that soldiers who lay down their arms 'will be treated with dignity and honour' and handed over to the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross 'within 24 hours'.

Following is the full text of the press release:

'As a genuine endeavour to avoid the continuing bloodbath and to bring an end to the escalating violence and war, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has made a fervent appeal today to thousands of Sri Lankan soldiers entrapped in the Jaffna peninsula to lay down arms and surrender. The LTTE has pledged that those who lay down arms will be treated with dignity and honour and handed over to the protection of the International Committee of the Red Cross within 24 hours.

'The call for surrender is being announced by loud speakers at different battlefronts in the Jaffna theatre of war and also by the Voice of Tigers radio. Explaining the precarious nature of their predicament, the LTTE has been impressing upon the government soldiers that their vital supply lines are cut and their lives are in grave danger. They are being told that the Tamil Tigers want to avoid the human tragedy of heavy casualties of innocent Sinhala youth who are being manipulated and forced to fight a futile war to promote the political ambitions of the chauvinistic elites in Colombo. The LTTE has also given a week's ultimatum for the Sri Lankan troops to lay down arms and surrender.

'In the meantime the LTTE is also making consistent appeals to the Tamil civilian masses to move to safe areas from battle zones allocating specific locations in Valigamam West and Vadamarachi division of the Jaffna peninsula.'

'The call for surrender is being announced by loud speakers at different battlefronts in the Jaffna theatre of war and also by the Voice of Tigers radio. Explaining the precarious nature of their predicament,

LTTE offers cease-fire for safe withdrawal

The Liberation Tigers said Monday that they are prepared to declare a temporary cease-fire to allow the Sri Lanka Army troops in the northern Jaffna peninsula to withdraw safely. In a statement from its London offices, the LTTE said its offer was 'gesture of goodwill' to prevent further bloodshed and 'to create a congenial environment' for the SLA 'to withdraw from the unfavourable theatre of war with dignity and honour'.

The full text of the press release follows:

'The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wishes to state that it is prepared to declare a temporary cease-fire suspending all armed hostilities against the Sri Lankan armed forces to facilitate the beleaguered government troops to be evacuated safely from the Jaffna peninsula.

'Our proposed cessation of hostilities will come into effect as soon as the Sri Lanka government indicates to us, without delay, its willingness to observe the same. We call upon the International Committee of the Red Cross to supervise and assist the orderly evacuation of troops.

'The leadership of the Liberation Tigers has made this decision as a gesture of goodwill to prevent further escalation of violence and bloodbath and to create a congenial environment for Sri Lankan soldiers to withdraw from the unfavourable theatre of war with dignity and honour.

Three-pronged SLA offensive thwarted - Elilan

The Tiger forces repulsed a three-pronged Sri Lanka Army offensive on LTTE controlled Vaharai territory after a defensive fight that lasted for 11 hours, LTTE's Trincomalee District Political Head S. Elilan said. At least seven civilians were wounded in heavy SLA shelling towards civilian settlements. More than 30 SLA troopers were killed, and one wounded soldier was captured alive, Mr. Elilan said. The offensive was launched from Kajuwatte SLA camp, south of Vaharai towards Panichchankerni, from Sinhapura SLA camp 3 km inside the LTTE territory in Kattumurivu and Sri Lanka Navy attempted to land troops in Panichchankerni around 1:00 p.m., according to initial reports from Vaharai.