Canadian International collaboration Minister Beverley Oda who visited the Manik Farm Welfare village in Vavuniya on Thursday and saying for herself the schools, occupational training centres, hospitals and clinics there, said the Government was making a huge effort to provide basic needs and remove IDPs in the North.
She made these observations at a push conference at the Foreign office yesterday.
She said the Canadian administration had provided Canadian $ 22.5 million this year to resettle the inside displaced persons.
She also noted that the Canadian Government assisted Sri Lanka following the tsunami and would continue to help with the economic development and wellbeing of all Sri Lankans.
Courtesy - Daily News
Showing posts with label srilanka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label srilanka. Show all posts
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Keeping the Tigers out of Canada - National Post Editorial
As the release Tigers of Tamil Eelam poses an not direct security danger for Canada the Canadian government must protector against fleeing Tiger best seeking refuge among the country's large Ontario based group of people of émigré Tamils said in a powerfully worded editorial in the nationwide Post on Monday (Jan 5).
"We don't need such atrocious people dispersal their hate in Canada, and receptivity on Tamil-Canadians to give shelter or cash. Mr. Harper already has done the right mania by declaring the LTTE a terrorist association. As the group's leaders flee their deteriorating rebellion the Prime Minister should make sure that Kilinochchi's erstwhile council do not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham" the editorial said in no uncertain terms.
The editorial warned since it is harder for them to function in Sri Lanka the next rational step of them would be to start operating from Canada.
The following is the full text of the editorial:
On Friday (Jan 2), Sri Lanka's army captured Kilinochchi, the de facto assets of the Tamil Tigers. This marks a crippling blow for the Tigers, a rebel armed force and terrorist collection that first took up weapons more than a quarter-century ago. It also poses an indirect security risk for Canada: As the Tigers are routed from the battlefield, Ottawa must protector against fleeing Tiger leaders looking for refuge among this country's big Ontario-based group of people of émigré Tamils.
The Tigers more formally known as the release Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- have been on the doubtful for more than a few years at the there In the northern part of the condition, the Sri Lankan army has taken a shape of Tiger-held towns and outposts. In the eastern part of the country, the LTTE military equipment has disintegrated totally, thanks mainly to defections and infighting.
Western governments, too, have played a role. In the wake of 9/11, which brought increased attention to all manner of terrorist groups, our law enforcement agencies largely succeeded in shutting off the international money pipelines that funneled cash to the LTTE.
Here in Canada, a great deal of the Tigers' "donations" came from side to side the extortion of small Tamil-Canadian businesses in the Toronto outer edge. In this look upon, Stephen Harper's Conservative government deserves some of the credit for Sri Lanka's success next to the Tigers. Prime Minister Harper did what neither Paul Martin nor Jean Chretien had the bravery to do: openly say publicly the Tigers a terrorist association, thereby depiction their fund-raisers criminals.
The imprison of Kilinochchi marks a important turning tip in Sri Lanka's social war. The LTTE captured the northern city a decade ago, and have twisted it into their administrative centre, establishing administration offices, courts, a hospital and still a Tiger store.
The LTTE governed cruelly, making a ridicule of its claim to be a collection of honourable freedom fighters seeking justice for the island nation's Tamil minority. To raise funds, the Tigers diverted release cash earmarked for victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and captured release provisions for resale on the black market. They swept through refugee camps press-ganging orphans as young as 10 into vanguard battle against the Sri Lankan army. Expat Tamils' relatives still livelihood in Sri Lanka were in danger with bereavement until their relatives in Canada, Britain and Australia decided to pay a "war tax" for their let go. Tamils seeking to work for a self-governing and nonviolent answer to their people's grievances were murdered by the LTTE.
All this has been complete under the orders of LTTE supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, pictured, who has transformed the Tigers into a bereavement cult. Sri Lanka -- its Tamil minority and Sinhalese bulk alike -- will be better off when the Tigers are no more.
As it becomes harder for the Tigers to function in Sri Lanka, their next rational move is to seek safe haven abroad -- particularly in Canada. There is surely plenty of hold up for the Tigers in the middle of many of the Tamils livelihood in Ontario's city centers. It would come as no shock if beaten LTTE best tried to set up bottom here until they can regroup in Sri Lanka. In the past, Tiger lieutenants have come to Canada as refugee claimants. No hesitation, they will try that trick once more.
We don't need such atrocious people dispersal their hate in Canada, and leaning on Tamil-Canadians to give shelter or cash. Mr. Harper by now has done the right thing by declaring the LTTE a terrorist organization. As the group's leaders flee their failing rebellion, the Prime priest should make sure that Kilinochchi's erstwhile governors do not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham.
"We don't need such atrocious people dispersal their hate in Canada, and receptivity on Tamil-Canadians to give shelter or cash. Mr. Harper already has done the right mania by declaring the LTTE a terrorist association. As the group's leaders flee their deteriorating rebellion the Prime Minister should make sure that Kilinochchi's erstwhile council do not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham" the editorial said in no uncertain terms.
The editorial warned since it is harder for them to function in Sri Lanka the next rational step of them would be to start operating from Canada.
The following is the full text of the editorial:
On Friday (Jan 2), Sri Lanka's army captured Kilinochchi, the de facto assets of the Tamil Tigers. This marks a crippling blow for the Tigers, a rebel armed force and terrorist collection that first took up weapons more than a quarter-century ago. It also poses an indirect security risk for Canada: As the Tigers are routed from the battlefield, Ottawa must protector against fleeing Tiger leaders looking for refuge among this country's big Ontario-based group of people of émigré Tamils.
The Tigers more formally known as the release Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- have been on the doubtful for more than a few years at the there In the northern part of the condition, the Sri Lankan army has taken a shape of Tiger-held towns and outposts. In the eastern part of the country, the LTTE military equipment has disintegrated totally, thanks mainly to defections and infighting.
Western governments, too, have played a role. In the wake of 9/11, which brought increased attention to all manner of terrorist groups, our law enforcement agencies largely succeeded in shutting off the international money pipelines that funneled cash to the LTTE.
Here in Canada, a great deal of the Tigers' "donations" came from side to side the extortion of small Tamil-Canadian businesses in the Toronto outer edge. In this look upon, Stephen Harper's Conservative government deserves some of the credit for Sri Lanka's success next to the Tigers. Prime Minister Harper did what neither Paul Martin nor Jean Chretien had the bravery to do: openly say publicly the Tigers a terrorist association, thereby depiction their fund-raisers criminals.
The imprison of Kilinochchi marks a important turning tip in Sri Lanka's social war. The LTTE captured the northern city a decade ago, and have twisted it into their administrative centre, establishing administration offices, courts, a hospital and still a Tiger store.
The LTTE governed cruelly, making a ridicule of its claim to be a collection of honourable freedom fighters seeking justice for the island nation's Tamil minority. To raise funds, the Tigers diverted release cash earmarked for victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and captured release provisions for resale on the black market. They swept through refugee camps press-ganging orphans as young as 10 into vanguard battle against the Sri Lankan army. Expat Tamils' relatives still livelihood in Sri Lanka were in danger with bereavement until their relatives in Canada, Britain and Australia decided to pay a "war tax" for their let go. Tamils seeking to work for a self-governing and nonviolent answer to their people's grievances were murdered by the LTTE.
All this has been complete under the orders of LTTE supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, pictured, who has transformed the Tigers into a bereavement cult. Sri Lanka -- its Tamil minority and Sinhalese bulk alike -- will be better off when the Tigers are no more.
As it becomes harder for the Tigers to function in Sri Lanka, their next rational move is to seek safe haven abroad -- particularly in Canada. There is surely plenty of hold up for the Tigers in the middle of many of the Tamils livelihood in Ontario's city centers. It would come as no shock if beaten LTTE best tried to set up bottom here until they can regroup in Sri Lanka. In the past, Tiger lieutenants have come to Canada as refugee claimants. No hesitation, they will try that trick once more.
We don't need such atrocious people dispersal their hate in Canada, and leaning on Tamil-Canadians to give shelter or cash. Mr. Harper by now has done the right thing by declaring the LTTE a terrorist organization. As the group's leaders flee their failing rebellion, the Prime priest should make sure that Kilinochchi's erstwhile governors do not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A Tragedy waiting to happen
The recent report of a claymore explosion that damaged a car belonging to an NGO working in the Vanni, and injured its driver, should focus our attention on the background to a factor used to criticize the Sri Lankan government forcefully over the last couple of years. I refer to the sufferings of aid workers in Sri Lanka, the most publicized case being that of the 17 ACF staff killed in Muttur in August 2006.
I believe the latest incident should be seen in that light, and the use made of those tragic deaths. These need to be investigated, and the perpetrators identified, and appropriate judicial action taken. That has never been in question. But, equally, it is necessary to investigate fully the circumstances in which those helpless individuals were placed in danger, and not withdrawn when common sense, let alone UN regulations about the need to be particularly careful about local staff, demanded that they be evacuated, at least to the shelters to which all responsible functionaries were urging them to move.
I am the more concerned now about what happened then, because I can see the current situation developing into one in which again brickbats may be flung against the Sri Lankan government. As we know, several NGOs, most of them international ones, are functioning in the Wanni, along with UN agencies. Most of them work primarily through local staff, whom they acknowledge are under tremendous pressure from the LTTE. This is one reason why they want more foreign staff there, though as it turns out such staff seem even more ineffective in dealing with the LTTE. Thus, while it was argued that the takeover of NPA vehicles was due to the absence of foreign staff, it turned out that foreign staff had been present, and had signally failed to inform anyone in authority, until the cat was out of the bag anyway, that the vehicles, 38 of them, had been taken over.
My anger about all this springs in part from what happened in Muttur. It seems to me clear that in that case the foreigners who should have made the decisions and taken proper care of their local staff, simply abdicated their responsibility. The motive for this is not however clear. It could be argued that they simply gave in to pressure from the more demanding of their local staff, it could be that they listened too credulously to the LTTE. Indeed, it is possible that there is no great distinction between these two possibilities, given the pressures on local staff from the LTTE. Certainly the tell-tale note in the UTHR report, that on the Wednesday the LTTE told the ACF staff that they could no longer guarantee their safety, suggests some sort of earlier understanding, based on the initial assumption that the conquest of Muttur would be a cakewalk.
What if something similar happens in the Wanni? Given that the LTTE, aided and abetted by hangers on such as General Henricsson and those ACF officials who allowed him to sing his song at a commemoration in Paris, has made such effective propaganda use of the tragedy, they are perfectly capable of hoping for something similar to happen now in the Wanni. After all, remembering the initial hype about the murder of Mr Maheswaran, before it was known that his assassin had been apprehended, one realizes that they are quite capable of killing with the aim of alleging that the government did it.
Hence my concern about what happened on Friday night near Omanthai, and what this might spell out for the future. The facts indeed speak for themselves. Three NGO vehicles got to Omanthai in broad daylight, and were then kept for three hours at the LTTE checkpoint beyond that. Incidentally, one does not hear wails about the grotesque inconvenience to which the LTTE subjects all those, and more particularly Sri Lankans, at such checkpoints, but let that pass for the moment. The main point is that the three NGO vehicles therefore had to proceed in the dark, and then, very soon after they left the checkpoint, the one in the middle was caught up in a claymore blast. It was not hit direct, but the driver, the only person in the car, was slightly injured.
The vehicles proceed at high speed to Kilinochchi, where the driver went to the hospital. A chorus of INGO bigwigs made sure the car was all right, and also checked on the driver. They do not seem to have informed the Sri Lankan authorities at the time, or with any sense of urgency on the next day. Thus there was no report of the incident in the Sunday papers.
Given the manner in which all claymore attacks are attributed to what are termed Deep Penetration Units of the Sri Lankan forces, it will doubtless soon be gospel that this is yet another example of the manner in which the government is responsible for putting aid workers in danger. Indeed one newspaper has already confidently blamed a DPU, blindly repeating perhaps what they have been told. No one however will bother to wonder why any DPU, assuming such exist in the magnitude ascribed to them, should function so near to the Omanthai checkpoint. No one will wonder why, given the skill ascribed to them - and knowing that the LTTE would crow if there were instances of attacks which failed to take what was targeted - they should have simply made a wave that did so little damage that all three cars in the convoy were able to speed on to Kilinochchi. Significantly, they were able to speed on without anyone stopping them, which suggest that the LTTE realized what had happened and decided not to activate any road blocks to delay them.
It seems to me unlikely then that the attack could have been perpetrated by anyone other than the LTTE, which had so sedulously, and unusually it seems, kept the vehicles for three hours at the checkpoint, time enough to arrange for an ambush. It would be nice to think that the ineffective nature of the attack was deliberate, an unusual kindliness on the part of the LTTE to save lives. It could have been due to incompetence but, given the skill of the LTTE with this type of weaponry, in for instance their period of great provocation shortly after the Presidential election, we can perhaps give them the benefit of the doubt this time round.
At the same time we need also to consider, given this kindliness, whether there were not some sorts of connivance on the part of the NGOs concerned. It is interesting that the middle car, which was the one damaged, had just one occupant, a locally engaged driver. The truck in front belonged to Solidar, of NPA fame. Though on balance I would say the only fault were the - to my mind culpable - one of wasting fuel, taking three vehicles in convoy with one of them almost empty, that in itself seems bad enough, when what these NGOs should be doing now is trying to get vehicles out, not stockpiling them in Kilinochchi. We should not be surprised if these vehicles are now used for the great exodus that has doubtless been planned, the LTTE hierarchy, obligingly driven by NGO local staff, proceeding in cars whilst the poor suffering people hobble along behind.
Even if all this has not been planned in advance, clearly the presence of so much equipment, and so many aid workers, is a godsend to the LTTE. They can take risks with them knowing that, if any harm comes to them, this can be used as propaganda. Indeed, they may decide soon enough that kindliness will not pay, and another incident like the one that was precipitated in Muttur will not go amiss. One can only hope that the international NGOs, which are still trying to issue statements to prove their neutrality, neutrality between the government whom they are supposed to assist and a bunch of ruthless terrorists, will realize how readily they lend themselves to being used, and their poor dependent workers to being targeted as part of yet another soul-stirring strategy.
By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary-General Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process
I believe the latest incident should be seen in that light, and the use made of those tragic deaths. These need to be investigated, and the perpetrators identified, and appropriate judicial action taken. That has never been in question. But, equally, it is necessary to investigate fully the circumstances in which those helpless individuals were placed in danger, and not withdrawn when common sense, let alone UN regulations about the need to be particularly careful about local staff, demanded that they be evacuated, at least to the shelters to which all responsible functionaries were urging them to move.
I am the more concerned now about what happened then, because I can see the current situation developing into one in which again brickbats may be flung against the Sri Lankan government. As we know, several NGOs, most of them international ones, are functioning in the Wanni, along with UN agencies. Most of them work primarily through local staff, whom they acknowledge are under tremendous pressure from the LTTE. This is one reason why they want more foreign staff there, though as it turns out such staff seem even more ineffective in dealing with the LTTE. Thus, while it was argued that the takeover of NPA vehicles was due to the absence of foreign staff, it turned out that foreign staff had been present, and had signally failed to inform anyone in authority, until the cat was out of the bag anyway, that the vehicles, 38 of them, had been taken over.
My anger about all this springs in part from what happened in Muttur. It seems to me clear that in that case the foreigners who should have made the decisions and taken proper care of their local staff, simply abdicated their responsibility. The motive for this is not however clear. It could be argued that they simply gave in to pressure from the more demanding of their local staff, it could be that they listened too credulously to the LTTE. Indeed, it is possible that there is no great distinction between these two possibilities, given the pressures on local staff from the LTTE. Certainly the tell-tale note in the UTHR report, that on the Wednesday the LTTE told the ACF staff that they could no longer guarantee their safety, suggests some sort of earlier understanding, based on the initial assumption that the conquest of Muttur would be a cakewalk.
What if something similar happens in the Wanni? Given that the LTTE, aided and abetted by hangers on such as General Henricsson and those ACF officials who allowed him to sing his song at a commemoration in Paris, has made such effective propaganda use of the tragedy, they are perfectly capable of hoping for something similar to happen now in the Wanni. After all, remembering the initial hype about the murder of Mr Maheswaran, before it was known that his assassin had been apprehended, one realizes that they are quite capable of killing with the aim of alleging that the government did it.
Hence my concern about what happened on Friday night near Omanthai, and what this might spell out for the future. The facts indeed speak for themselves. Three NGO vehicles got to Omanthai in broad daylight, and were then kept for three hours at the LTTE checkpoint beyond that. Incidentally, one does not hear wails about the grotesque inconvenience to which the LTTE subjects all those, and more particularly Sri Lankans, at such checkpoints, but let that pass for the moment. The main point is that the three NGO vehicles therefore had to proceed in the dark, and then, very soon after they left the checkpoint, the one in the middle was caught up in a claymore blast. It was not hit direct, but the driver, the only person in the car, was slightly injured.
The vehicles proceed at high speed to Kilinochchi, where the driver went to the hospital. A chorus of INGO bigwigs made sure the car was all right, and also checked on the driver. They do not seem to have informed the Sri Lankan authorities at the time, or with any sense of urgency on the next day. Thus there was no report of the incident in the Sunday papers.
Given the manner in which all claymore attacks are attributed to what are termed Deep Penetration Units of the Sri Lankan forces, it will doubtless soon be gospel that this is yet another example of the manner in which the government is responsible for putting aid workers in danger. Indeed one newspaper has already confidently blamed a DPU, blindly repeating perhaps what they have been told. No one however will bother to wonder why any DPU, assuming such exist in the magnitude ascribed to them, should function so near to the Omanthai checkpoint. No one will wonder why, given the skill ascribed to them - and knowing that the LTTE would crow if there were instances of attacks which failed to take what was targeted - they should have simply made a wave that did so little damage that all three cars in the convoy were able to speed on to Kilinochchi. Significantly, they were able to speed on without anyone stopping them, which suggest that the LTTE realized what had happened and decided not to activate any road blocks to delay them.
It seems to me unlikely then that the attack could have been perpetrated by anyone other than the LTTE, which had so sedulously, and unusually it seems, kept the vehicles for three hours at the checkpoint, time enough to arrange for an ambush. It would be nice to think that the ineffective nature of the attack was deliberate, an unusual kindliness on the part of the LTTE to save lives. It could have been due to incompetence but, given the skill of the LTTE with this type of weaponry, in for instance their period of great provocation shortly after the Presidential election, we can perhaps give them the benefit of the doubt this time round.
At the same time we need also to consider, given this kindliness, whether there were not some sorts of connivance on the part of the NGOs concerned. It is interesting that the middle car, which was the one damaged, had just one occupant, a locally engaged driver. The truck in front belonged to Solidar, of NPA fame. Though on balance I would say the only fault were the - to my mind culpable - one of wasting fuel, taking three vehicles in convoy with one of them almost empty, that in itself seems bad enough, when what these NGOs should be doing now is trying to get vehicles out, not stockpiling them in Kilinochchi. We should not be surprised if these vehicles are now used for the great exodus that has doubtless been planned, the LTTE hierarchy, obligingly driven by NGO local staff, proceeding in cars whilst the poor suffering people hobble along behind.
Even if all this has not been planned in advance, clearly the presence of so much equipment, and so many aid workers, is a godsend to the LTTE. They can take risks with them knowing that, if any harm comes to them, this can be used as propaganda. Indeed, they may decide soon enough that kindliness will not pay, and another incident like the one that was precipitated in Muttur will not go amiss. One can only hope that the international NGOs, which are still trying to issue statements to prove their neutrality, neutrality between the government whom they are supposed to assist and a bunch of ruthless terrorists, will realize how readily they lend themselves to being used, and their poor dependent workers to being targeted as part of yet another soul-stirring strategy.
By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary-General Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process
Saturday, August 16, 2008
LTTE military items found - Ampara
Special Task Force (STF) personnel conducted a search operation in general area 55th Kilometer post in Ampara uncovered military items along with claymore mine, T-56 weapon and ammunition last morning, 14 August, MCNS said.
The recovery was made around 9.45 AM on information received to the Police and following list of items among the recoveries, MCNS added.
Items Quantity
Claymore mine weighing 10.8kg 01
T-56 Weapon 01
T-56 Magazine 01
T-56 Ammunition 29
Detonators 03
9V Batteries 04
Meanwhile, STF personnel have found 2 anti-personnel mines, I-Com set and its antenna while conducting a search operation in Sangamankanda area in Ampara last Tuesday, 12 August.
The recovery was made around 9.45 AM on information received to the Police and following list of items among the recoveries, MCNS added.
Items Quantity
Claymore mine weighing 10.8kg 01
T-56 Weapon 01
T-56 Magazine 01
T-56 Ammunition 29
Detonators 03
9V Batteries 04
Meanwhile, STF personnel have found 2 anti-personnel mines, I-Com set and its antenna while conducting a search operation in Sangamankanda area in Ampara last Tuesday, 12 August.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
9 terrorists killed, 6 wounded in yesterday's clashes
Nine LTTE terrorists were killed while another 6 suffered injuries due to the clashes erupted in Jaffna and Wanni theatres yesterday, May 31, MCNS sources said. In addition 4 soldiers have laid their lives and 6 others reported wounded, MCNS added.
On Jaffna theatre, citing a finalized military report MCNS said that 3 terrorists were suffered injuries due to yesterday's clashes. An army soldier was killed while another suffered injuries clashes ensued in the same front.
On Wanni theatre, in Vavuniya front, 7 terrorists were killed while no casualties were reported for own troops. In Mannar front, 3 soldiers suffered injuries and they were evacuated to the Mannar hospital.
In Welioya front, 2 terrorists were killed while another 3 suffered injuries due to yesterday's clashes. 3 soldiers have laid their lives while 2 more received injuries in the same front, MCNS stated.
On Jaffna theatre, citing a finalized military report MCNS said that 3 terrorists were suffered injuries due to yesterday's clashes. An army soldier was killed while another suffered injuries clashes ensued in the same front.
On Wanni theatre, in Vavuniya front, 7 terrorists were killed while no casualties were reported for own troops. In Mannar front, 3 soldiers suffered injuries and they were evacuated to the Mannar hospital.
In Welioya front, 2 terrorists were killed while another 3 suffered injuries due to yesterday's clashes. 3 soldiers have laid their lives while 2 more received injuries in the same front, MCNS stated.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Madhu church open to public soon
Security forces hand over shrine to Mannar Bishop:
Making another military pledge a reality, the centuries-old sacred Madhu Church, where all communities worshipped will be opened to the public soon for the annual feast. The shrine was liberated by the Security Forces from LTTE terrorists.
The sacred Madhu Shrine which was liberated from LTTE terrorists was handed over to Rev. Fr. Victor Susai, Vicar General of Mannar, who accepted it on behalf of the Bishop of Mannar yesterday.
Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka called upon those who removed the statue of Our Lady of Madhu to bring it back to the church.
"Those who were in charge of the statue have the responsibility of bringing it back", he said adding that the Madhu area would be declared as a security zone and pilgrims would be provided all facilities to worship at the shrine.
The Madhu shrine, where thousands of pilgrims gather during the August church feast was under the clutches of the LTTE from 1999. The shrine area later became a military base for the LTTE positioning its heavy guns around the church premises.
The LTTE used the shrine as a shield to avoid military offensives within the 'No War Zone' and the Army was compelled to refrain from attacking the terrorists because of the sacred shrine complex.
Lt. Gen. Fonseka said that the 57 division supported by the Light Infantry unit tactically forced the terrorists who occupied the shrine to withdraw but the fleeing terrorists damaged the roof of the main church and the adjoining hall.
According to Lt. Gen. Fonseka, the area has been heavily mined with anti personnel mines and booby traps and bunkers have been erected around the shrine. "The military will soon complete clearing the mines", he said.
Courtesy : Sunday Observer
Making another military pledge a reality, the centuries-old sacred Madhu Church, where all communities worshipped will be opened to the public soon for the annual feast. The shrine was liberated by the Security Forces from LTTE terrorists.
The sacred Madhu Shrine which was liberated from LTTE terrorists was handed over to Rev. Fr. Victor Susai, Vicar General of Mannar, who accepted it on behalf of the Bishop of Mannar yesterday.
Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka called upon those who removed the statue of Our Lady of Madhu to bring it back to the church.
"Those who were in charge of the statue have the responsibility of bringing it back", he said adding that the Madhu area would be declared as a security zone and pilgrims would be provided all facilities to worship at the shrine.
The Madhu shrine, where thousands of pilgrims gather during the August church feast was under the clutches of the LTTE from 1999. The shrine area later became a military base for the LTTE positioning its heavy guns around the church premises.
The LTTE used the shrine as a shield to avoid military offensives within the 'No War Zone' and the Army was compelled to refrain from attacking the terrorists because of the sacred shrine complex.
Lt. Gen. Fonseka said that the 57 division supported by the Light Infantry unit tactically forced the terrorists who occupied the shrine to withdraw but the fleeing terrorists damaged the roof of the main church and the adjoining hall.
According to Lt. Gen. Fonseka, the area has been heavily mined with anti personnel mines and booby traps and bunkers have been erected around the shrine. "The military will soon complete clearing the mines", he said.
Courtesy : Sunday Observer
Muhamalai attack: LTTE's defeated aim
Desperation is best seen when an organization resorts to the same abortive measure to overcome its present sorry situation. The LTTE's latest attempt to attack the Army Forward Defence in Muhamalai on Wednesday (April 23) shows nothing other than its utter desperation to resuscitate its shattering image amid ever increasing defeats it suffers at the hands of Sri Lankan Security Forces.
However, Wednesday's battle has drawn a range of interpretations, including some Anti-Sri Lankan forces that call it a great military debacle. The usual terror stooges in media are enraptured on the deaths and casualties of the security forces, calling it a great achievement of the terrorists. A website named "Lanka e- news" even went to the extent of inflating the number army deaths to mislead the public. This website unashamedly said that 143 army bodies had been taken over by undertakers following the battle. By the way, the army casualty figures led to mixed sentiments even among people who love their country, on what has really happened at the battlefront.
Against this backdrop, defence.lk contacted high-ranking military authorities to clarify the controversies surrounding the battle. Army Chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka gave a frank and elucidatory debrief of the operation to media personnel at Army Headquarters last afternoon. The followings are the facts disclosed at the meeting.
Well-Prepared Defence
In the Jaffna theatre of operations, the Sri Lanka army holds its Forward Defence positions on three frontiers,i.e. Kilaly, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil defences (see map). The Kilaly and Muhamalai defence lie adjacent to each other while a loch separates the Nagarkovil defence from the rest. The width of the Muhamalai and Kilaly Forward Defence Line (FDL) is about 8 km and the extent of the "no man's land" between these and the LTTE's first bunker line is about 700m. Sri Lanka Army 53 division holds the Kilaly front while 55 Division holds the Muhamalai front.
Defence intelligence reports based on observations made at the battlefronts during last two weeks had indicated intensified activities at the LTTE defences, alerting troops to a possible attack. Increased bunker construction, harassing fire, and artillery/mortar ranging made the troops to plan for an imminent defensive operation.
As explained by the Army Commander, the situation was so obvious that the terrorists had no option but to try again for the Jaffna peninsula to boost its dwindling confidence amid ignominious defeats in the Wanni theatre. As the countdown began for the terrorists to lose Madhu, the outfit made its third Sisyphean effort to capture Jaffna peninsula since 2006.
Offensive sans surprise
On Wednesday around 2.30 a.m., LTTE launched, what may call its first wave of attacks with heavy mortar shelling and ground attack. However, it became the first and the last wave of attack as LTTE met with an unexpected counter offensive by well-prepared soldiers.
Defensive to offensive
It is said in the art of war that victorious armies first win and then battle while defeated ones first battle and seek victory. At the Muhamalai front the army effectively defended its ground that it cannot afford to lose, and caused the terrorists to turn tail abandoning their mission. Then the battle commanders at the front took the initiative to give the maximum damage to the terrorists who were disorganized at the time, by turning the defensive to an offensive. Five battalions of 53 and 55 divisions stepped out from their defensive positions and were on the track of the enemy. Ultimately, the terrorists lost vital ground and a large number of their best fighting cadres to army.
By first light on Wednesday, Sri Lanka army infantrymen captured the LTTE's first line of defence. Soldiers of 55Division made their way relatively easier than the soldiers of 53 Division, due to high density mine fields and booby-traps they came across on their way. By 6.30 a.m., the whole 8 km stretch of Kilaly - Muhamalai Forward Defence Line was pushed 700m ahead (see map), i.e. on the LTTE's first line of defence.
Enemy fights back
Muhamalai is the gateway to the pivotal ground of LTTE's fighting capability. The harsh sandy terrain filled with mangroves and cactus plants that may be seen as unimportant to an ordinary person, is the pathway to the Wanni heartland. To the LTTE, losing the ground up to Elephant Pass under present conditions means nothing other than that the countdown has begun for its demise. As explained by the Army Commander, the Muhamalai defence is something the LTTE would expend its best resources to defend, and it is not something unexpected by Army.
With sunrise, the terrorists started their retaliation to avoid the army moving forward. Having registered the exact location of their own defence line, which was now occupied by the Army, LTTE directed a high intensity and indirect fire at the soldiers. According to the army officials over 1000 mortar shells mostly 82 mm type was fired at troops. Also, there was an occasional RCL and artillery fire including from 130 mm and 152 mm heavy artillery weapons.
Under these circumstances, the Army started to suffer a casualty rate of about 35 to 40 per hour. By11.30a.m., the Army tactically withdrew about 100m from the LTTE's first line and positioned themselves at best defendable ground. Within this 5 hour period, i.e. 6.30- 11.30, the Army too gave a heavy beating to the terrorists, using heavy artillery and rockets, while the ground troops valiantly held their positions giving required assistance to the indirect weapon commanders in the back. It is this unwavering commitment of the infantrymen that contributed most to the great damage caused to the enemy (see map).
The outcome
According to monitored radio transmissions, names of 119 LTTE cadres have been declared as dead in the Muhamalai battle at the time of writing this report (see list). Ground troops have confirmed at least 160 terrorists were killed or critically wounded. Further, 300 others are reported to have suffered injuries (see list).
The estimated strength of LTTE in the Muhamalai defence is about 800 cadres and the radio transmissions indicated that 50% of LTTE strength was hors de combat during the battle. In the overall battle for the LTTE, Theepan, and his 2nd Muhundan were heard wailing over the radios to hold the 2nd and 3rd lines which were then requesting orders to retreat. LTTE leaders for the Muhamalai sector were Jerry and Double Alfa (AA) and for the Kilaly sector were Kumanan and Kutti. At one time one of these leaders was heard speaking to Lawrence, the terror leader for Nagarkovil front that all the cadres he had sent from Nagarkovil had perished.
Electronic Warfare cells in the Wanni theatre heard of the transporting of canters and busloads of casualties to hospitals in Kilinochchi, and Mulaithiuvu.
According to military reports, the 55 division lost 20 soldiers and 53 Division lost 60 soldiers, including 33 who were unable to merry-up with troops. Also, 352 soldiers suffered injuries out of which only 169 were airlifted to Colombo, including 109 who underwent immediate medical treatments. It was reported that among the soldiers who were taken for immediate medical treatments, over 30 were due to anti-personnel mine explosions. However, at the time of writing the number of soldiers who made ultimate sacrifices in this battle is settled at 80.
Army lost over 30 personnel weapons during the battle while no damages were caused to heavy weaponry. The mechanised infantry or tanks were not deployed in the attack though some of the armoured vehicles were used from their original locations to give covering fire.
Rationale behind the attack
Refuting claims made by certain parties that Muhamalai was a great debacle, the Army Commander explained his strategy to defeat terrorism and the reality of the battle.
According to the Commander, a veteran infantryman whose capabilities are well better known to the terrorists than many others, the number of army casualties is nowhere near what could be termed a military debacle. He explained that not all battles are cake walks and there will be times like this where the LTTE will be pushed to expend its best fighting cadre and resources but with no significant gain. Few more such attempts will bring the LTTE to its breaking point from which it would soon meet its fate, he explained. This is the army's present strategy to fight terrorism, he added.
Explaining the present situation further, the Army Chief said that LTTE has been so reluctant to spend his best fighting cadres after the fall of the East. At present, it is encountering a severe manpower shortage and the majority of the cadres deployed in the Wanni fronts have been found to be forcibly conscripted youths, sea tigers and those recruited for the tiger police, he said. The strategy would be to push the LTTE to introduce its best fighting reserve to the battlefront and to meet them with equal force, he added.
Speaking on the day of the 2nd anniversary of the failed suicide bomb blast attempt on his life, the Army Chief said that his soldiers know the reality of battle and they are well prepared to meet the enemy.
He further explained that previous strategies used were aimed at gaining the ground rather than destroying the enemy. This resulted in many military setbacks through which the LTTE built its huge image as an impregnable terrorist outfit. Now the soldiers have not only challenged the LTTE's image but also put the terrorists into an utterly desperate situation.
The Army Chief explained that there are some people who may gain some sadistic pleasure by hearing of a high rate of army casualties. These people would not be satisfied by whatever casualty figures given by army and would continue to inflate the figures to damage and belittle soldiers' sacrifices. He emphasized that "all these soldiers have died in fighting for the country fearlessly but not while running away from the enemy. Soldiers know the risk that they have to take in defeating terrorism and are ready to do it," he said. "It is a great shame that some degrade their commitment," he added.
Speaking about the enemy, the Army Chief said he would never underestimate the enemy. He said the LTTE has been fighting for over 30 years and thus was well organized and highly battle-oriented. If such an organization has been allowed to develop to its present extent, the battle to defeat it should not be expected to be one without own casualties, he said. The important fact is that the soldiers now have the necessary equipment, and high morale backed by the right political leadership to meet this challenge, he added.
Finally, the Army Commander said that during his term of office he has prepared all the battlefronts to meet this challenge. For the Jaffna front alone, the strength has been increased from 27,000 to 34,000 with an additional two reserve divisions to meet the enemy. He expressed his confidence that if the present trend continues the battle will definitely take a decisive turn before the end of this year.
However, Wednesday's battle has drawn a range of interpretations, including some Anti-Sri Lankan forces that call it a great military debacle. The usual terror stooges in media are enraptured on the deaths and casualties of the security forces, calling it a great achievement of the terrorists. A website named "Lanka e- news" even went to the extent of inflating the number army deaths to mislead the public. This website unashamedly said that 143 army bodies had been taken over by undertakers following the battle. By the way, the army casualty figures led to mixed sentiments even among people who love their country, on what has really happened at the battlefront.
Against this backdrop, defence.lk contacted high-ranking military authorities to clarify the controversies surrounding the battle. Army Chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka gave a frank and elucidatory debrief of the operation to media personnel at Army Headquarters last afternoon. The followings are the facts disclosed at the meeting.
Well-Prepared Defence
In the Jaffna theatre of operations, the Sri Lanka army holds its Forward Defence positions on three frontiers,i.e. Kilaly, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil defences (see map). The Kilaly and Muhamalai defence lie adjacent to each other while a loch separates the Nagarkovil defence from the rest. The width of the Muhamalai and Kilaly Forward Defence Line (FDL) is about 8 km and the extent of the "no man's land" between these and the LTTE's first bunker line is about 700m. Sri Lanka Army 53 division holds the Kilaly front while 55 Division holds the Muhamalai front.
Defence intelligence reports based on observations made at the battlefronts during last two weeks had indicated intensified activities at the LTTE defences, alerting troops to a possible attack. Increased bunker construction, harassing fire, and artillery/mortar ranging made the troops to plan for an imminent defensive operation.
As explained by the Army Commander, the situation was so obvious that the terrorists had no option but to try again for the Jaffna peninsula to boost its dwindling confidence amid ignominious defeats in the Wanni theatre. As the countdown began for the terrorists to lose Madhu, the outfit made its third Sisyphean effort to capture Jaffna peninsula since 2006.
Offensive sans surprise
On Wednesday around 2.30 a.m., LTTE launched, what may call its first wave of attacks with heavy mortar shelling and ground attack. However, it became the first and the last wave of attack as LTTE met with an unexpected counter offensive by well-prepared soldiers.
Defensive to offensive
It is said in the art of war that victorious armies first win and then battle while defeated ones first battle and seek victory. At the Muhamalai front the army effectively defended its ground that it cannot afford to lose, and caused the terrorists to turn tail abandoning their mission. Then the battle commanders at the front took the initiative to give the maximum damage to the terrorists who were disorganized at the time, by turning the defensive to an offensive. Five battalions of 53 and 55 divisions stepped out from their defensive positions and were on the track of the enemy. Ultimately, the terrorists lost vital ground and a large number of their best fighting cadres to army.
By first light on Wednesday, Sri Lanka army infantrymen captured the LTTE's first line of defence. Soldiers of 55Division made their way relatively easier than the soldiers of 53 Division, due to high density mine fields and booby-traps they came across on their way. By 6.30 a.m., the whole 8 km stretch of Kilaly - Muhamalai Forward Defence Line was pushed 700m ahead (see map), i.e. on the LTTE's first line of defence.
Enemy fights back
Muhamalai is the gateway to the pivotal ground of LTTE's fighting capability. The harsh sandy terrain filled with mangroves and cactus plants that may be seen as unimportant to an ordinary person, is the pathway to the Wanni heartland. To the LTTE, losing the ground up to Elephant Pass under present conditions means nothing other than that the countdown has begun for its demise. As explained by the Army Commander, the Muhamalai defence is something the LTTE would expend its best resources to defend, and it is not something unexpected by Army.
With sunrise, the terrorists started their retaliation to avoid the army moving forward. Having registered the exact location of their own defence line, which was now occupied by the Army, LTTE directed a high intensity and indirect fire at the soldiers. According to the army officials over 1000 mortar shells mostly 82 mm type was fired at troops. Also, there was an occasional RCL and artillery fire including from 130 mm and 152 mm heavy artillery weapons.
Under these circumstances, the Army started to suffer a casualty rate of about 35 to 40 per hour. By11.30a.m., the Army tactically withdrew about 100m from the LTTE's first line and positioned themselves at best defendable ground. Within this 5 hour period, i.e. 6.30- 11.30, the Army too gave a heavy beating to the terrorists, using heavy artillery and rockets, while the ground troops valiantly held their positions giving required assistance to the indirect weapon commanders in the back. It is this unwavering commitment of the infantrymen that contributed most to the great damage caused to the enemy (see map).
The outcome
According to monitored radio transmissions, names of 119 LTTE cadres have been declared as dead in the Muhamalai battle at the time of writing this report (see list). Ground troops have confirmed at least 160 terrorists were killed or critically wounded. Further, 300 others are reported to have suffered injuries (see list).
The estimated strength of LTTE in the Muhamalai defence is about 800 cadres and the radio transmissions indicated that 50% of LTTE strength was hors de combat during the battle. In the overall battle for the LTTE, Theepan, and his 2nd Muhundan were heard wailing over the radios to hold the 2nd and 3rd lines which were then requesting orders to retreat. LTTE leaders for the Muhamalai sector were Jerry and Double Alfa (AA) and for the Kilaly sector were Kumanan and Kutti. At one time one of these leaders was heard speaking to Lawrence, the terror leader for Nagarkovil front that all the cadres he had sent from Nagarkovil had perished.
Electronic Warfare cells in the Wanni theatre heard of the transporting of canters and busloads of casualties to hospitals in Kilinochchi, and Mulaithiuvu.
According to military reports, the 55 division lost 20 soldiers and 53 Division lost 60 soldiers, including 33 who were unable to merry-up with troops. Also, 352 soldiers suffered injuries out of which only 169 were airlifted to Colombo, including 109 who underwent immediate medical treatments. It was reported that among the soldiers who were taken for immediate medical treatments, over 30 were due to anti-personnel mine explosions. However, at the time of writing the number of soldiers who made ultimate sacrifices in this battle is settled at 80.
Army lost over 30 personnel weapons during the battle while no damages were caused to heavy weaponry. The mechanised infantry or tanks were not deployed in the attack though some of the armoured vehicles were used from their original locations to give covering fire.
Rationale behind the attack
Refuting claims made by certain parties that Muhamalai was a great debacle, the Army Commander explained his strategy to defeat terrorism and the reality of the battle.
According to the Commander, a veteran infantryman whose capabilities are well better known to the terrorists than many others, the number of army casualties is nowhere near what could be termed a military debacle. He explained that not all battles are cake walks and there will be times like this where the LTTE will be pushed to expend its best fighting cadre and resources but with no significant gain. Few more such attempts will bring the LTTE to its breaking point from which it would soon meet its fate, he explained. This is the army's present strategy to fight terrorism, he added.
Explaining the present situation further, the Army Chief said that LTTE has been so reluctant to spend his best fighting cadres after the fall of the East. At present, it is encountering a severe manpower shortage and the majority of the cadres deployed in the Wanni fronts have been found to be forcibly conscripted youths, sea tigers and those recruited for the tiger police, he said. The strategy would be to push the LTTE to introduce its best fighting reserve to the battlefront and to meet them with equal force, he added.
Speaking on the day of the 2nd anniversary of the failed suicide bomb blast attempt on his life, the Army Chief said that his soldiers know the reality of battle and they are well prepared to meet the enemy.
He further explained that previous strategies used were aimed at gaining the ground rather than destroying the enemy. This resulted in many military setbacks through which the LTTE built its huge image as an impregnable terrorist outfit. Now the soldiers have not only challenged the LTTE's image but also put the terrorists into an utterly desperate situation.
The Army Chief explained that there are some people who may gain some sadistic pleasure by hearing of a high rate of army casualties. These people would not be satisfied by whatever casualty figures given by army and would continue to inflate the figures to damage and belittle soldiers' sacrifices. He emphasized that "all these soldiers have died in fighting for the country fearlessly but not while running away from the enemy. Soldiers know the risk that they have to take in defeating terrorism and are ready to do it," he said. "It is a great shame that some degrade their commitment," he added.
Speaking about the enemy, the Army Chief said he would never underestimate the enemy. He said the LTTE has been fighting for over 30 years and thus was well organized and highly battle-oriented. If such an organization has been allowed to develop to its present extent, the battle to defeat it should not be expected to be one without own casualties, he said. The important fact is that the soldiers now have the necessary equipment, and high morale backed by the right political leadership to meet this challenge, he added.
Finally, the Army Commander said that during his term of office he has prepared all the battlefronts to meet this challenge. For the Jaffna front alone, the strength has been increased from 27,000 to 34,000 with an additional two reserve divisions to meet the enemy. He expressed his confidence that if the present trend continues the battle will definitely take a decisive turn before the end of this year.
Senior U.S. State Department Official Visits Sri Lanka
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Don Camp visited Colombo April 20-22 as part of the U.S. Government's regular, ongoing consultations with the Sri Lankan Government, US embassy in Colombo said in a statement today.
According to the statement to, Mr. Camp During his visit met with senior Government of Sri Lanka officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada Gamalath. He also met with leading political figures, civil society leaders, and business representatives, statement further revealed.
The statement also cited Mr. Camp having characterizing his meetings as "useful and frank, in the way of long time friends".
"We value the dialogue we continue to have with the government, as well as the lines of communication we maintain with Sri Lanka's political, business, and civil society leaders. Many of the issues we discuss are difficult ones, particularly on human rights and the resolution of the conflict, but the U.S. will remain engaged in the hope of seeing progress." ,the statement further cited.
Mr. Camp also welcomed initial measures to demobilize TMVP child soldiers, urged progress on human rights, and stressed the importance of free and fair elections in the East, without violence or intimidation, the statement said.
Mr. Camp's first Foreign Service posting was to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo in the late 1970s, and he served here again briefly as Charg‚ d'Affaires in 2003.
According to the statement to, Mr. Camp During his visit met with senior Government of Sri Lanka officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada Gamalath. He also met with leading political figures, civil society leaders, and business representatives, statement further revealed.
The statement also cited Mr. Camp having characterizing his meetings as "useful and frank, in the way of long time friends".
"We value the dialogue we continue to have with the government, as well as the lines of communication we maintain with Sri Lanka's political, business, and civil society leaders. Many of the issues we discuss are difficult ones, particularly on human rights and the resolution of the conflict, but the U.S. will remain engaged in the hope of seeing progress." ,the statement further cited.
Mr. Camp also welcomed initial measures to demobilize TMVP child soldiers, urged progress on human rights, and stressed the importance of free and fair elections in the East, without violence or intimidation, the statement said.
Mr. Camp's first Foreign Service posting was to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo in the late 1970s, and he served here again briefly as Charg‚ d'Affaires in 2003.
Wanni liberation continues; 28 terrorists killed in yesterday's clashes
Finalized military reports received from battlefronts in the North indicate 28 deaths of LTTE cadres during yesterday's (April 21) clashes with Army. In addition, according to the reports, one soldier was killed and 17 others suffered injuries during these clashes.
In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops launched several attacks at LTTE defences in the Muhamalai and Elthumaduwal areas during the day and claimed 4 LTTE bunkers were destroyed. 2 LTTE cadres were reportedly injured in these attacks. 4 soldiers suffered injuries due to LTTE mortar fire and anti personnel mine (AP) explosions.
On the Mannar front, troops in a pre- dawn attack captured LTTE stronghold called "Lima Base - 3" located at east of Kattankulam . Seven LTTE terrorists were killed in this incident while one soldier was also killed and 8 others suffered injuries. Further , snipers deployed in the Manthota and Kattankulam area claimed shooting down of 4 LTTE cadres. While clearing their way further into the Wanni territory, troops removed 71 AP mines and 8 booby traps laid by the terrorists. 2 soldiers suffered injuries due to AP mine explosions in Minnukkaid and Kattankulama areas.
On the Welioya front, troops had a series of daylong clashes with LTTE cadres in the North of Janakapura and the North of Kiriibbanwewa and claimed to have killed 9 terrorists and wounded 6 others. A soldier suffered injuries in one of these clashes occurred in North of Janakapura area.
On the Vavuniya front, troops claimed to have killed seven terrorists during the clashes occurred in Palampiddi , Thachchanamaruthamadu and Navathkulam areas on the same day. Two soldiers suffered injuries in these incidents .
Limited military operations are continuing ...
07 terrorists killed in several confrontations in Vavuniya front
07 terrorists were killed in several confrontations reported in Vavuniya front yesterday April 21.
In a clash reported in general area Palampiddi, ground troops confirmed that 04 LTTE terrorists were killed around 11 a.m yesterday.
An army soldier also received injuries due to the LTTE's retaliation.
Meanwhile, troops attacked at LTTE bunker line established at Navathkulam area last afternoon, sources said. Ground troops confirmed that three terrorists were killed in this attack.
Separately, an army soldier suffered injuries due to an explosion of anti-personnel mine in general area Thachchanamaruthamadu while he was in mine clearing duties. The explosion occurred around 5 p.m and the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention immediately, sources added.
In a clash reported in general area Palampiddi, ground troops confirmed that 04 LTTE terrorists were killed around 11 a.m yesterday.
An army soldier also received injuries due to the LTTE's retaliation.
Meanwhile, troops attacked at LTTE bunker line established at Navathkulam area last afternoon, sources said. Ground troops confirmed that three terrorists were killed in this attack.
Separately, an army soldier suffered injuries due to an explosion of anti-personnel mine in general area Thachchanamaruthamadu while he was in mine clearing duties. The explosion occurred around 5 p.m and the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention immediately, sources added.
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