President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were able to raise millions of pounds each year from the Tamil community in Britain, some of whom were coerced into donating the money.
"You can't have two different attitudes towards terrorism," he told The Times in an interview this week during a visit to London for a Commonwealth meeting, where he raised the issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
"I don't agree that there are good terrorists and bad terrorists. There is only one kind of terrorist." There are about 150,000 Tamils living in Britain, mostly in North London. The Sri Lankans estimate that o70 million is sent home every year.
"These are not voluntary contributions, the money is taken by force, usually a percentage of their income," said President Rajapaksa. "The money is sent back to buy weapons. London is not the only place; money is also sent from Europe, Canada and other places."
President Rajapaksa said that he was taking steps to protect human rights. He blamed his Government's poor international reputation on "clever propaganda" by the Tigers. "We have failed in the propaganda fight," he said.
President Rajapaksa insisted yesterday that in spite of the cost in lives and damage inflicted to Sri Lanka's tourist trade he would not resume peace talks with the Tamil Tigers until the organisation agreed to disarm.
"When they are weak they call on the international community to arrange a ceasefire. During this period they train and rearm and then fight back. This time if they want to talk, they should disarm first," he said.
Even if the Tigers were to meet his preconditions it seems unlikely that he would ever be able to conclude a peace deal with Velupillai Prabhakaran.
"This man and the three or four henchmen around him are blood-thirsty killers," said President Rajapaksa. "They have no feelings. It is very difficult to deal with them."
Courtesy : The Times
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Army continues to attack terror bunker defences in Jaffna
According to the military reports received from Jaffna theatre of operation this morning (June 14), troops had continued to pound identified LTTE bunker defences located in Ponnar, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas during yesterday's (June 13) counter terror operations.
During the midnight hours on Friday (June 13) troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Ponnar area using Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPG). Details of terror casualties were not known. Meanwhile, 2 soldiers suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire and anti personnel mine (AP) explosions in the same area last evening. The casualties were admitted to Palaly military base hospital.
On the Nagarkovil front, troops attacked an LTTE movement detected ahead of the own defence line around 8 last night. Both parties exchanged mortar, RPG and machine gun fire. Ground troops claimed at least 2-3 LTTE cadres were killed or wounded. Own troops suffered no injuries. In a separate incident occurred in the same area a soldier suffered injuries due to AP mine explosion around 7 pm.
On the Muhamalai front , troops launched a surprise attack at 6 identified LTTE bunkers during midnight hours on Friday using machine gun and small arms fire. The attack drew terror retaliation with mortar and machine gun fire. No details on terror casualties are available. No casualties to own troops.
Separately, troops attacked 2 terror bunkers using RCL and machine gun fire around 6 last evening. Terror casualties not known in this incident.
During the midnight hours on Friday (June 13) troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Ponnar area using Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPG). Details of terror casualties were not known. Meanwhile, 2 soldiers suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire and anti personnel mine (AP) explosions in the same area last evening. The casualties were admitted to Palaly military base hospital.
On the Nagarkovil front, troops attacked an LTTE movement detected ahead of the own defence line around 8 last night. Both parties exchanged mortar, RPG and machine gun fire. Ground troops claimed at least 2-3 LTTE cadres were killed or wounded. Own troops suffered no injuries. In a separate incident occurred in the same area a soldier suffered injuries due to AP mine explosion around 7 pm.
On the Muhamalai front , troops launched a surprise attack at 6 identified LTTE bunkers during midnight hours on Friday using machine gun and small arms fire. The attack drew terror retaliation with mortar and machine gun fire. No details on terror casualties are available. No casualties to own troops.
Separately, troops attacked 2 terror bunkers using RCL and machine gun fire around 6 last evening. Terror casualties not known in this incident.
Dr. Liam Fox calls for international help to develop SL
British Shadow Defence Secretary Dr. Liam Fox has urged the international community to contribute to Sri Lanka's development activities especially as the Government has been able to liberate the East from the clutches of terrorism and restore democracy in that province.
He emphasized this at the Sri Lanka theme night hosted by the Carlton Club, an affiliate of the Conservative Party in the UK.
Mr. Liam Fox also reiterated that recent events in the East of Sri Lanka has given the government a great historic opportunity and challenge to demonstrate its willingness to undertake reconstruction on the basis not of ethnicity but that every citizen was being afforded the same possibilities, the Presidential Media Unit reported.
He regretted that the Agreement he forged to diminish political impediments to developments in Sri Lanka 12 years ago as British Foreign Office Minister failed due to the very personality-based politics it tried to avert.
Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama delived a lecture on "A people's mandate for democracy over terrorism in the East of Sri Lanka" at the same event, sources added.
Courtesy : Government Information Department
He emphasized this at the Sri Lanka theme night hosted by the Carlton Club, an affiliate of the Conservative Party in the UK.
Mr. Liam Fox also reiterated that recent events in the East of Sri Lanka has given the government a great historic opportunity and challenge to demonstrate its willingness to undertake reconstruction on the basis not of ethnicity but that every citizen was being afforded the same possibilities, the Presidential Media Unit reported.
He regretted that the Agreement he forged to diminish political impediments to developments in Sri Lanka 12 years ago as British Foreign Office Minister failed due to the very personality-based politics it tried to avert.
Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama delived a lecture on "A people's mandate for democracy over terrorism in the East of Sri Lanka" at the same event, sources added.
Courtesy : Government Information Department
"Terrorists are trying to create ethnic disharmony" - Minister Devananda
The LTTE is trying to create panic among the Sri Lankan civil society and the continuous disruptive attacks targeting innocent civilians are aimed at achieving their narrow gains, said Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda.
He also stressed that the people of the south must understand these plots of the terrorists and act accordingly without being trapped in the snare that the terrorist are working on.
Minister Devananda said that the sole purpose these brutal attacks of the terrorists is to agitate the public into pressurizing the government to halt the ongoing military operations against the terrorists where the tigers are being severely beaten.
He said that these attacks take lives of people of all walks of life irrespective ethnicity or race.
Courtesy : Government Information Department
He also stressed that the people of the south must understand these plots of the terrorists and act accordingly without being trapped in the snare that the terrorist are working on.
Minister Devananda said that the sole purpose these brutal attacks of the terrorists is to agitate the public into pressurizing the government to halt the ongoing military operations against the terrorists where the tigers are being severely beaten.
He said that these attacks take lives of people of all walks of life irrespective ethnicity or race.
Courtesy : Government Information Department
LTTE terrorists kill two Tamil prisoners in Jaffna
Defence sources in Jaffna reveal that two Tamil prisoners while being taken to the courts were shot dead by suspected LTTE gunmen this morning (June 13). An armed gang of 3-4 members who had arrived in a van stopped the bus belonging to the Prison Department and carried out the shooting around 9.15 am., said the sources. Another prisoner suffered injuries and was directed to immediate medical attention the sources added.
Police said that the bus was traveling from Chunnakam to Point Pedro. The armed gang had stopped the vehicle at the old rail crossing at Chunnkam and the shooting was carried out using micro pistols. The assassins had dropped a leaflet at the location with the message, "Death to those who betray the Tigers", police added.
Later, the van was found left in a near by location. A civilian has made a complain to the police that the van had been forcibly taken from him by an armed gang of Tamils this morning.
Police said that the bus was traveling from Chunnakam to Point Pedro. The armed gang had stopped the vehicle at the old rail crossing at Chunnkam and the shooting was carried out using micro pistols. The assassins had dropped a leaflet at the location with the message, "Death to those who betray the Tigers", police added.
Later, the van was found left in a near by location. A civilian has made a complain to the police that the van had been forcibly taken from him by an armed gang of Tamils this morning.
LTTE kills two soldiers in Vavuniya
Two Soldiers were shot dead by LTTE terrorists at Parayankulama in Vavuniya this afternoon (June 13). According to the defence sources, the incident took place around 12.50 pm when two soldiers were on duty at a picket point on the Parayanakulama- Madavachchiya road.
The sources further said that the terrorist hiding in a nearby jungle patch had carried out the shooting with a T-56 riffle. A search operation has been launched in the area.
The sources further said that the terrorist hiding in a nearby jungle patch had carried out the shooting with a T-56 riffle. A search operation has been launched in the area.
Battle continues; 15 terrorists killed in yesterday's clashes
Finalized military reports received from battlefronts in the Wanni and Jaffna indicates 15 terrorists killed and at least 8 others injured in yesterday's (June 12) clashes. Also, another 37 LTTE cadres were recorded as either killed or wounded, according to the reports. 3 soldiers were killed and 15 others suffered injured during these incidents.
In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops attacked an LTTE firing position located in the Nagarkovil battlefront last night. Ground sources claimed 3 terrorists were either killed or wounded. Meanwhile, another soldier suffered injuries in an anti personnel (AP) mine blast on the same day evening.
On the Vavuniya front , Wanni theatre of operations, troops had clashes in several areas and claimed to have killed 6 terrorists and wounded 2 others.
In the Navatkulam area, troops confronted with the terrorists last morning and confirmed one terrorists was killed. In a similar incident reported from Vilakkvittakulam area, last evening terror radio transmission confirmed that one terrorist was killed.
Meanwhile, a sniper deployed in the Periyamadhu area confirmed killing one terrorist last evening; while ground troops confirmed to have killed 3 terrorists and wounded 2 others in a confrontation erupted in the Chiraddikkulam area in the same evening. Also, a soldier suffered injuries in the said incident.
Two other soldiers suffered injuries due to AP mine explosions occurred in the Periyamadhu area. Meanwhile 47 AP mines were uncovered by troops engaged in search operations in the area.
On the Mannar front, troops attacked and destroyed an LTTE bunker detected in the Koddaikulama area last evening and claimed 2 terrorists were killed. Also, in the Mullikkandal area troops captured 2 terror bunkers later in the same evening and claimed 4 terrorists either killed or wounded. Meanwhile, 2 soldiers suffered injuries due to LTTE small arms fire while engaged in duties in the Kalliadanchan and Mullikkandal areas during the day.
On the Welioya battlefront, troops had a series of clashes in various locations in North Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulama areas and claimed to have killed 5 terrorists and wounded 6 others. Another 30 were recorded as either killed or wounded. Also, 2 soldiers were killed or 9 others wounded during these clashes.
Counter terror offensives are continuing.
In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops attacked an LTTE firing position located in the Nagarkovil battlefront last night. Ground sources claimed 3 terrorists were either killed or wounded. Meanwhile, another soldier suffered injuries in an anti personnel (AP) mine blast on the same day evening.
On the Vavuniya front , Wanni theatre of operations, troops had clashes in several areas and claimed to have killed 6 terrorists and wounded 2 others.
In the Navatkulam area, troops confronted with the terrorists last morning and confirmed one terrorists was killed. In a similar incident reported from Vilakkvittakulam area, last evening terror radio transmission confirmed that one terrorist was killed.
Meanwhile, a sniper deployed in the Periyamadhu area confirmed killing one terrorist last evening; while ground troops confirmed to have killed 3 terrorists and wounded 2 others in a confrontation erupted in the Chiraddikkulam area in the same evening. Also, a soldier suffered injuries in the said incident.
Two other soldiers suffered injuries due to AP mine explosions occurred in the Periyamadhu area. Meanwhile 47 AP mines were uncovered by troops engaged in search operations in the area.
On the Mannar front, troops attacked and destroyed an LTTE bunker detected in the Koddaikulama area last evening and claimed 2 terrorists were killed. Also, in the Mullikkandal area troops captured 2 terror bunkers later in the same evening and claimed 4 terrorists either killed or wounded. Meanwhile, 2 soldiers suffered injuries due to LTTE small arms fire while engaged in duties in the Kalliadanchan and Mullikkandal areas during the day.
On the Welioya battlefront, troops had a series of clashes in various locations in North Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulama areas and claimed to have killed 5 terrorists and wounded 6 others. Another 30 were recorded as either killed or wounded. Also, 2 soldiers were killed or 9 others wounded during these clashes.
Counter terror offensives are continuing.
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