Archive for September 10th, 2008

Watch ITN Sinhala News 2008 - 09 - 10

Minor explosion in Mt.Lavinia

A minor explosion has been reported in Mt.Lavinia at 7.40 this evening (September 10). According to the police sources, a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) has been exploded on the railway track close to De Seram road, Mt.Lavinia.

Also, Police confirmed that no one has received injuries due to this explosion. Only minor damages have been caused to the railway track, police added.

Police conducts further investigations.

China ensures continued support to Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi today (Sept 10) ensured continued support of the Chinese government for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s efforts to bring about a solution to the ethnic conflict and achieve ethnic solidarity in the country.

He expressed China’s confidence that under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka will play an important role in promoting and ensuring peace and stability in the region. He made these sentiment when he called on the President at the President’s House today.

President Rajapaksa thanked China for generous assistance and cooperation with Sri Lanka especially in projects such as the Hambantota Port, Norochcholai Power Plant and the Performing Art Centre. The Chinese assistance would help Sri Lanka to overcome an unexpected crisis in the power sector, he added.

Also, he observed that most projects initiated with China are already underway and Sri Lanka would encourage more investment from Chinese Companies and already decided to earmark a separate area for Chinese investment.

President reminded how every government had attempted to negotiate with LTTE and how the terror outfit had resorted to violence targeting civilians at each occasion. Hence, he pointed out the necessity of eradicating terrorism.

He said that the East has now being liberated and Sri Lankan security forces are successfully moving forward to achieve this end in the North and restore democracy to the people of the North.

The Chinese Foreign Minister who stressed the importance of continuing the strong and good relations between China and Sri Lanka was appreciative Sri Lanka’s unshaken support for ‘One China Policy’ and thanked the President for continued support on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet that are matters of China’s core national interests.

Foreign Minister said China would continue with efforts to accept more Sri Lankan students for higher education, support Sri Lanka in international forums and that the Chinese people look forward to greater strength in China- Sri Lanka relations in the years to come.

Following the meeting Sri Lankan and Chinese Foreign Ministers signed an agreement whereby China gave a grant of 50 million RMB to Sri Lanka for economic and technical cooperation in the coming year.

The Chinese delegation included Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dabo Ye and other senior officials.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Palitha Kohona and Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Chief of Protocol, Foreign Ministry W. Hettiarachchi also attended the meeting.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Troops success in Vavuniya; even Black Tigers ran for their lives - soldiers

Sri Lankan security Forces once again displayed their professionalism and combat effectiveness in counter terrorist warfare yesterday (Sept 9) when they crushed the combined ground and air attack carried out by the LTTE in Vavuniya.

A group of “Black Tigers” or the members of the terror band for brainwashed suicide cadres launched a predawn attack at the airbase Vavuniya with the support of heavy artillery and aerial bombardment. However, they miserably failed even to get a glimpse of their target when they met with Army elites on the way. According to the reports, the aim of the terrorists was to destroy the vital air force assets including the air defence radar located in the airbase.

The terrorists’ barrages of 130mm artillery could not prevent the army counter offensive and the whole mission became a flash in a pan as troops hunted down all the “Black Tigers” outside the perimeters of the Wanni Security Forces’ complex. According to the soldiers who took part in the battle, the so called “Black Tigers” had quickly taken on to their heels in all directions when Army Special Forces soldiers had started their hunt. Reports indicate about 70 artillery rounds had been fired by the terrorists to prevent army soldiers countering the ground assault.

During the attack 13 soldiers laid down their lives and 18 others sustained injuries. Also, one Police constable was killed, 8 Police personnel and 5 Air Force personnel were injured.

Troops found 11 bodies of LTTE cadres along with weapons. Among the weapons seized, there were 1 Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG), 2 Rocket Propeller Grenade launchers (RPG) with 4 bombs, 1 grenade launcher (40mm), 6 T-56 riffles, 27 hand grenades, 4 radio communication sets, 3 suicide jackets, 14 jackets, 32 pistol rounds, 1 GPS and other accessories of weapons and bombs. Among the slain terrorists there were 6 males and 5 females, clad in Army uniforms.

Defence observers are in the view that the terrorists had planed the attack to revive the sagging morale of the fighting cadres and to convince the Tamil Diaspora that its fighting capacity was intact despite the increasing battlefield losses. Also, they contended that the incident would be a harrowing defeat for those terror fund raisers overseas. Those who fight war in the internet and fund LTTE to send more Sri Lankan Tamil children to death would certainly be disappointed, they stated.

Meanwhile, battlefield reports received from Northern battlefront indicate 23 deaths and 28 casualties to LTTE in yesterday’s clashes. Also, 2 soldiers were killed and 13 others sustained injuries during the day’s incidents.

On the Kilinochchi South front, terrorists made two abortive attempts to break the Army forward defence in the Panailandamadu area around 8.15 PM. Troops of Task Force 1 repulsed the attack successfully and beat off the terrorists. Later, intercepted terror radio transmission revealed that 6 terrorists were killed and 12 others injured during the clash. Two soldiers were killed in action and 9 others sustained wounds.

In the general area North of Rumulamunai, troops attacked a terror bunker around 11 AM and claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 2 others wounded. In a similar attack carried out in the Vannerikkulama area around 6.20 AM troops claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 3 others wounded. Meanwhile, snipers deployed in the Kariyalaimoddai area reported shooting down of 3 LTTE cadres during afternoon hours.

Troops of 57 division operating in the West of Mullaittivu front, attacked two LTTE bunkers located in the Akkarayankulama area around 1.30 PM. Intercepted terror radio transmission revealed 2 terrorists killed and one wounded.

In the general area East Anichiyankulam, a soldier suffered injuries due to an IED (improvised explosive device) last afternoon.

On the North of Vavuniya front, troops of Task Force 2 attacked and capture a terror overhead bunker located in the Palamoddai area around 1PM. Intercepted terror transmission confirmed one terrorist killed and 3 others wounded. Meanwhile, snipers deployed in Palamoddai confirmed shooting down of 2 terrorists during morning hours. Elsewhere, a soldier suffered injuries in an AP (anti personnel) mine explosion around 4 PM.

In the general area North of Navatkulama, troops of 56 division carried out two separate attacks at terror bunkers during morning hours and claimed one terrorist was killed and 2 others wounded.

On the East of Mullaittivu front, troops of 59 division attacked and captured a terror trench defence located in the Ulathuvely area around 1.30 PM. Troops found one terror body during subsequent search. Later in the evening, troops attacked and captured 4 terror bunkers and 5 trenches located in the same area.

In the general area Andankulama, troops confronted the terrorists at several occasions and claimed 3 terrorists were killed, 5 others wounded and 4 more were either killed or wounded. Also one soldier sustained injuries

Meanwhile, troops engaged in mine clearing operations in the area removed 85 AP mines and disposed 6 IEDs.

In the Jaffna theatre troops continued to attack terror locations in the Muhamalai and Ponnar areas. However, exact terror casualties in these incidents were not available. One soldier suffered injuries in an AP mine explosion in the Ponnar around 9 AM.

Counter terror offensives are being continued.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Sri Lanka Government should start negotiations with LTTE-UN General Secretary

United Nation’s General Secretary Ban Ki Moon stressed that the Sri Lanka Government should start negotiations with the LTTE terror outfit.

He further added that the government ought to take speedy measures to provide all facilities for the people who are trapped in conflict areas and ensure the right of living freely for the displaced persons in any part of the country.

Meanwhile Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief services Risath Baththiyutheen said that steps have already been taken to provide facilities for people who are moving from, unliberated Killinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath