Archive for November 20th, 2008

ITN Sinhala NEWS 2008 - 11- 20

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Courtesy : Independent Television Network Ltd

Task Force 1 captures LTTE Airstrip – Pooneryn

Task Force 1 now marching towards Paranthan LTTE stronghold has captured one of the LTTE airstrips located in the Nivil area, Pooneryn this afternoon (Nov 20).

According to the defence sources in the filed, the airstrip is about 200m in length. The terrorists have demarcated a stretch of the B-69 Pooneryn-Parantan main road, which is also believed to be used as an emergency landing strip by the LTTE, military sources said. Troops have established their forward boundaries about 14 km west from Paranthan and engaged in clearing operations at present, the sources added.

The LTTE terrorists are the first terror outfit to procure airpower introducing a new dimension to the global terrorist warfare.

Army goes offensive at Northern FDL; terrorists to lose their first line of defence

Sri Lanka Army latest offensive elements 53 and 55 divisions are now in the process of consolidating their positions on the newly captured LTTE’s first line of defence at the Northern theatre of operations, say the defence sources.

According to the sources, troops of 53 division are now linking up the captured terror bunkers in the Kilaly area, South of A-9 road while the 55 division soldiers are engaged in clearing operations in the Muhamalai forward area, North of the A-9.

Army shifted its mode of operations from active defence to all out offence in the Northern theatre on Saturday (Nov 15) by running at the LTTE’s forward defence lines (FDL) in Muhamalai and Kilaly . Heavy clashes prevailed in the areas for 5 consecutive days , as the terrorists made a desperate attempt to halt the army advance.

55 division scored the initial success achieving the full domination of the LTTE defence line at Muhamalai on Tuesday (Nov 18). Meanwhile, 53 division soldiers were able to capture a large part of the LTTE bunkers in the Kilaly area by Wednesday evening (Nov 19).

Intercepted radio transmission reports revealed heavy toll of deaths and casualties to the terrorists during these clashes. Also, Army confirmed destruction of 4 improvised mortar guns of the terrorists known as “Pasilan” and “Baba” mortars. Terrorist leaders, Theepan, Muhundan and Jerry were heard making unsuccessful calls for their forward elements to hold their positions. However, Theepan and Jerry themselves were known to have fled the area as soon as their forward elements abandoned the first line. According to the latest information , Theepan have returned to the theater and threatening LTTE cadres in the front not to withdraw any further.

Army maintained active defence in the area during last few years thwarting all LTTE attempts at Jaffna peninsula. The distance between Army FDL and the LTTE’s was just 500m before the operations commenced. Now, troops have covered this stretch and heading further Southwards.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

TRO Lashes out at Govt. for Freezing Funds

Tamil Rehabilitation Organization today condemned the move by the Government to forfeit funds of the TRO which were frozen earlier. In a statement issued, the TRO stated that they wish to “remind the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that 75% of the “forfeited” funds in TRO’s accounts were donated by the United Nations, international NGOs, foreign governments and the GoSL itself”

Courtesy: Dailymirror

Baiz complains of ill treatment by police

Deputy Minister of Livestock Development and Member of Parliament, K.A. Baiz has lodged a complaint with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse and IGP Jayantha Wickremaratna over ill treatment meted out to him by police officers on duty within the parliament premises.

Courtesy: Dailymirror