Mop up operations in progress in Pooneryn salient; Air Force comes to troops assistance

Task Force 1 troops having liberated Poonaryn are now engaged in mop-up operations in the Poonaryn salient, Defence sources in the filed reveal. Troops are now clearing their way towards Kalmunai Point (K-Point) along the 20 Km long narrow land stretch where the LTTE terrorists used to stationed their artillery and mortar batteries.

Meanwhile , Sri Lanka Air Force has lunched a series of air strikes in support of ground troops in the Muhamalai area. Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told defence.lk that MI-24 helicopters and fighter jets have engaged LTTE artillery and mortar positions in the area since 6.30 to 9.45 this morning (Nov 15).

Army Chief , Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka describing the victory to state media said that the whole stretch of A-32 road from Mannar to Poonaryn has been liberated after 20 years. He said that troops of Task Force 1 and 57 Division have cutoff the Poonaryn- Paranthan road (B-69) yesterday and marched for about 8 Km down the road to Pooneryn junction .

“Then we advanced further and captured Sangupiddy ferry that connects the road to Thanankiluppu in Jaffna”, now the army has dominated the whole west coast”, he said.

Speaking further, he said that it is the  first time after 20 years that the Army has opened a land route to Jaffna.

“We have eliminated large number of terrorists during this battle, remaining terrorists are now running for their lives across the Kilali lagoon”, he said.

In addition, he said that troops of 57 Division and Task Force 1 have already started marching eastward towards A-9 road.

“At present, our forces have positioned themselves about 10 Km west of Paranthan on the A-9 road”, he said.

Poonaryn remains a hallmark of the undying courage of Sri Lanka Army soldiers as they withstood frenetic attack by the terrorists at the isolated camp in 1993. Army handed over their positions in the area to IPKF in 1987 and regained them in 1992 in Operations Valampuri 1 and 2. On 11 November 1993 , LTTE made an attempt to capture the Poonaryn camp but failed before the courage of Army soldiers. The incident was excessively misinterpreted as a great debacle by media with exaggerated army death and casualty figures.  In mid 1996 , the camp was vacated  by the Army as a tactical measure .

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Eastern province Chief Minister’s secretary gunned down

The secretary of the eastern province Chief Minister and his driver were killed in a shooting incident took place opposite the Steel corporation in Oruwala along the Kaduwela - Athurugiriya road this morning, 14 November.

According to the police sources, the shooting incident took place around 11.30 a.m.

The gunmen shoot at Mr Kumaraswamy Nandagopan, secretary of eastern province Chief Minister while he was traveling on a car with his driver along the Kaduwela - Athurugiriya road police sources said.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Artistes carry peace message through Adishtana Pooja

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Artistes participating in the Adishtana Pooja yesterday. Picture by Rukmal Gamage

The Adishtana Pooja by Sri Lankan artistes aimed at carrying the message of peace and harmony, goodwill and brotherhood and principally organised to clear the air regarding the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to their protesting South Indian counterparts was held yesterday at Torrington Square with the participation of a large gathering of film and tele-stars and personalities in the art field.

The main objective was to create a true picture of the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to rescue the innocent civilians trapped in the grip of LTTE terror, veteran actor Ravindra Randeniya, an organiser of the event stated.

A letter was also submitted to South Indian Cinema Artistes and Technicians through the High Commissioner of India following the Adishtana Pooja.

Highlighting the main objective of the event, Randeniya said artistes who have gathered there yearn for a peaceful country. This is the hope and aspiration of the people of this country.

He said whatever community be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher, had been under threat by the LTTE terrorists’ acts for more than three decades without exception. Today the artistes have raised their voice on their behalf.

There is no country which had been under the threat of terrorists’ cruel acts with assassinations of political leaders and veterans from all the fields, he recalled the bitter past where innocents suffered.

A message signed by artistes stressed that there is no genocide practised against innocent un-armed Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.

Therefore it is highly unjustifiable to interpret the current humanitarian operation to liberate the Northern Tamils from the clutches of a dictatorial outfit as a kind of genocide against Tamil population.

The letter also explained the history of the LTTE and failed attempts of all Governments to negotiate peace with the outfit.

Courtesy : Daily News

Govt reiterates stand on CFA : LTTE must disarm

The Government’s firm stand on the Ceasefire Agreement is unchanged, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said adding there will not be peace negotiations with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrenders.

Addressing the media yesterday on the weekly security situation at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few days certain elements behind the LTTE proposed a CFA with the LTTE. “This was the normal practice of the LTTE when they were defeated militarily and weakened. They call for peace negotiation to halt the offensive and avoid the Security Forces’ humanitarian mission to liberate uncleared areas.

Our leaders experienced this during the last three decades,” he added. “Whenever the LTTE proposes a CFA, it always ends it with destruction and a calamity to the Government, public and sovereignty of the country,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.

Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government categorically rejects any peace negotiation settlement with the LTTE unless the Tigers lay down arms and surrender to Security Forces. “When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office he immediately extended an invitation for peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President called the LTTE to the negotiation table in Geneva. The CFA was abused by the LTTE in many occasions since then,” the Minister said.

Minister Rambukwella said during the CFA the Jet Liner ship carrying unarmed forces on holiday and a Navy medical team had come under LTTE fire.

A vegetable market too was bombed in Jaffna. 17 Commandos were killed in an attack, then an attempt was made to assassinate the Army Commander finally and Mavilaru sluice gate was attacked to disrupt the daily life of people who depend on farming.

Following these abuses of the CFA by the LTTE, the Government had decided to erase terrorism and liberate civilians from the LTTE clutches. “The East was liberated and the democracy had been restored. The Easterners were allowed the franchise and their political rights restored, the Minister said.

Minister Rambukwella stressed that the North will be liberated and the humanitarian mission will be continued by the Security Forces. The Government has no any intention to negotiate with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrender. We embarked on an humanitarian mission in the North and troops are successfully marching forward and are now in the victory of Kilinochchi.

The entire North and our brothers and sisters entrapped in the Tigers’ grip will be liberated in near future. Democracy will be restored in the North as in the East,” he added.

Courtesy : Daily News

Secondary investigations to identify those who assaulted Mervyn - CID

The CID told the Colombo Magistrate today that they had initiated secondary investigations into the Rupavahini incident to identify those responsible for damaging property and assaulting Labour Minister Mervyn Silva.

Courtesy: Dailymirror