(Jan 21) It has only been a week since several civilians in Thanamalvila village were brutally killed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The same guerilla attack team which exploded a cilivian transport killing 27 are suspected to be behind the attacks. The authorities are worried by the fact that this LTTE unit is still at large in the area. They are now forced hunt down the tiger team in the vast jungle terrain and to take precautionary measures against future attacks at the same time.   More...

(Jan 21) SLA units launched a surprise attack on 24 bunkers ahead of the Nagarkovil, Muhamalai and Kilali FDL at around 2am today, completely destroying the bunkers. The majority of the Tigers manning the bunkers ran for their lives. The names of 15 Tigers killed were later confirmed. SLA sources indicated that around 30 others may have been injured in the attack. The Army lost two men. The successes come after the Sri Lanka Army changed the timing of its attacks, from pre-scheduled strikes launched after Bodhipooja, based on auspicious times given by astrologers to totally random offensives launched at the will of the officers and men involved.  More...

(Jan 20) The fundraising activities in South London is said to have taken some momentum. A factory worker in North London during lunch break has said to his colleagues that he was approached by a known LTTE man and asked to contribute £100 per month. He had reflected his disappointment to the fundraiser that in the last round large sums were collected for ‘final Eelam war’ and ‘Eelam is still not in sight’. The fundraiser had explained the difficulties faced by the LTTE and asked for funds to maintain services for the people in the LTTE controlled areas.  More...

(Jan 19) Special Forces was initially raised with 2 officers and 38 soldiers by Brigadier G. Hettiarachchi (now retired). Initially it was known as CTT (Combat Tracker Team) and then as RDF (Rapid Deployment Force). RDF scored huge successes in Operation 'Vadamarachchi' leading to the inception of SF. Another key figure in the formation of SF was Colonel A.F. Lafir (PWV, RSP, PWP *) . He commanded the 1st special forces regiment till his death in 1996. Colonel Lafir was killed while leading a 250 man volunteer SF team in Operation Thrivida Pahara which's aim was to relive Mullaithiv SLA base which was besieged by LTTE.  More...

(Jan 19) The number of massacred civilians in Thanamalvila could be as many as 30, unofficial sources indicated to DefenceWire. The victims are mostly Chena Cultivators from Thanamalvila. These massacres have been conducted, possibly by 3 12-man/woman teams, probably from Jeyanthan Regiment brought through Upparu jungle in Trincomalee. The present Jeyanthan regiment comprises mostly of Eastern fighters who did not disband with Karuna in 2004. They ae now commanded by Northern fighters.  More...

(Jan 19) Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) (LD): I am grateful to Mr. Speaker for selecting for today’s Adjournment debate my suggested subject of Government support for the peace process in Sri Lanka. I had previously applied for a debate on the subject, but it could not happen. Mr. Speaker has kindly acceded to my request to reinstate the debate today. Little did I know that the debate would be as timely as it has turned out; I am grateful to Mr. Speaker for understanding the appropriateness of this debate at this time.  More...

(Jan 19) The government’s decision to abrogate the Norwegian-facilitated Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed with the LTTE in 2002 is a matter of the gravest concern to the undersigned civil society organisations. Truces historically tend not to last long unless they culminate in a negotiated peace agreement. Unfortunately, the conflicting parties were not willing to negotiate a political solution using the point of entry to the peace process provided by the CFA that the government, the LTTE, and the people of Sri Lanka could build on.  More...

(Jan 19) The terrorism of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the opposing paramilitary forces in the Northern Ireland for over two and a half decades was brought to and with the Good Friday -Belfast Agreement that was reached between the conflicting parties in Belfast on Friday, April 10 1998 which brought the cessation of hostilities in Northern Ireland. The agreement ‘sets out a plan for devolved government in Northern Ireland on a stable and inclusive basis and provided for the creation of Human Rights and Equality commissions, the early release of terrorist prisoners, the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and far reaching reforms of criminal justice and policing’.  More...

(Jan 19) In recent months, there has been a concerted effort by sections of the polity and media to discredit international humanitarian organisations and UN agencies by accusing some of them of being supporters of the LTTE. As members of civil society we are very concerned about these allegations and the manner in which these agencies have been treated, which seemed to be aimed at damaging the credibility of these organisations and of other NGOs that have a long track record of service to the war, disaster-affected, and poverty stricken sections of the Sri Lankan population.   More...

(Jan 18) SBS is a somewhat recent addition to the SLN. It was established in 1993 with 75 sailors and three officers. By 2008 SBS has grown into a fully fledged fighting formation specialized in maritime counter-terrorism, recovery of hijacked vessels, deep penetration attacks, amphibious assaults, underwater demolitions, VIP protection, beach reconnaissance and combat swimmer missions. Although the unit is formally under SLN command, it has on many occasions carried out coordinated strikes with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) against the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  More...

(Jan 18) In the North Western Provincial Council, the ruling UPFA is likely to lose its majority when the SLMC members cross over to the Opposition: speculation is rife that there will be such a move shortly. According to Council’s Opposition Leader Asoka Wadigamangawa, if the cross over occurs, the ruling UPFA will lose its majority and will have only 26 seats as against the Opposition’s 27 seats   More...

(Jan 18) The President has asked the Cabinet sub Committee on the cost of living (which, so far has been an eyewash!) to decide by how much the electricity tariffs should be increased before the Cabinet meeting next week. He had asked them to recommend a suitable unit rate (suitable only for the Govt.!).
In the meanwhile, Transport Minister Dallas Allaperuma too has hinted that there will be a further bus fare hike as a sequel to the recent fuel price increases!   More...

(Jan 18) Sri Lanka is swirling into anarchy and the country's leaders, it appears, want to drain the nation of even the last copper and most of them, will probably flee the Sri Lankan shores. Some are even ready with their US Green Cards for that escape. In the meantime, President Rajapakse has let loose thugs of many kinds on the society some from the ranks of ministers. Evidently, they were needed as hitmen and the price they demanded were cabinet portfolios. In others words Sri Lanka's yesterday's thugs were goondas in sarongs and banians and today's are ministers in cloth and kalki tops.  More...

(Jan 18) The Peace Secretariat is sorry that the latest venture of Amnesty International into international politics should have coincided with a terrorist attack which left 26 people dead and more dying. Amnesty will doubtless claim justification, in that it proclaimed that 'The end to the ceasefire could unleash fresh violence' but it seems that its main worry is that this fresh violence 'will lead to serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and mass displacement of civilians'. Violation of the right to life does not find mention here.  More...

(Jan 18) It is said that Prabhakaran is wounded and that there is an effort to take him to India for treatment. It is suggested here that he should not be allowed to be taken anywhere. There may be interested parties who may want to take him to UK for treatment as he is one of the blue eyed dictators of the western powers. However, when in difficulties the west has unceremoniously dumped their blue eyed dictators and Prabhakaran would not be an exception. Under such circumstances the west cultivates another dictator to lead a process that has always had their blessings.   More...

(Jan 18) The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to exercise his executive powers if judicial decisions prove to be an obstacle to national security. One example, according to NMAT is the removal of barriers set up to check suspicious vehicles. Minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle too has drawn attention to this fact. NMAT media spokesman and Political Science Lecturer of the Sri Jayewardenepura University Anuruddha Pradeep said that only the unconditional unity of all parties would ensure the defeat of LTTE terrorism.  More...