Sri Lankan government won 26 year old war and exact details as to whether he has been killed or captured will be notified when the President arrives from Jordan tomorrow.
Sri Lankan Government won the war
Sri Lankan government won 26 year old war and exact details as to whether he has been killed or captured will be notified when the President arrives from Jordan tomorrow.
LTTE prepares for mass suicide; key terror leaders trapped
LTTE terrorists are preparing for a mass suicide after being effectively cut-off of escape routes, both land and sea and now encircled in a mere 3.5sq.km of land West of Vellamullivaikkal, Wanni military sources said citing intercepted LTTE communication.
According to defence observers, the LTTE senior ranks are expecting to prolong its imminent defeat resorting to such futile terror tactics using civilian hostages, new recruits and black tigers as weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). "The terrorists have no way to go and the only way out is to surrender with the security forces or to be crushed in the military advance" a military official said. Terrorists are blowing off large explosive and ammunition dumps also using stocks of white phosphorous with improvised barrel bombs to create large destruction within the hostage makeshift camps.
Meanwhile, an LTTE attempt to ram an explosive laden bus into the 58 Division forward defences failed with the bus exploding prematurely. No damages were caused to troops military said adding that at least 10 terrorists were killed due to the explosion.
During initial interrogations conducted, Soosai's wife had told with the Navy that Soosai along with LTTE leader Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and some other key terrorists as still holed up in the small area at Vellamullivaikal.
According to defence observers, the LTTE senior ranks are expecting to prolong its imminent defeat resorting to such futile terror tactics using civilian hostages, new recruits and black tigers as weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). "The terrorists have no way to go and the only way out is to surrender with the security forces or to be crushed in the military advance" a military official said. Terrorists are blowing off large explosive and ammunition dumps also using stocks of white phosphorous with improvised barrel bombs to create large destruction within the hostage makeshift camps.
Meanwhile, an LTTE attempt to ram an explosive laden bus into the 58 Division forward defences failed with the bus exploding prematurely. No damages were caused to troops military said adding that at least 10 terrorists were killed due to the explosion.
During initial interrogations conducted, Soosai's wife had told with the Navy that Soosai along with LTTE leader Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and some other key terrorists as still holed up in the small area at Vellamullivaikal.
Prabhakaran Captured- Final announcement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa,on Sunday morning
An unconfirmed report says Prabhakaran is captured by the Government forces at early hours today 16th May. Government is waiting for the President to return from Jordan and address the nation. Government sources said a final announcement of the rebel's defeat was due to be made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is currently on a visit to Jordan and was due back in Sri Lanka Sunday morning. It is now clear that Prabhakaran is dead.The kith and kin of LTTE top leaders including VP have moved to the Army held area with forged identities. The army is now in the process of identifying them. Soosei earlier reported to have literally handed-over his family to the Navy (but reported as captured by the Navy). Some of the self-appointed LTTE Colonels, middle range leaders and regional level leaders have been surrendered to SLA . A group of self proclaimed "Government Doctors" has also turned themselves in to the forces of the 58th division. (The LankaWeb - 16/05/09)
Sri Lanka military cuts off rebel sea escape
Sri Lanka military cuts off rebel sea escape
By KRISHAN FRANCIS – 1 hour ago
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan forces took control of the island's entire coastline Saturday for the first time in decades, sealing the Tamil Tigers in a tiny pocket of territory and cutting off the possibility of a sea escape by the rebels' top leaders, the military said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed to defeat the remaining rebel fighters and end the 25-year-old civil war by Saturday night.
As the war has entered its final stages, tens of thousands of civilians have fled intense shelling of the last bit of territory under rebel control — a 1.2-square mile (3.1-square kilometer) strip between a lagoon and the sea. More than 17,500 civilians have fled since Thursday, according to military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
The latest military success gave the government full control of the coast for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. The rebels, who once ran a de facto state across the north, had controlled a formidable navy and sea smuggling operation.
Now on the verge of battlefield defeat, the rebels reiterated their calls for the government to cease its offensive and restart talks to resolve the deep-seated ethnic conflict between the minority Tamils and the Sinhalese majority.
Selvarasa Pathmanathan, in charge of the rebels' international relations, said the group welcomed President Barack Obama's call Wednesday for a peaceful end to the conflict and would do "anything that is necessary" to spare the civilians. However, he did not specifically say whether the rebels would accede to Obama's request that they lay down their arms and surrender.
Army divisions moving toward one another along the island's northeastern coast linked up at the village of Vellamullivaikkal early Saturday, Nanayakkara said.
Government forces have been hunting for the reclusive Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his top deputies for months, but it was unclear if they were still in the remaining patch of rebel territory or had already fled overseas.
International concern has grown for the tens of thousands of civilians still trapped in the sliver of land amid the unrelenting artillery bombardments shaking the war zone, and the Red Cross has warned of "an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe" for the hundreds of wounded trapped without treatment.
Hoping to end the bloodshed, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, to Sri Lanka for a second time to try to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion. Nambiar was to arrive Saturday and hold meetings with top government officials.
The government has brushed off repeated calls from foreign diplomats for a humanitarian truce in the conflict, saying it would only give the reeling rebels time to regroup.
The U.N. says 7,000 civilians were killed and 16,700 wounded in the fighting from Jan. 20 through May 7, according to a U.N. document given to The Associated Press by a senior diplomat.
Since then, doctors in the war zone say more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in a week of heavy shelling that rights groups and foreign governments have blamed on Sri Lankan forces. The government denies firing heavy weapons into the war zone.
Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government has barred most journalists and aid workers from the conflict zone.
Some 4,500 civilians escaped the war zone Saturday, Nanayakkara said. More than 200,000 civilians have escaped the conflict zone in recent months and are being held in displacement camps.
On Thursday night, Rajapaksa said the war would be over within 48 hours and that the trapped civilians would be quickly freed from the territory still controlled by the guerrillas.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told The Associated Press in Jordan that Sri Lankan soldiers were probably fighting their final battle against the remaining rebel fighters. He said reports have indicated that relatives of top rebel leaders are starting to flee the war zone.
The navy intercepted a boat off the northeastern coast Friday and arrested the wife, son and daughter of the rebels' sea wing leader, who were among 11 people on board, Nanayakkara said.
Associated Press writer Jamal Halaby in Southern Shuneh, Jordan, contributed to this report.
By KRISHAN FRANCIS – 1 hour ago
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan forces took control of the island's entire coastline Saturday for the first time in decades, sealing the Tamil Tigers in a tiny pocket of territory and cutting off the possibility of a sea escape by the rebels' top leaders, the military said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed to defeat the remaining rebel fighters and end the 25-year-old civil war by Saturday night.
As the war has entered its final stages, tens of thousands of civilians have fled intense shelling of the last bit of territory under rebel control — a 1.2-square mile (3.1-square kilometer) strip between a lagoon and the sea. More than 17,500 civilians have fled since Thursday, according to military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
The latest military success gave the government full control of the coast for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. The rebels, who once ran a de facto state across the north, had controlled a formidable navy and sea smuggling operation.
Now on the verge of battlefield defeat, the rebels reiterated their calls for the government to cease its offensive and restart talks to resolve the deep-seated ethnic conflict between the minority Tamils and the Sinhalese majority.
Selvarasa Pathmanathan, in charge of the rebels' international relations, said the group welcomed President Barack Obama's call Wednesday for a peaceful end to the conflict and would do "anything that is necessary" to spare the civilians. However, he did not specifically say whether the rebels would accede to Obama's request that they lay down their arms and surrender.
Army divisions moving toward one another along the island's northeastern coast linked up at the village of Vellamullivaikkal early Saturday, Nanayakkara said.
Government forces have been hunting for the reclusive Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his top deputies for months, but it was unclear if they were still in the remaining patch of rebel territory or had already fled overseas.
International concern has grown for the tens of thousands of civilians still trapped in the sliver of land amid the unrelenting artillery bombardments shaking the war zone, and the Red Cross has warned of "an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe" for the hundreds of wounded trapped without treatment.
Hoping to end the bloodshed, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, to Sri Lanka for a second time to try to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion. Nambiar was to arrive Saturday and hold meetings with top government officials.
The government has brushed off repeated calls from foreign diplomats for a humanitarian truce in the conflict, saying it would only give the reeling rebels time to regroup.
The U.N. says 7,000 civilians were killed and 16,700 wounded in the fighting from Jan. 20 through May 7, according to a U.N. document given to The Associated Press by a senior diplomat.
Since then, doctors in the war zone say more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in a week of heavy shelling that rights groups and foreign governments have blamed on Sri Lankan forces. The government denies firing heavy weapons into the war zone.
Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government has barred most journalists and aid workers from the conflict zone.
Some 4,500 civilians escaped the war zone Saturday, Nanayakkara said. More than 200,000 civilians have escaped the conflict zone in recent months and are being held in displacement camps.
On Thursday night, Rajapaksa said the war would be over within 48 hours and that the trapped civilians would be quickly freed from the territory still controlled by the guerrillas.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told The Associated Press in Jordan that Sri Lankan soldiers were probably fighting their final battle against the remaining rebel fighters. He said reports have indicated that relatives of top rebel leaders are starting to flee the war zone.
The navy intercepted a boat off the northeastern coast Friday and arrested the wife, son and daughter of the rebels' sea wing leader, who were among 11 people on board, Nanayakkara said.
Associated Press writer Jamal Halaby in Southern Shuneh, Jordan, contributed to this report.
Sri lankan Samantha Chandrasena reports from Dubai
[14:31:18] samantha.chandrasena: Gents,
Word has just arrived from the North notifying that by 5pm tomorrow the war will be over. Ltte has dumped their own amunitions and Prabhakaran has been captured.
Exact details as to whether he has been killed or captured will be notified when the President arrives from Jordan tomorrow.
Word has just arrived from the North notifying that by 5pm tomorrow the war will be over. Ltte has dumped their own amunitions and Prabhakaran has been captured.
Exact details as to whether he has been killed or captured will be notified when the President arrives from Jordan tomorrow.
Pro LTTE Supporters in Netherlands attacked the Sri Lankan Embassy Again
Pro LTTE Supporters in Netherlands attacked the Sri Lankan Embassy again there last night by using petrol bomb (Bottles).
Dutch Police now providing Police Protection to the Sri Lankan Embassy and Ambassedor Mrs.Ashirvadan is planning to complaint this incident to the Dutch Foriegn Secretery.Prior to this attack the Sri Lankan Embassies in Norway,India and Canada also faced simillar attacks from the pro LTTE Supporters.
Dutch Police now providing Police Protection to the Sri Lankan Embassy and Ambassedor Mrs.Ashirvadan is planning to complaint this incident to the Dutch Foriegn Secretery.Prior to this attack the Sri Lankan Embassies in Norway,India and Canada also faced simillar attacks from the pro LTTE Supporters.
Sri Lanka says rebels surrounded
Sri Lankan troops have captured the last patch of coastline held by the separatist Tamil Tigers, according to a senior military source. Two army divisions fighting along the coastline from the southern and northern ends of the conflict zone linked up on Saturday morning, the official said. "The Tigers still have a few square kilometres of land, but not the use of the beach front," he said, referring to the fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the defence ministry spokesman, told Al Jazeera: "After this linking up of two divisions, the entire coastal stretch has been denied to the LTTE. ... We have completely denied the LTTE's Sea Tigers access to the sea. Rescue pledge Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, had vowed on Thursday to end the war against the LTTE within 48 hours. He also said civilians in the war zone would be quickly freed.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday, Nanayakkara stressed that the "main aim is to rescue civilians. Rescue operations are going on." He claimed that once the real figures of civilians trapped in the conflict zone become known, those cited by humanitarian organisations would be exposed as exaggeration. International concern has grown for tens of thousands of civilians under threat from artillery raids in the war zone. Hundreds trapped The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has given warning of "an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe" for the hundreds of wounded trapped without treatment. "No humanitarian organisation can help them in the current circumstances. People are left to their own devices," Pierre Krahenbuhl, the ICRC's director of operations, said. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, has sent his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, to Sri Lanka for a second time to try to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion.
Nambiar is expected to meet senior government officials after he arrives on Saturday, and push for ways "to secure the safety of the 50,000 to 100,000 civilians remaining inside the combat zone", Gordon Weiss, a UN spokesman, said. About 200,000 civilians have escaped the war zone in recent months and are being held in overwhelmed displacement camps. Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government has barred most journalists and aid workers from the conflict zone. The UN says 7,000 civilians were killed and 16,700 wounded in the fighting from January 20 until May 7. Since then, doctors in the war zone say more than 1,000 civilians were killed in a week of heavy shelling that rights groups and foreign governments have blamed on Sri Lankan forces. Sri Lanka denies firing heavy weapons into the war zone. Navi Pillay, the UN's human rights chief, has said both sides may be guilty of war crimes. | |||||||||||||||||
| |
