Major Incidents of Terrorism-related Violence in Sri Lanka, 2009-2010

2009

June 18: Three suspected LTTE militants were shot dead by the Police in a clearing operation in the former LTTE-hideout in northern areas of Vavuniya District. According to Police, suspected LTTE cadres attacked the Vavuniya special Police unit when they attempted to search a vehicle during combing operations at Nelukulam. Three militants were killed in the encounter that ensued after Police opened fire in retaliation to the militants’ firing.

May 27: 11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kalavanchikudi area of Batticaloa District. Subsequently the troops recovered dead bodies of all the 11 slain militants along with five T-56 weapons, 20 claymore mines weighing about 15 kilograms each, two hand grenades, three anti-personnel mines and a stock of medical items from the area.

May 26: Four decomposed dead bodies of LTTE militants along with huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered by the troops from the Vaddakachchi, Visuamadukulam, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Ampakamam and Vellamullivaikkal areas of Mullaitivu District.

May 22: Troops found five decomposed dead bodies of the LTTE militants along with three I-com sets, two pistols and two magazines from the Mullaitivu area.

May 21: 10 LTTE militants were killed by the Army troops in the Kadawana jungle area of Trincomalee District. Subsequently, the troops recovered dead bodies of all the 10 slain militants along with seven T-56 weapons, one M-16 weapon, eight hand grenades, one claymore mine of seven kilograms and one radio set from the area. Three senior militants, identified as Sathyan Master, Kanthan and Oviyan were among the killed.

Army troops recovered dead bodies of six LTTE militants along with one 122-mm artillery gun, three micro pistols, 27 pistols, 94 T-56 weapons, three T-81 weapons, four Multi Purpose Machine Guns (MPMG), four FNC weapons, 24 pistol ammunition, nine I-Com sets, 26 claymore mines, one 40-mm mortar barrel, one 81-mm mortar barrel, 14 Rocket Propelled Guns, six Light Machine Guns (LMG), two sniper weapons, eight 12.7-mm weapons with barrels, six 37-mm barrels, one satellite phone, two 81-mm magazines, two 81-mm LMG drums, seven MPMG links, and one unidentified weapon and SLR 2024 in cash during search and clear operations in the Vellamullivaikkal area of Mullaitivu District.

May 20: The slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's wife Mathivathani, daughter and 13-year old younger son Balachandran were reportedly found shot dead. Their bodies, having gunshot wounds in the head, were found in the Nanthikandal lagoon area barely 600 metres from where Prabhakaran's body was recovered by the Army. Contrary to earlier media reports, Prabhakaran's family were not in Europe. The family was shot dead by the SFs as it tried to break out of the NFZ. Another 150 bodies were found in the lagoon area.

May 19: Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka confirmed that the dead body of the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was found. His body was found by the 53rd Division troops led by Major General Kamal Gunaratne near the Nanthikandal lagoon. Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said Prabhakaran had died due to a gun shot injury to his head. The Army is reported to have found his identity card issued by the LTTE and the armlet with the number one indicating his position in the outfit. According to defence sources, Prabhakaran had tried to save his life until the last moment. Although the LTTE International Relations Head K. Pathmanathan denied the Government's claim, saying on a pro-LTTE website Tamil Net that Prabhakaran is "alive and safe", the DNA tests have proved that the body recovered belongs to Prabhakaran, the Army said. Fonseka confirmed that Prabhakaran's body was found among the 150 or so bodies the army recovered.

38 dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including those of seven females, were recovered by the troops along with 29 T-56 weapons, two T-81 weapons, one Mini Ushi weapon, one silencer weapon, one FNC weapon, one 40-mm grenade launcher, two pistols, one M-16 weapon, one T-97 weapon, two I-Com Sets, two Global Positioning Systems and three pouches during a search operation in the Vellamullivaikkal area of Mullaitivu District. The bodies recovered and identified included that of Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) leader "Brigadier" Soosai, senior intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Verti, an intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Ram Kumar, a senior female intelligence leader "Lieutenant Colonel" Manimekala alias Komali, political head in Batticaloa "Lieutenant Colonel" Anna Thurai, a senior Sea Tiger leader "Colonel" Rangan, "Lieutenant Colonel" Vinodan and a senior intelligence leader.

May 18: The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed, the Sri Lankan military has said. The announcement on State television came shortly after the military said it had surrounded Prabhakaran in a tiny patch of jungle in the north-east. The head of the Sri Lankan army Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka said the military had defeated the rebels and "liberated the entire country". "Today we finished the work handed to us by the president to liberate the country from the LTTE," Gen Fonseka said in the broadcast. The broadcast quoted military officials as saying Prabhakaran was killed along with two of his deputies. It said Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the LTTE naval wing, were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaaykkaal area while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance.

The SFs found a dead body suspected to be of Charles Anthony, the elder son of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, from the Karaiyamullivaikal area. The Sri Lanka Army, however, confirmed that Anthony, known to be the head of Information and Technology department of the LTTE, was killed. In addition, the SFs also recovered dead bodies of three key LTTE leaders, identified as political wing leader of the outfit Nadeshan, head of the outfit’s peace secretariat Pulidevan and senior special military leader of the outfit Ramesh.

The death of senior LTTE militants, including Suventhiran Balaguru alias Jeyam, Rathnam Master and Madavan Master, were confirmed by the clearing troops after their dead bodies were scientifically identified, the Army Headquarters declared.

Troops also confirmed the death of 11 more senior LTTE militants who attempted to escape being captured by the troops in Wellamullivaikkal area. These senior cadres include LTTE Police chief Ilango, aide to LTTE chief's son Sudharman, senior intelligence leader Thomas, LTTE military leader Luxman, senior Sea Tiger (Sea wing of the LTTE) cadre Sri Ram, LTTE female military leader Isei Aravi, LTTE deputy intelligence leader Kapil Amman, in charge of LTTE female training Ajanthi, in charge of LTTE mortar section Wardha, Secretary to LTTE chief Pudiyawan and Special military leader Jenarthan were among them.

May 17: At least 150 LTTE militants were killed during fierce fighting with the troops inside the No NFZ in Mullaitivu District. Troops operating in the western edge of the Nanthikandal lagoon foiled an attempt by the LTTE militants to escape towards the jungles in Mullaitivu and Puthukkudiyiruppu south killing more than 80 militants, including nine female cadres, who tried to breach the SF defences. "More than 80 well trained Tiger cadres were killed and their bodies were recovered collected from the Nanthikandal lagoon as troops foiled the Tigers’ attempt to breach the Security Forces defence around 2.30 am yesterday," said military officials in Mullaitivu. The attempt to breach the SF’s defences came after launching four LTTE boats into the Nanthikandal lagoon from the NFZ whilst hundreds of other militants crossed the lagoon to reach the western edge of the lagoon. Troops repulsed the attack killing several militants and destroying boats heading towards the SF’s defences.

May 16: Army troops attacked LTTE positions in the Karaiyamullivaikal and Vellamullivaikkal areas causing heavy damages to the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations troops recovered four dead bodies of the militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition.

During a clash between the two sides in the Sarwaruthoddam area troops killed three militants and also recovered their bodies along with a large cache of arms and ammunition.

May 15: During their advance into the Mullaitivu front, troops of the 58th Division recovered dead bodies of 40 LTTE militants and arrested three female Sea Tigers. Troops also recovered the biggest ever arms and ammunition stock they have within a 24 hour period, a military official said. The recoveries included seventy two 60-mm mortars, 36 Indian made Rocket Launchers, two anti-aircraft pedal guns, one 12.7-mm machine gun, a Marine Radar, 12 suicide boats. "Thousands of sea mines and huge stocks of arms and ammunitions which were being counted by the troops for hours were recovered on Friday", the official added.

Army troops continued their advance further into the LTTE-held areas inside the new NFZ and attacked groups of militants causing extensive damages to the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations in the Palamattalan area the troops recovered 35 dead bodies of the militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 206 T-56 weapons, one 12.7-mm gun, two paddle guns, four Multi Purpose Machine Guns, one Navy-boat gun, one radar, six suicide boats, and three Light Machine Guns.

An explosion in the Vellamullivaikkal area targeting the 58^th Division troops at the frontal defence positions failed to inflict damages to upon the SFs as the red-coloured LTTE double cab prematurely exploded and went up in flames as it was nearing the troops in the opposite direction. At least 4-5 LTTE suicide bombers inside the double cab were reported killed in the huge explosion. In addition, four LTTE militants aboard to motorbikes along the beach sped at a high speed and tried to attack troops on the other side of the beach. However, they failed in their attempt and were shot dead by the SFs.

May 14: At least 1,700 civilians were killed and over 3,000 wounded within the last 48 hours as SLA continued its indiscriminate shelling inside the new NFZ, according a statement released by the LTTE Peace Secretariat, reported Tamil Net. The catastrophic situation has been made worse by the acute shortage of food and medicine, the statement said, adding, "Local doctors who are trying to work in these hospitals have decided to hand the hospitals over to the ICRC in the hope that under ICRC management the hospitals may be spared from bombardment."

The SLA launched shells fell and exploded in a boat in which 12 persons from Wanni were fleeing to Point Pedro, killing four persons, reported Tamil Net.

May 13: More than 100 civilians, including many children, patients and an International Committee of the Rd Cross (ICRC) worker, were killed in a SLA artillery attack that targeted a makeshift hospital and the surrounding areas which comprises of many tarpaulin huts in the Mullivaaykkaal area of Mullaitivu District inside the NFZ, reports Tamil Net. The slain doctor was identified as Senthilkumaran, while the slain ICRC worker was identified as Myuran Sivagurunathan. At least 40 persons were injured when the SLA targeted the hospital for the third time within five days. No reports were available on the casualties outside hospital premises as the road remained congested with vehicles moving southwards amid shelling and gunfire over their heads, the Website claimed.

Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal area of Mullaitivu District recovered dead bodies of 19 LTTE militants. One senior cadre, identified as Kannikkaran, was among the dead, troops confirmed. In addition, 21 T 56 weapons, one 12.7-mm weapon, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG), one Light Machine Gun, one FNC Weapon, one 12.7mm gun barrel, three claymore mines each weighing about 12.5 kilograms, one disposable Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) , one improvised mortar launcher and two I-Com radio sets were also recovered from the same area.

May 12-13: The 59th Division troops who reached the south of the new NFZ in the night of May 12 foiled a major sea and ground attack by the LTTE to recapture the newly liberated areas destroying a number of LTTE suicide boats and killing an unspecified number of militants, military officials said on May 13. The fighting broke out at around 9.30pm (SLST) on May 12 as the troops were consolidating their positions along the earth bund they captured after crossing the lagoon in Waddawakkal. "Initially there were huge Tiger suicide boats fitted with high powered engines and two of them rammed into the bunkers held by the troops in the ground. The engines of these suicide boats were so powerful that they can reach the bunkers in the ground once they landed in the beach," an unnamed military official told Daily News. Another suicide boat that reached the shore after the initial attack was damaged by the troops preventing it reaching the shore. Amid the seaborne attack, more than 100 to 150 militants attempted to breach the newly captured earth bund south of the NFZ but that attempt was also foiled by the SFs killing unspecified number of militants. "Fierce fighting continued till 1 am on Wednesday as the LTTE deployed some of their suicide cadres to breach the Security Forces’ defences," the official added.

May 12: The SLA fired artillery shells on the makeshift hospital which was functioning at Mullivaaykkaal junior school inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu district killing at least 47 civilians, reported Tamil Net. At least 55 patients sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal area of Mullaitivu District recovered 43 dead bodies of LTTE militants along with 65 T-56 weapons, two body-armours, one pouch, three helmets, 13 explosive cans and one Outboard Motor (OBM).

Troops of the 58^th Division moving from the north entered the new NFZ in the Mullaitivu District countering the LTTE attacks. Addressing the press at the Media Centre for National Security, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Three LTTE suicide bombers hiding inside underground bunkers have blown themselves as advancing 58 division troops closed-in on them. In a subsequent search operation, troops recovered 25 bodies of Tiger cadres, 20 T56 assault rifles and other warlike items."

May 10- 11: A Sri Lanka Government doctor V. Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the war zone, said 393 people were either brought to the hospital for burial or had died at the facility on May 10, while another 37 bodies were brought in the morning of May 11. More than 1,300 injured came to the hospital, he added. In addition, a senior UN official in Colombo said on May 11 that reports of large-scale killings in the war zone in Sri Lanka appear to show that fears of bloodbath had become a reality. "We’ve been consistently warning against a bloodbath, and the large-scale killing of civilians including more than 100 children this weekend appears to show that the bloodbath has become a reality," said UN spokesman Gordon Weiss. The Government, however, in a statement issued on May 11 denied allegations by the LTTE that its Security Forces shelled the recently re-demarcated new NFZ causing thousands civilian casualties. It said that it denies the reports "attributable to sources aligned with or under duress from the LTTE" and said "the Government's view is that to treat the doctor's statement as evidence of irrefutable and incontrovertible fact, is unwise."

May 11: A Sri Lanka Government doctor V. Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the war zone, said 393 people were either brought to the hospital for burial or had died at the facility on May 10, while another 37 bodies were brought in the morning of May 11. More than 1,300 injured came to the hospital, he added.

May 10- 11: More than 3200 civilians were reported killed inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net on May 11. Lawrence Christy, chief of the TRO field office, on May 11 put the death toll of civilians in SLA shelling at more than 3,200 killed since the evening of May 10 up to the morning of May 11. The SLA offensive formations were firing using cannons, 50 calibre machine guns, artilleries, mortar and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher guns.

May 9-10: Tamil Net claimed that indiscriminate shelling by the SLA inside the NFZ starting from the night of May 9 to the morning of May 10 killed more than 2,000 civilians, including women and children.

A health official in the region, Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, told foreign media that the initial artillery attack - which lasted from the evening of May 9 to the morning of May 10 - killed at least 378 civilians and wounded more than a thousand more.

May 9: Nine civilians died and 19 others sustained injuries when the LTTE militants opened fire on them at NFZ. The Sri Lanka Army report adds that estimated 303 escapees were trying to enter troop-held areas across causeway in Mullaitivu when the LTTE terrorists stormed them and went on a shooting-spree to prevent them from deserting the LTTE.

May 8-9: At least 35 LTTE militants were killed on May 8, as the advancing troops took full control of the last outfit's defensive earth bund in the Mullaitivu District. The troops have completely cleared the Karyamullvaikkal area, Defence officials said on May 9. Currently the LTTE is limited to an area of just three square kilometres, added the official. As reported earlier, an unspecified number of dead bodies of LTTE militants were found scattered along with their weapons, when troops captured the last LTTE built earth bund in the south of Karaiyamullivaikal in the morning of May 7.

May 8: Troops in the Karaiyamullivaikal, Vellamullivaikkal, Udayarukattukulam and Vavunavillu areas of Mullaitivu District recovered dead bodies of 31 LTTE militants along with 32 T-56 weapons, two RPG, four MPMG, one 12.7 weapon, one 40-mm grenade launcher, two I-com sets, two claymore mines, three T-56 magazines, two detonators and two maps.

31 more dead bodies of LTTE militants were recovered by the troops along with a cache of arms ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west, Puthukkudiyiruppu east, Verakulam, Vellamullivaikkal, Vavunavillu and Allaiwewa areas. Among others, the seizure included one 82-mm mortar barrel, two 81-mm mortar barrels, one 60-mm mortar and three 12.7-mm weapons.

May 7-8: At least 45 civilians were killed and more than 197 injured as the SLA continued heavy shelling with cluster-munitions on civilian targets in the Mullivaaykkaal area of the NFZ in the Mullaitivu District, claims Tamil Net.

May 6: Clashes continued in the Vellamullivaikkal area, when advancing troops met LTTE resistance. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of three LTTE terrorists, two T-56 weapons and one communication set from the area.

May 4: The STF personnel in the Komari and Pothuvil areas of Ampara District foiled a LTTE infiltration bid, killing four militants.

STF personnel in Komari and Pothuvil areas of Ampara District foiled a LTTE infiltration bid, killing four militants.

May 2: 64 civilians were killed and 87 others injured as the SLA twice attacked the only remaining makeshift hospital at Mullivaaykkaal in the NFZ of Mullaitivu District reported Tamil Net. Two artillery shells fired by the SLA hit the hospital at around 9:00am killing 23 and injuring 34 others while several shells that were fired later at 10:30am killed 41 civilians and wounded 53 others.

The STF personnel ambushed a group of LTTE militants at Kanchikudiary in the Ampara District killing four militants and recovering a large haul of arms, ammunition and explosive devices. The STF later identified the LTTE intelligence wing members as Vedanayagam, Elevandran, Kaleiwendran and Sathyapavan.

May 1: The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed three Sea Tiger boats, including two suicide boats and an attack craft, killing at least 23 militants in a pre-down attack in the seas off Mullaitivu. The SLN spokesman, Captain D.P.K. Dassanayake, said the Navy patrolling three nautical miles in the Mullaitivu sea observed a cluster of LTTE boats deployed from Putumattalan in the NFZ heading towards the currently established Navy first defence line. The Navy’s Special Boat Squadron, Fast Attack Craft and Rapid Action Boat Squadron engaged the Sea Tiger boats attempting to launch a suicide attack on the naval craft. "Two suicide craft laden with high explosives and another attack craft were completely destroyed in the fierce sea battle that erupted in the Mullaitivu sea. At least 23 sea terrorists were killed. Intercepted LTTE communications revealed that Sea Tigers have suffered heavy damages in the confrontation", Captain Dassanayake added.

April 30-May 1: At least 66 civilians were killed as the SLA stepped up artillery, mortar and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher fire on Mullivaaykkaal village during the past 48 hours, reported the Tamil Net. While 39 of the 200 injured civilians admitted at Mullivaaykkaal hospital died on April 30, 27 more civilians among the 110 injured admitted at the hospital died on May 1.

April 29: At least 350 soldiers were killed and over 700 injured as heavy fighting erupted between the troops and the LTTE in the area north of Mullivaaykkaal in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District according to the Tamil Net. The fighting erupted after two days of heavy attacks by the Sri Lanka Army that has attempted to advance towards Mullivaaykkaal, the report added.

The military continued its operation inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing several civilians, claimed Tamil Net. Rescue workers recovered 160 dead bodies of civilians from the area north of Mullivaaykkaal. Around 150 civilians were feared killed after 4pm on the same day, the rescue workers further said.

Naval troops patrolling the North Eastern seas foiled a LTTE attempt to breach its first defence line killing 28 Sea Tigers (cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE), including three female Sea Tiger leaders, identified as Manparithi, Ariyu and Manmadhi, in the sea off Mullaitivu, Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P. Dassanayake told. The Navy Special Boat Squadron confronted with six boats, including four suicide craft, launched from Vellamullivaikkal in the southern part of the NFZ. All the boats were destroyed in the operation.

April 28: 35 militants were killed as clashes ensued between the SFs and LTTE militants in the areas south of Rektavaikkal in Mullaitivu District.

Troops conducting operations in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District captured a 700 meter long LTTE-built earth bund built across Rektavaikkal area in the south of Valayarmadam. Subsequently, the militants drove an explosive laden truck into the troops who retaliated blowing up the vehicle using gunfire, defence sources said. Troops also suffered casualties but managed to avoid a major disaster by destroying the explosive laden vehicle, before it reached the earth bund. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of seven militants from the area.

April 27-28: More than 200 civilians were killed as the SLA fired at least 2,600 MBRL rockets, more than 1,000 artillery shells and at least 2,000 heavy mortar shells from 6:00pm on April 27 till 11:00am on April 28, LTTE officials in Wanni told Tamil Net. Most of the shells fired by the SLA hit civilian shelters in Mullivaaykkaal, Thaazhampan, Ottaippanaiyadi and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas. In addition, the Sri Lanka Air Force bombers attacked Ottaippanaiyadi and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas by deploying cluster bombs, LTTE leaders claimed.

April 27: Troops continued their push towards the last LTTE hideout in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing 12 militants while injuring 27 others, the Defence Ministry said.

Four Sea Tigers were killed in an attack carried out by the SLN Fast attack crafts and the Special Boat Squadron boats. The SLN personnel observed two Sea Tiger boats moving towards the advancing ground troops in the sea off Mullaitivu adjacent to the NFZ at around 4.30am. Naval crafts intercepted these two boats and opened fire completely destroying one boat while causing heavy damages to the other killing the four Sea Tigers.

Troops continued their push towards the last LTTE hideout in the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killing 12 militants while injuring 27 others, the Defense Ministry said. The ministry said that the LTTE has intensified violence against civilians with a renewed hope of survival.

Four Sea Tigers were killed in an attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Navy Fast attack crafts and the Special Boat Squadron boats. The SLN personnel observed two Sea Tiger boats moving towards the advancing ground troops in the sea off Mullaitivu adjacent to the NFZ at around 4.30am. Naval crafts intercepted these two boats and opened fire completely destroying one boat while causing heavy damages to the other killing the four Sea Tigers.

April 26: At least 40 LTTE militants were killed and 35 others wounded as the troops captured Valayarmadam area of NFZ in Mullaitivu District.

The SLN on duty in the seas off Mullaitivu confronted a cluster of LTTE attack boats and sank three of them with militants on board. At least 12 militants were killed and several others injured in clashes that lasted for a few hours.

April 25: Suspected LTTE militants carried out two attacks at Nochchikulam in the Morawewa area of Trincomalee District and Panama in the Pothuvil village of Ampara District, killing nine civilians.

April 24: The 58th Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva said in Kilinochchi that troops have already captured six kilometres of the NFZ in Mullaitivu District and added that the LTTE was still putting up resistance, firing away 122 mm artillery. "The LTTE is firing but we are not retaliating because of fears that we will hit the civilians. We are using only small arms and carrying out targeted attacks. We don't mind spending more time to recapture the entire area," said Silva, adding, "At least 15 soldiers were killed and about 75 injured during the past four or five days due to LTTE artillery fire. The military operation will end when we fully rescue the remaining civilians from the LTTE. And that will be the end of the LTTE," Brig. Silva said.

April 23: Rev. Father T. R. Vasanthaseelan, the director of Human Development Centre of Caritas Jaffna, the social arm of the Catholic Church in the Jaffna Diocese, was wounded, when the SLA fired shells on the Our Lady of Roses Church in Valaignarmadam inside the NFZ of Mullaitivu District for the second consecutive day, claimed the Tamil Net. 14 civilians who had taken refuge at the church were killed in the shelling. The church is the main centre for people seeking refuge in Valaignarmadam. The SLA has attacked the church despite repeated calls from Jaffna Diocese not to target the church where 17 priests and 22 nuns were continuing to serve their congregations, the Website added.

Troops engaged in rescue operations at Puthumattalan NFZ in Mullaitivu advanced further towards the southern sector close to Ampelvanpokkanai and Velayanmadam areas killing over 10 militants. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of the slain militants along with 25 T-56 weapons, three caps, one Pajero vehicle, two canter vehicles, one motor bicycle, one T-81 weapon, 24 grenades and two I-com sets.

April 22: The SFs killed 14 LTTE militants and injured 21 others during clashes in the Puthukkudiyiruppu east area of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed four militants in the Puttumatalan area and also recovered one 12.7 gun and seven Multi Purpose Machine Guns from the incident site.

April 21-22: Tamil Net claimed that the SLA stepped up artillery and mortar barrage on Valaignarmadam killing and injuring civilians who have sought refuge at several locations. Rev. Father James Pathinathar, a prominent Catholic priest, was reportedly injured in SLA shelling that hit the Church in Valaignarmadam. The Website also alleged that the SLA shelling on April 21 killed a doctor and seven persons at a makeshift medical centre in the same area.

April 21: 22 dead bodies of the LTTE militants were recovered as troops moving past the Puttumatalan junction in the NFZ further extended their defence line to the eastern edge of the beach virtually breaking the NFZ into two major portions. The 58th Division troops "entered into the areas of Puthumanthalam and Ampalavanpokkanai in the no-fire-zone (NFZ)".

The Defence Ministry said that at least four LTTE militants, including local area leader Ramanan, were reported killed and an armour plated vehicle was destroyed "when troops raided an LTTE gathering position east of Puttumatalan".

April 20: The SFs rescued 39081 civilians held hostage by the LTTE inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District. Earlier, the 58th Division entered the NFZ in the early hours of April 20 with the capture of a three kilometres long LTTE-built earth bund in the Puttumatalan and Ampalavanpokkanai areas and opened the gates of the NFZ.

17 civilians were killed and over 200 injured when three LTTE suicide bombers rammed into civilian gatherings and blew themselves up inside the NFZ in the Puttumatalan area between 9.00a.-1.00pm (SLST). The Defence Ministry said the militants initially fired at civilians on the causeway using heavy machine guns.

April 19: The SLA shelling targeting Iraddaivaaykkaal and Mullivaaykkaal areas inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District killed at least 30 civilians, reported Tamil Net.

The SFs killed 17 LTTE militants and injured 22 others during clashes while the troops attempted to clear a road that would give the military access to remaining territory in Mullaitivu District held by the outfit, the Defence Ministry said.

Three militants who had infiltrated the area west of Omanthai in Vavuniya District were shot dead by the SFs.

April 17-18: SLA continued indiscriminate shelling inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District on April 17 and April 18 killing at least 60 civilians, according to local NGO workers, claimed Tamil Net. The SLA shelling targeted Iraddaivaaykkaal and Mullivaaykkaal areas of the NFZ. Medical authorities at Puthumaaththalan hospital reported that 63 wounded civilians were admitted on April 17 while 55 others on April 18 at the makeshift hospital. Of the 118 injured, 67 were wounded in shelling and 51 in gunfire, according to medical sources.

April 16: 57 civilians were killed and more than 300 wounded when the SLA fired shells and cannons inside the NFZ at Mullivaaykkaal, Pokkanai and Iraddaivaaykkaal in Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

The SFs gained complete control over a LTTE built earth bund cum ditch in the outskirts of the No Fire Zone killing six militants.

April 15-16: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and 15 others injured as cashes erupted between SFs and militants in east Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District.

April 13-14: Suspected militants attacked the residents of Galvetiyamandiya village in Moneragala District in the evening of April 13 and shot dead at least three civilians, the military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said on April 14. The victims included two elderly women and one male. Police also found one more woman with severe injuries. Police suspect that the same group of militants who massacred nine civilians in Mahagodayaya is involved in this attack.

April 12-13: Tamil Net claimed that at least 23 civilians were killed within 12 hours in SLA shelling and gunfire inside the NFZ. Most of the killings occurred within Valaignarmadam and Mullivaaykkaal areas, when SLA stepped up a fresh ground push to advance into the NFZ, the report added.

Five villagers were hacked to death by suspected LTTE militants, while they were returning from their paddy fields at Mahagodayaya in the Buttala area of Moneragala District. Initial reports said a group of militants in the jungle have carried out the massacre. Buttala Police said there were two children among the victims. At least two others were injured in the attack, Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara said. The death toll of the suspected LTTE attack on villagers at Mahagodayaya along the Buttala-Moneragala road in Moneragala District in the evening of April 12 has risen to nine, Police said on April 13. Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara said that another four persons who were wounded severely succumbed to their injuries later in the same night. Police confirmed that three men, three women, and three children were among the dead.

April 12: At least 31 civilians were killed in SLA shelling and gunfire inside the NFZ on April 12, claimed Tamil Net.

April 11: 17 civilians were reported killed and 48 others injured in SLA attacks, reported Tamil Net.

The military claimed killing eight LTTE militants and injuring 12 others as sporadic fighting was reported between troops and the militants at the fringes of Ampalavanpokkanai in Mullaitivu District. According to military, the SFs engaged the militants who were attempting to breach the forward defenses at around 10:00am (SLST).

Five militants were killed by the SFs in the east Puthukkudiyiruppu. In a separate incident in the same area, 53rd Division troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants and reportedly killed three of them.

April 10: 12 civilians were killed and 50 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net reported.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the outer perimeter of the NFZ and subsequently recovered nine dead bodies of the militants along with 22 T-56 weapons, one Rocket Propeller Grenade launcher, 25 thousand rounds of 5.56 ammunition, one pistol with three magazines and three I-com sets.

April 9-10: The SFs brought the remaining area west of Puttumatalan in Mullaitivu District under their control, by killing at least seven militants on April 9. The SFs also recovered nine T-56 weapons, one I com set and a damaged tractor with its trailer. During extended search operations on April 10, the SFs recovered three more dead bodies of the militants along with 12 T-56 weapons and one MPMG. After the capture of this area there is no land left for the troops to clear from the LTTE except the NFZ.

April 9: 52 civilians were killed and 315 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net reported.

The SFs conducting search and clear operations in the Munnai, Chalai, Patikkarai, east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and Vishuamadu areas, recovered four decomposed dead bodies of the militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition, including 31 T-56 weapons, two magazines, 65 sea mines, four 12.5 kilograms claymore mines, and seven hand grenades, and other items. SFs also recovered 18 T-56 weapons, one micro pistol along with one decomposed dead body of a militant from the north of Nanthikandal lagoon. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in explosions in the area. Separately, one T-56 weapon, one three kilograms claymore mine, one detonator and one hand grenade were found by the SFs in the Ampalavanpokkanai and Olumadu areas.

April 8: 129 civilians were killed and 282 others sustained injuries in SLA artillery shelling inside the NFZ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

50 civilians were killed and 296 others injured in military operations inside the NFZ, Tamil Net reported.

Troops of Army's 53rd Division advancing ahead of the eastern limits of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District clashed with the LTTE militants amid heavy resistance killing 12 militants and injuring 20 others. Troops later recovered dead bodies of seven slain militants.

Troops conducting search and clearing operations in Puthukkudiyiruppu found five dead bodies of LTTE militants along with 11 T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun, two RPGs, two I-com sets, three pouches, seven T-56 weapons.

April 6: Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District recovered 72 more dead bodies of the LTTE militants raising the total number of recovered bodies from the area to 525 since April 1.

April 5: At least 420 LTTE militants, including several top leaders, were killed as the troops captured the outfit's final stronghold in Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District and ended the long siege on the last square kilometre held by the LTTE following three days of fighting. The slain leaders included Northern area leader Theepan, female wing leader Vidusha and her deputy Durga, Batticaloa leader Nagulesh and Gadafi. Military wing leader Bhanu was reportedly critically injured in the fighting. Five more senior leaders, identified as Seelambarasan, leader of the LTTE's Radha Regiment, his deputy Anbu, the militant in charge of mortar section Gopal, Asmi, in charge of mines section and a leader of LTTE's Sodia Regiment Mohana were among the other top leaders killed. In search operations conducted in the area troops recovered more than 250 dead bodies of militants bringing the total number of dead bodies recovered during last three days up to 420.

The SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Vishuamadu and Mullaitivu areas killing 14 of them, including six females.

April 4: At least 93 LTTE militants were killed in fierce clashes with the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu east area of Mullaitivu District. During the subsequent search operation the SFs recovered dead bodies of 93 slain militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 111 T-56 weapons, 17 T-81 weapons, four 12.7-mm guns, and two M16 rifles.

71 civilians were killed and 143 sustained injuries in Sri Lanka Army shelling targeting Maaththalan, Pokkanai, Valaignarmadam and Iraddaivaaykkaal areas inside the No Fire Zone in Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

The Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter fired a rocket killing eight civilians near the Pokkanai Pillaiyaar temple.

April 3: At least 45 militants were killed when heavy fighting erupted between the SFs and the LTTE militants in the north east of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. The SFs later recovered dead bodies of all the slain 45 militants. Earlier, the SFs had recovered 21 dead bodies of the militants along with 60 T-56 weapons from the area.

40 senior militants were killed by the SFs during clashes in the Analankulam area of Mullaitivu District. The SFs also recovered 60 T-56 weapons, four RPG, two I-com sets, 10 claymore mines, 60 mortars, 15 anti-personnel mines, 28 packs and several LTTE uniforms.

18 Sea Tigers were killed when the SLN engaged a flotilla of 10 LTTE boats in the north-eastern sea off the coast of Alampil destroying three of the boats, the MCNS said. 'During the sea battle two LTTE boats were destroyed and one more was damaged. The navy conducting the search operation in the area have already recovered at least 11 bodies of the LTTE cadres killed in the pre-dawn clash,' a defence official attached to the MCNS said. The military said three naval craft received minor damages and two sailors suffered injuries in the incident.

13 LTTE militants, including an explosive expert, were killed when Police commandos of the STF ambushed them at Kongahahela in the Lahugala area of Ampara District. The STF said they recovered dead bodies of the slain militants, including two females, along with a large haul of weapons and explosives.

SFs killed five militants in the north of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Subsequently, the SFs recovered dead bodies of the slain militants along with 19 T-56 weapons, seven hand grenades, four I-com sets, one RPG, 17 improvised explosive devices, four flak jackets, nine Arul bombs, 554 rounds of 12.7-mm ammunition, one light machine gun and several cyanide capsules.

April 2: 31 civilians were killed and 70 wounded as the SLA continued artillery and mortar shelling in addition to firing RPG shells and Fifty Calibre rounds inside the NFZ, according to medical and humanitarian workers within the NFZ, Tamil Net reported.

31 LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during clashes between the two sides in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District. A few soldiers also sustained injuries during the clashes. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of 31 militants along with 50 T-56 weapons, one GPS unit, two RPG, one MPMG, one M16 weapon, two I-com sets and several other LTTE items.

During a search operation following an encounter with the militants, the SFs in Vishuamadu area recovered dead bodies of three militants along with some arms and ammunition.

April 1: 33 civilians were killed and 78 wounded as the SLA continued artillery and mortar shelling in addition to firing RPG shells and Fifty Calibre rounds inside the NFZ, according to medical and humanitarian workers within the NFZ, Tamil Net reported

19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 200 others encircled as the entire Puthukkudiyiruppu town and Iranapalai area in Mullaitivu District came under SFs control. The SFs have surrounded the last LTTE terrain in north-east Puthukkudiyiruppu after capturing Pachchaippulmoaddai junction, the last supply route connected to the NFZ from the mainland.

The SFs clashed with militants in east Puthukkudiyiruppu and killed three of them. The troops also recovered 10 T-56 weapons, 31 rounds of cannon-type ammunition and one I-com radio set.

March 31: SLA shelling killed 45 civilians and injured 120 others within the 'Safety Zone' in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. 13 civilians, including nine members of two families, were killed in Ampalavanpokkanai and Valaignarmadam in the morning while 32 more were killed in attacks elsewhere within the 'Safety Zone'.

March 30: The SLA shelling claimed the lives of 70 civilians. In addition, gunfire from the SLA positions across the lagoon killed 18 civilians on the road which links the makeshift hospital with Internally Displaced Person settlements. 21 of the slain victims and 31 of 156 wounded civilians were children.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during several clashes in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District, reported SLA. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with eight T-56 weapons, four magazines, one modified weapon, four I-com sets, one satellite phone, one Silva Compass, two Global Positioning System units, two maps and two man packs from these areas.

Naval troops following a pre-dawn sea encounter off the seas at Chalai in the Mullaitivu District killed 26 Sea Tigers, including one of its top leaders identified as Maran, and submerged four Sea Tiger boats. A huge stock of LTTE armaments also perished with the boats, the Navy said. An unidentified navy spokesman said that a sailor was also killed in the battle.

The SFs captured a LTTE truck mounted with 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun from the Iranapalai area in the east of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Sources said that the SFs repulsed the outfit’s attempt to breach the SF’s FDL killing five militants. Dead bodies of five slain militants along with five T-56 riffles and one radio communication set were recovered from the incident site.

March 29-30: Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that heavy ground battles between the Army troops and LTTE on March 29 left 29 militants dead, Associated Press reported on March 30. A military statement said a senior Sea Tiger leader, known as Uththaman, who commanded the ground battle, was also killed. Following clashes with the militants in the area north of Palamattalam and Puthukkudiyiruppu region on March 29, SFs recovered dead bodies of 15 militants along with 20 T-56 weapons and one MPMG on March 30.

March 28-29: Troops captured the last supply route and gained control of a LTTE-built earth bund in the Mullaitivu District on March 28 following hours of intense fighting that killed nine militants and wounded another 11, the military said on March 29. The SFs advancing further East from Puthukkudiyiruppu captured the LTTE supply line stretching towards Iranapalai, the Defence Ministry said. The capture of the last LTTE supply route will further thwart the LTTE’s movement and logistic supply, according to the defence officials.

SFs on March 28 gained control of a LTTE-built earth bund constructed north of Palamattalam killing at least eight militants and injuring another 17 in a fierce battle, the military reported on March 29.

March 28: At least 31 LTTE militants were killed and more than 30 others injured in fierce fighting with SFs in the Mullaitivu District as the troops repulsed a series of LTTE attempts to breach the SF’s FDL. In Puthukkudiyiruppu and Karaiyamullivaikal, troops advanced into rebel territory killing 13 militants and injuring 19 others. Troops in west of Puthukkudiyiruppu recovered three dead bodies of militants along with two T-56 assault rifles and an LTTE boat. In addition, at least 12 militants were killed and 15 others injured following clashes between troops and militants in north of Iranapalai. Following a separate clash in the same area the SFs recovered dead bodies of three militants along with seven T-56 assault rifles and a mortar gun.

During search operations in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Dharmapuram, Oddankaddukulam, Muthiyankulam, Ampakamam and Olumadu areas the SFs recovered dead bodies of six militants along with arms and ammunition.

March 27: 63 civilians were killed and several others sustained injuries in SLA attacks inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. Pokkanai and Maaththalan were the areas targeted in SLA selling.

March 26: 131 civilians, including 32 children, were killed and more than 252 others, including 49 children, sustained injuries in military operations inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in the Mullaitivu District during the past 48 hours according to data collected from various NGO workers and medical authorities within the civilian pocket ‘besieged’ by the SLA, Tamil Net reported 26. The SLA fired RPG shells, mortar shells and engaged in long-range gunfire, using Multi Barrel Rocket Fire, in the Puthumaaththalan, Valaignarmadam, Maaththalan, Pokkanai, Pachchaippulmoaddai and Mullivaaykkaal areas. The SLAF also bombed some of these areas, the report said.

59 civilians were killed and several others sustained injuries in SLA attacks inside the ‘Safety Zone’ in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net. Pokkanai and Maaththalan were the areas targeted in SLA shelling.

Troops continued their attacks on LTTE camps around Puthukkudiyiruppu area in the Mullaitivu District and killed more than 24 militants while injuring similar number of them. The troops later recovered dead bodies of 13 militants along with some arms and ammunition.

March 25-26: Reuters quoted the military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara as saying on March 26 that at least 30 militants were killed by the SFs during a counterattack in Mullaitivu District a day earlier.

March 25: Troops repelled an attempt by the LTTE to breach the Army forward defence lines north of Iranapalai in the Mullaitivu District, killing an unspecified number of militants. Defence sources said over a dozen dead bodies of the militants were seen at the incident site following heavy fighting that ensued since 5:30am (SLST). Citing intercepted LTTE communication, military officials said four senior militants, identified as Kadal, Vardhan Anna, Sooriyan and Eelavan, were among those killed.

Troops clashed with militants in south of Puthukkudiyiruppu, killing at least five of them, including two women cadres report.

A group of armed militants attacked a group of farmers at Mankdeniya in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa District and shot dead at least four of them and injured four others.

March 24: Suspected LTTE militants shot dead five farmers and injured two others at Neelapola in the Kantale area of Trincomalee District.

Troops recovered dead bodies of eight militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops confronted LTTE militants in the areas around Puthukkudiyiruppu on several occasions and killed three of them.

March 23: The SLA's short-range mortar shelling, RPG attacks and gunfire killed 96 civilians, including 19 children, and injured 160 others within the 'Safety Zone' in the Puthumaaththalan area of Mullaitivu District, according to local aid workers and medical authorities, Tamil Net reported.

March 22: Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said 28 militants were killed by the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops clashed with militants in the area east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and killed nine of them. The SFs also recovered nine T-56 weapons and one hand grenade from the incident site.

March 21: Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said 10 militants were killed by the SFs in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Patikkarai and Sarwaruthoddam areas and inflicted some casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered dead bodies of 10 militants from the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Visuamadukulam, Vishuamadu and Killinochchi areas.

Five Sea Tigers were killed as the SLN foiled an attempt by LTTE suicide cadres to attack the SFs as they tried to mix with the fleeing civilians in boats and reach the Government-controlled areas.

SFs gained total control over a 1.5 kilometre stretch of the Paranthan- Mullaitivu (A-35) main road amid stiff LTTE resistance. During subsequent search operations the troops recovered dead bodies of five militants.

March 20: The SLA artillery shelling killed 46 civilians inside the safety zone in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

SLA soldiers attempted to advance in Iranapalai following heavy artillery firing and air attacks, but were forced to withdraw leaving behind dead bodies and military hardware, the LTTE said, claiming that at least 20 SLA soldiers were killed and 120 others sustained injuries in the clash.

A senior Sea Tiger leader, identified as Sindu, was killed and his body was recovered by the troops along with another four bodies following clashes between the SFs and the militants in south of Patikkarai in Mullaitivu District.

The SFs recovered dead bodies of four LTTE militants along with a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Puthukkudiyiruppu and Udayarukattukulam areas.

March 19: 39 civilians, including 11 children, were killed inside the safety zone in SLA's shelling. All shelling and bombing incidents were reported from Mullivaaykkaal, Iraddaivaaykkaal, Valaignarmadam, Pokkanai and Maaththalan areas within the 'Safety Zone', Tamil Net reported.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ampalavanpokkanai, Puthukkudiyiruppu east and Mullaitivu north areas. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of 11 militants along with a cache pf arms and ammunition from Puthukkudiyiruppu.

March 18: At least 23 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of then injured during clashes with the SFs in northeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. The troops recovered the dead bodies of 12 militants along with 12 T-56 assault rifles and an I-com set following clashes on March 18. In a separate incident in the same area, 11 more militants were reportedly killed.

SFs deployed in the south of Chalai, a coastal village in Mullaitivu, killed eight militants.

March 17: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District and destroyed a few hideouts of the militants. The SFs later recovered dead bodies of 18 militants along with 21 RPG bombs, 32 T-56 weapons one LMG, six I-com radio sets and one 120-mm gun from the area.

March 16: At least 29 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured following clashes between the SFs and militants at Irunapalai in the Puthukkudiyiruppu region of Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of 14 militants along with 25 T-56 weapons, five LTTE made mortar launchers, two I-com communication sets and two remote controllers.

29 more civilians were killed in shelling and six others in the gunfire by the SLA. 73 others civilians were reported wounded on the same day.

The Army captured a one kilometre long LTTE-built earth bund in the area southeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu following clashes that killed as many as 29 militants, the army said. A similar number of militants were reportedly injured.

March 15:58 civilians were killed in SLA shelling in Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

During a clash between the two sides in Puthukkudiyiruppu, the SFs killed seven militants and injured an unspecified number of them. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident. The troops also recovered seven T-56 weapons, one I-com set, one smoke bomb, 780 firing devices, twenty-eight 80-mm mortar fuses, fourteen 60-mm mortar fuses and 900 rounds of 9-mm ammunition.

March 14: 69 civilians, including 19 children, were killed and several others wounded within the ‘Safe Zone’ in SLA shelling and SLAF bombardments in Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

March 13: The continuing clashes between troops and LTTE resulted in the death of a number of militants in the east of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Troops in a subsequent search operation recovered dead bodies of 18 militants, 17 T-56 weapons, one I-com set and one LMG from the incident site.

Four pregnant mothers were killed in the SLA shelling inside the ‘Safe Zone’, claimed Tamil Net.

March 12: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed when troops captured a hospital at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Wanni. The peripheral hospital mostly used hitherto by the LTTE for treatment of its cadres was reportedly without patients at the time of its capture. Troops subsequently recovered dead bodies of seven LTTE militants, 13 T-56 weapons, six radio base stations (PRC 77), six PRC 77 low band sets, two I-com sets, 12 circuits and 13 antennas from Puthukkudiyiruppu.

13 top and middle-rung LTTE leaders were confirmed killed in the week-long clashes in Puthukkudiyiruppu. They included ‘lieutenant colonel’ Saleem, the fourth in the LTTE hierarchy, ‘lieutenant colonel’ Ambalanan and ‘lieutenant colonel’ Eleel Chelvan, sent by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran himself for ground battles against troops, ‘lieutenant colonel’ Maran, ‘major’ Tamil Maran, ‘captain’ Kathier Nilavan, ‘major’ Malar Shamal, ‘captain’ Elavilan, ‘captain’ Kalai Kadiravan and ‘captain’ Kala Enivan.

March 11: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and 24 others injured in clashes with troops in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mulliyaweli, Kuppulankulam, Puthumatalan and areas near Mullaitivu town. Several soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting. 40 hand grenades, three T-56 weapons, two T-81 weapons, one LMG drum, three T-56 magazines, one belt order, 210 ammunition rounds of 9.6mm and 2 kg of C-4 explosives were recovered from these areas.

March 10: At least 14 people were killed and 46 others, including the Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mahinda Wijesekara, were wounded when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself up, targeting a procession celebrating Eid-e-Milad (Prophet Mohammed's birthday) in the southern town of Akuressa in Matara district. This is the first suicide attack in Matara, the southernmost region and populated overwhelmingly by the majority Sinhala community. The defence ministry said the suicide bomber "had arrived at the place on a push-bike and exploded himself among the Islamic devotees going to the mosque in a procession… Among the deceased and injured were several local government representatives."

March 7-8: Subarathnam Selvatureiy alias Thamilendi, the LTTE’s chief of financial division, was confirmed killed in the weekend fighting in the northeast of Puthukkudiyiruppu where over 150 dead bodies of militants were recovered after the clashes.

March 7: Troops in a search operation followed by clashes with the LTTE militants in Puthukkudiyiruppu, recovered dead bodies of 19 militants, 18 T-56 weapons, one heavy machine gun, one 40-mm grenade launcher, three RPG bombs and five I-com sets.

Troops engaged in search and clear operations in Vishvamadu area were attacked by a group of LTTE militants. While the attack was repulsed by the SFs, dead bodies of eight militants were recovered by the troops during subsequent search operations. Ten 60-mm mortar bombs, 29 60-mm mortar cartridges, three Arul bombs, one T-56 weapon, 32 magazines, and 54 hand grenades were also recovered from the area.

Following a clash between the troops and LTTE militants in the Puthumathalan and Pallaimatahalan areas, the troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with six T-56 assault rifles, one MPMG, 40 RPG bombs, 20 hand grenades and 114 anti personnel mines from the area.

March 6: The militants opened fire and killed three IDPs and injured two more when they were escaping to cleared areas in boats.

Three civilians were killed and one more was wounded at Chalai area in Mullaitivu District, when the LTTE militants opened fire on them who were fleeing from the ‘Safe Zone’ area on six boats to avoid LTTE atrocities.

March 5: Troops foiled the LTTE’s attempt with human shield by killing around 50 LTTE militants at Puthukkudiyiruppu area in Mullaitivu. 50 other militants and several soldiers were wounded in the counter-insurgency operation. Troops recovered dead bodies of 33 LTTE cadres, 33 T-56 weapons, four Light Machine Guns (LMG), one MPMG, three 60-mm mortar launchers, five I-com radio sets, three disposable RPG, 13 packs, three GPS and five compasses from the incident site.

March 4: At least 68 civilians, including 21 children, were killed and 126 others sustained injuries as the SLA continued artillery shelling inside the 'Safety Zone', claimed Tamil Net. An ICRC member was reportedly among the victims. While 23 civilians were killed during artillery attack between 5:30 (SLST) to 9:00 am, 47 others died in the artillery attack between 5:00 and 9:00 pm. Maaththalan, Pokkani and Iranaippaalai were reportedly the areas which came under military attack.

Troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with a cache of arms and ammunition, from the Puthukudirippu junction and surrounding areas.

March 3: At least 73 civilians were killed and more than 160 others wounded inside the 'Safety Zone' in the Mullaitivu District as Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells and the Sri Lanka Air Force dropped bombs, claimed Tamil Net. More than 160 civilians have sustained injuries. The report said that Maaththalan, Pokkani, Iranaippaalai and Muliivaaykkaal were the areas which came under military attack.

SFs captured the LTTE’s last stronghold and strategic Puthukuduiruppu town in the Mullaitivu District following clashes in which an unspecified number of militants were reportedly killed. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that troops attached to the 58th Division advancing from the northern region and troops of the 53rd Division entering from southern end of the A-35 road joined each other after entering the Puthukuduiruppu town centre and took over the entire Puthukuduiruppu junction area. "Troops captured the entire Puthukuduiruppu town after a week’s prolonged fighting," he said.

Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Vishvamadu, Puthukkudiyiruppu south, Kattikulam, Mudaliyarkulam and Malawi areas recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with one IED, produced with the help of a 60 mm mortar bomb, seven T-56 weapons, 550 rounds of T-56 ammunition, one RPG launcher, eight RPG bombs, one 60-mm mortar bomb, one I-com set, two hand grenades, two anti-personnel mines, one IED and 18 fuses.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kevil area and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with seven T-56 weapons, two magazines, two MPMG, one MPMG tripod, two 12.7-mm weapons, one 60-mm mortar bomb, five Arul bombs, two I-com sets and one Hero Honda motor bicycle from the nearby Chalai area.

March 2: A LTTE woman-suicide bomber blew herself up in the Vannakulam area, to the east of Elephant Pass and to the south of Vettalaikerny, when the 55th Division troops attempted to go closer to her on suspicion.

March 1: Around 37 civilians were killed in SLA artillery attack and SLAF bombardment in the Mullaitivu District.

20 militants were killed as the SFs foiled a LTTE sea attack by destroying three boats in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area. The Defence Ministry said the LTTE launched 15 boats, including four suicide craft, assisted with simultaneous heavy mortar fire at the SFs directed from the declared 'no fire zone' in the region. Intercepted LTTE communication confirmed heavy damages to the outfit and the ministry added that senior LTTE leaders, including Soosai and Lawrence, had commanded the attack. One female cadre of the outfit, in the wake of Army operations, committed suicide by detonating a suicide jacket while others went into hiding.

10 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded when artillery shells fell inside a Government-designated "safe zone" in the Mullaitivu District, said Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah, a health official.

Three LTTE militants and a civilian were killed when he prevented a LTTE attempt to abduct children from the No Fire Zone.

February 28: Around 40 people died in SLA artillery attack and SLAF bombardment in the Mullaitivu District.

The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area inflicting heavy casualties among the militants and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of nine militants along with three T-56 weapons. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in fighting.

February 27-28: 20 LTTE militants were killed as fierce fighting erupted between the troops and the militants in the Mullaitivu District in the night of February 27 and continued till the morning of February 28. The troops on February 28 stormed the LTTE built earth bund in Palamattalan at the north end of the narrow land strip along the coast following heavy fighting in the area since February 27. Troops also captured the two kilometres long earth bund and a bunker line across the land strip. The troops also engaged a fleet of 20 Sea Tiger boats on reinforcement destroying all of them with the militants onboard. A suicide boat was also destroyed by the ground troops as it came towards the troops operating in the lagoon front. The ground troops foiled more than 15 counter attacks by the LTTE killing more than 20 of their cadres during the battle. Intercepted LTTE communications confirmed that senior LTTE cadres commanded the battle against troops in which several militants, including a senior Sea Tiger ground commander, were killed.

February 27: At least 60 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

Five militants were killed in fighting with the troops in the area north of Kombavil in Mullaitivu District.

February 26: At least 30 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported. Two of the victims were killed within the 'safety zone' in artillery shelling.

The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District killing 14 of them. An LTTE ground commander known as Shankar who led the confrontation in Puthukkudiyiruppu area was killed.

February 25: At least 45 civilians were killed and several others wounded in continued military offensive in the Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported. 18 of the victims were killed within the 'safety zone' in artillery shelling.

February 24: SFs entered Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District, the last town under LTTE's control, following fierce fighting. Fighting intensified between the troops and LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area as the outfit was putting up stiff resistance in their final stronghold in Mullaitivu District. While eight militants were killed, the troops also recovered 14 T-56 weapons, one I-com radio set, one RPG and one claymore mine from the Puthukkudiyiruppu north.

19 militants were killed when they attempted to infiltrate the SF's defence line in the north of Mullaitivu.

Three Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed Iranaippaalai thrice, killing seven civilians, claimed Tamil Net. At least four of the victims belonged to a single family, according to the report.

Six civilians were killed when the SLA fired artillery shell near the makeshift hospital at Puthumaaththalan, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs killed six militants in the area north of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

February 23: SFs reached closer to Puthukkudiyiruppu town, the outfit's last stronghold, and regained a section of the earth bund in the Kombavil area of Mullaitivu District. Following a fierce battle, troops recovered three bodies of militants and two T-56 assault rifles from the incident site.

February 22: 20 civilians were killed and 60 others wounded in the Iranaippaalai, Aananthapuram and Puthukkudiyiruppu areas of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed four LTTE militants in the Vattappalai area.

February 21-22: At least 12 civilians, including two children, were shot dead by the LTTE militants at Karawetiyagama in the Rathmalgahaella area of Ampara District. The death toll increased to 21, the Media Centre for National Security said on February 22.

February 21: 33 civilians were killed and 73 others wounded when the SLA fired artillery shells towards the Safety Zone at Valaignarmadam, Mullivaaykkaal and Pokkaani in the Mullaitivu District.

Troops advancing towards Puthukkudiyiruppu town attacked more LTTE camps in the west and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu inflicting heavy casualties among the militants. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of 11 militants from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west and Ampalavanpokkanai areas.

February 20: 70 civilians were injured when the SLA launched artillery attack targeting civilians within the 'safe zone' and the adjoining areas in Wanni, claims Tamil Net. 13 of the 70 wounded civilians died later. The SLA targeted Mattapan, Pokkanai, Valaignanmadam and Iranaippaalai areas in the Mullaitivu District, the report added.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu, Puthukkudiyiruppu west, Chalai, Mulliyaweli and Ampalavanpokkanai areas of Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties among the militants. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in LTTE fire. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered the dead bodies of 10 militants along with one MPMG, seven T-56 weapons, four communication equipment and two pouches from the Puthukkudiyiruppu west and Ampalavanpokkanai areas.

Troops captured Ampalavanpokkanai village in the Mullaitivu District after a fierce battle with the LTTE. "The Security Forces crushed the Tiger attempt to resist advancing troops and had taken control of the area in the afternoon. Troops consolidating their position in the area launched a mopping up operation and recovered seven LTTE bodies and five T56 assault rifles. The LTTE cadres fled from the area facing heavy damages and casualties," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Two LTTE light aircrafts were shot down by the Security Forces in Colombo and Katunayake following an attempt by the outfit to bomb Colombo city. The SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said following the detection of two LTTE aircrafts by the radar, the air defence system was activated and there was a blackout in Colombo City and suburbs for about an hour after 9.20 pm. However, one of the aircrafts managed to drop a bomb on the Inland Revenue Department injuring at least 50 persons and destroying the building. Two of the injured persons reportedly succumbed to their injuries later. Meanwhile, the aircraft was immediately shot down by the SLAF and its remnants were found in the premises. In addition, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said another LTTE light aircraft was shot down at Katunayake. He said the dead bodies of the LTTE pilots and the wreckage of the aircraft shot down at Katunayake were recovered.

February 19: At least 24 civilians were killed in the SLA artillery attack in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District, reports Tamil Net.

10 civilians were killed and 70 injured in the Iranaippaalai, Aananthapuram and Valaignarmadam villages of Mullaitivu District.

Three members of a family were killed in the Valaignarmadam area of Mullaitivu District.

The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Puthukkudiyiruppu west area.

February 18: At least 50 civilians were killed and more than 70 others wounded when four SLAF bombers dropped cluster bombs on internally displaced civilians at Aananthapuram in the Iranaippaalai area of Mullaitivu District at around 12:50 pm claimed Tamil Net. Medical sources said at least 50 civilians were killed in one of the bombardments, adding that the death toll could be more than 100 and that around 300 could be wounded. At least 160 people were killed within the last 10 hours in Mullaitivu, claimed an unnamed doctor at Maththalan hospital.

Troops killed nine militants in the west and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu and in south Oddusudan.

SFs recovered six dead bodies of the LTTE militants along with five T-56 weapons during a search operation in the area west of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District.

February 17: The SLA launched indiscriminate artillery attack into the newly announced safety zone killing at least 108 civilians and injuring more than 200, claimed Tamil Net. The artillery attack targeted Maaththalan, Pokkanai and Mullivaaykkaal areas.

The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed Iranaippaalai, the new centre for humanitarian and basic facilities located between the new and old safety zones, killing at least 15 people fleeing from the old 'safety zone' towards Maaththalan, the Tamil Net said.

The SFs entered the Puthukuduiruppu West area of Mullaitivu District confining the LTTE to less than 80 square kilometres area, military sources said. The SFs have reportedly taken complete control of the previous 'No Fire Zone' declared by the Army after thousands of civilians moved out of the area once the Army declared the new safe areas in the coastal belt in the north of Mullaitivu. The SFs also recovered the dead bodies of 23 militants from the area (14 on February 16 and nine on February 17.

February 16: Three workers attached to the Karaithuraippattu Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society were killed inside the Theavipuram area of Mullaitivu District.

February 15: Eight civilians were killed within the new safety-zone at Pokkanai area of Mullaitivu District.

February 14: 16 civilians, most of them belonging to three families, were killed in an artillery attack by the SLA at Iranaippaalai, located between the new and old safety zones, in the Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

February 13: Subsequent to heavy clashes between the two sides in the Kuppilankulam area of Mullaitivu District, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with five T-56 weapons and one I-com radio set.

February 12: The SFs clashed with militants in the Mullaitivu District killing at least 28 of them, the Defence ministry said. "Snipers deployed in the forward areas confirmed shooting down 23 terrorists at various locations during daytime," the ministry said, adding, five militants were killed in separate clashes.

12 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and militants in the area south of Puthukudirippu in Mullaitivu District. An unspecified number of soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes.

February 11: The SFs killed eight LTTE militants in the Thuvarankulam and surrounding areas of Mullaitivu District.

February 10: 19 civilians, including five women and two children, were killed and 75 others, including 30 women and 28 children, were wounded as the LTTE militants opened fire on a group of civilians fleeing the outfit-held areas of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu District. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the LTTE attacked the civilians seeking refuge with the soldiers in Udayarkattikkulam. These civilians had arrived at the rescue point in the Udayarkattikkulam area between 6:00 am (SLST) and 7:00 am.

February 9: A LTTE woman suicide bomber mingling with a group of displaced civilians coming from un-cleared areas blew herself up at Sugandirapuram in the Mullaitivu District, killing 28 people and injuring more than 60 others. Among the dead were 20 SF personnel and eight civilians. 24 soldiers were among the 60 injured persons. The bomber, who had come with around 1,000 displaced civilians from un-cleared areas of Mullaitivu, blew herself up when a woman soldier tried to body check her at a checkpoint prior to being taken to a transit welfare centre.

February 8: The SLA continued indiscriminate barrage of artillery shelling on the safety zone killing more than 80 civilians and injuring 200. Most of the casualties were reported along the roads. Further, a shell exploded inside a bunker in Vallipuan, killing three persons and injuring four others. More than 500 houses and huts were damaged in the shelling.

Troops killed seven LTTE militants in clashes at a strategic township near Mullaitivu.

Naval craft patrolling the sea off Mullaitivu in a predawn attack destroyed two LTTE boats just a few minutes after it was detected on the radar screen. According to Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P. Dassanayake, Dovra high speed naval craft had given chase and fired at the fleeing LTTE boats killing at least six militants.

The SLA reported that LTTE militants fired at civilians who were fleeing the outfit-held areas killing three of them while injuring three others.

February 7: At least 62 civilians were killed in shelling by the SLA inside the safety zone in the Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram areas of Mullaitivu, reports Tamil Net.

34 militants were killed when the SFs foiled an LTTE infiltration attempt through the SFs FDL in the south of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

The SLAF said its fighter jets destroyed a hideout of the Sea Tigers chief Soosai located one kilometre northeast of Puthukuduiruppu junction in the Mullaitivu District and claimed that he could either have been killed or wounded in the attack. The SLAF spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara said 11 LTTE militants, including a very senior militant, were killed in the attack.

February 6: The SLAF bombed Ponnampalam hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu killing 61 patients.

59 civilians were killed in shelling by the SLA inside the safety zone in the Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram areas of Mullaitivu, reported Tamil Net.

An unspecified number of militants were killed in clashes with troops in the Kuppilankulam and Thuvarankulam areas. The SFs also captured a LTTE camp in the Thuvarankulam area. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of six militants.

SFs continued operations in the LTTE-held areas south and west of Puthukkudiyiruppu and Kuppilankulam killing several militants. They later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

February 5: The SLA fired more than 6,000 artillery shells inside the safety zone not allowing people to come out of bunkers throughout the day in the Chuthanthirapuram and Iruddumadu areas of Mullaitivu District killing 16 people, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs captured the LTTE’s last Sea Tiger base of Chalai in the north of Mullaitivu after five days of fighting killing at least 12 Sea Tigers cadres, including top leaders. Among those killed was a deputy leader known as Vinayagam.

A hospital in the Udaiyaarkaddu area within the safe zone was shelled by the SLA killing at least seven civilians while injuring 27 others. Two ambulances and the medical store of the hospital were also destroyed.

Three militants were killed in clashes between the two sides in the areas west of Kuravikulam and Kuravikulam.

February 3: At least 52 civilians were killed when the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu District was shelled for the fourth consecutive day, this time by a cluster bomb, forcing authorities to evacuate patients from one of the last functioning medical facilities in the war zone, said the UN.

February 2: The SFs recovered the dead bodies of 12 LTTE militants following clashes with the militants in the Murusamoddai and Ettakokkavilkulam north areas of Mullaitivu District.

Three people were killed and 10 injured when the SLA for the third consecutive day shelled the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu District, reported Tamil Net.

Nine civilians were killed and 20 others injured when a hospital in the LTTE-controlled area of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District came under artillery attack three times. The ICRC spokesperson Sarasi Wijeratne said that the Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital was directly hit twice in the afternoon and again in the night. The ICRC, which has its staff present at the hospital, however, did not know who fired the shells. Meanwhile, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara denied LTTE's allegation that the Army was responsible for the incident and accused the outfit for indiscriminately firing artillery barrages in a desperate attempt to halt the military operations.

February 1: 150 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 350 others injured when the defensive formations of the LTTE foiled an SLA attempt to capture Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net. Three battle tanks, two troop carriers, a military bus and two tractors were fully destroyed in the fighting, said S. Puleedevan, Director of the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

35 LTTE militants were killed in separate clashes between the troops and militants in the Mullaitivu District. The day-long fighting occurred in the area west of the Nanthikandal lagoon and Udayarkattikkulam near the declared civilian safe zone as troops came under heavy artillery attack from the militants.

The SFs clashed with militants in the area north of Visuamadu, killing at least 11 of them and injuring eight others.

Following several rounds of clashes with the LTTE militants in the Udayarkattikkulam and Udayankattu areas, troops recovered the dead bodies of five militants. An unspecified number of soldiers were also injured in the fighting while five others went missing.

January 31-February 1: Tamil Net claimed that 56 civilians were killed between January 31 and February 1 when the SLA fired artillery shells targeting civilian refuges at Moongkilaaru in the Udaiyaarkaddu area within the 'safety zone' announced by the Government of Sri Lanka.

January 31: SFs captured a Black Tiger camp complex in the east of Visuamadu in Mullaitivu District. Nine mortar launchers of five different calibre of 120-mm, 81-mm, 82-mm, 80-mm and 60-mm, six Multi Purpose Machine Guns, two thermo baric launchers, 20 pistols, three Rocket Propeller Guns (RPG), seven claymore mines, one improvised claymore mine, 18 T-56 weapons, one sniper gun, eight RPG rounds, 59 hand grenades, one tripod, 35 Arul-type bombs, 100 detonators, one radio set, thirty five gas masks, 48 helmets, 35 pouches, a large stock of new LTTE uniforms along with the dead bodies of 12 militants were recovered from the complex.

January 29: At least 44 civilians were killed and 178 others sustained injuries during SLA's artillery firing targeting civilians in safety zones in Wanni, claimed Tamil Net.

January 28: At least 50 LTTE militants were killed and more than 150 injured during heavy fighting between the troops and militants in the Udayankattu and Pallaikudiyirippu areas of Mullaitivu District. Four soldiers also went missing. The SFs also captured one LTTE base camp, with five buildings and one electric generator, and another camp with 15 bunkers, and subsequently recovered 200 claymore mines, some mine cases, vehicles, including one unicorn, two jeeps, one browser, one cab and one tractor.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and several others injured when SFs operating from the south of Paranthan-Mullaitivu (A-35) road reached Vishvamadu junction amidst stiff resistance by the outfit. The village, near Kalmadukulam tank, was completely under water and their houses and properties were largely damaged, when the tank bund was breeched by the LTTE, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered the dead bodies of five militants

January 26: More than 300 people were killed and several hundreds injured when the SLA fired artillery shells inside the Safety Zone declared by the Colombo Government within the last 24 hours, Tamil Net claimed. The shells mostly exploded in the area three kilometers between VallipunamKaali temple and Moongkilaaru towards Paranthan road.

January 25: SFs captured Mullaitivu Town, the LTTE’s most prestigious military stronghold in the Eastern coast. The troops entered Mullaitivu by 1 pm (SLST). Earlier, on January 23, the SFs made a major breakthrough in their battle to capture Mullaitivu with the capture of the earth bund located four kilometres south of Mullaitivu centre. Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka announced this victory to the nation in the evening in a special message telecast live. "The Tiger stronghold of Mullaitivu fell under Security Forces control after 13 years with the 59 Division troops under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta entering this strategic stronghold last afternoon", military officials said.

22 civilians were killed and 60 others wounded as SLA continued artillery shelling in various localities, including Chuthanthirapuram, Udaiyaarkaddu and Thearaavil in Vishvamadu, inside the 'safety zone', Tami Net claimed.

Troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadukulam, south of Puliyanpokkarai, east of Dharmapuram and southeast of Puliyanpokkarai areas and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of seven militants.

SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadukulam and south of Puthukkudiyiruppu areas of Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of three militants. Another dead body of a LTTE militant was recovered from the Puthukkudiyiruppu area.

SFs in the northeast of Udayarkattikkulam tank clashed with the LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three them.

January 24: 12 civilians killed were killed and 87 wounded as SLA continues artillery attack on Safety Zone in the Udaiyaarkaddu area of Mullaitivu District, Tamil Net reported.

January 23: Five civilians, including a 10-year-old girl and a 56-year-old priest, were killed when the SLA fired artillery shells targeted Safe Zone areas such as Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Wallipuram in the Mullaitivu district at least four times, according to medical sources in the region, Tamil Net reported.

The SLA fired artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher shells targeting Tamil refugees in temporary settlements of Mullaitivu district killing three civilians and injuring 33 others, Tamil Net reported.

January 22: At least 100 persons were killed in artillery exchanges between military and the LTTE in the last one week, a Government official working in the area controlled by the LTTE said. "Around 30 people died in the morning today. Personally I saw that nearly 100 people have died from Saturday [January 17] up to today. More than 300 have been injured," Mullaitivu District Government Agent Emelda Sukumar said.

Tamil Net claimed that 66 civilians were killed and more than 200 wounded in SLA’s artillery fire within the last three days in Mullaitivu District. While 16 civilians were killed on January 20, 20 others died on January 21 and around 30 more were killed within the past 12 hours of January 22, according to the Regional Director of Health Service (under the LTTE administration) for Mullaitivu District Dr. Varatharajah.

The Intensive Care Unit and the surgical site of the Mullaitivu hospital, functioning as a makeshift hospital at Wallipuram school, were damaged in SLA’s artillery fire in the night of January 21 and at around 12:20 pm on January 22 in which five civilians were killed within the hospital premises.

40 SLA soldiers were killed and 70 others injured as the LTTE’s defensive formations put up stiff resistance against the SLA that attempted to advance through Kallaaru in the North-western front, the LTTE sources said. The militants did not issue details on their casualties but claimed to have seized weapons in the clearing mission that followed.

SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Visuamadu area of Mullaitivu District and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered the dead bodies of four militants.

Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas south of Mullaitivu and Puthukkudiyiruppu and captured one LTTE bunker and earth bund on. During subsequent search operations, SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants.

The SFs advancing towards Mullaitivu along the southernmost tiny islet of the Chundikulam strip confronted a pocket of LTTE militants at the Jaffna-Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

11 dead bodies of the LTTE militants were handed over to the representatives of the ICRC in Vavuniya and they were taken to un-cleared areas (areas not under Government control) to be delivered to the LTTE by the ICRC.

January 21: The SFs continued attacking LTTE camps in the Dharmapuram, Ramanathapuram and Visuamadu south areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes. The SFs later recovered the dead body of six militants, including three female cadres.

January 20: 15 civilians, including five children, were killed and 29 others injured during artillery fire by the troops in the Vishvamadu, Udaiyaarkaddu, Chuthanthirapuram and Maanikapuram areas of Mullaitivu District, claimed Tamil Net.

SFs attacked LTTE camps in the areas east of Puthukkudiyiruppu and northeast and southeast of Mulliyaweli inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit. Several soldiers also sustained injuries during these attacks. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of nine militants.

Dead bodies of 38 LTTE militants, including 21 female cadres, which had not been accepted by the outfit were buried in the Vavuniya cemetery in the afternoon of January 20, following a court order received by the Police January 19.

January 19: The pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net quoted the outfit's sources as saying that 35 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 60 others wounded when the outfit's defensive formations clashed with the SLA for 24 hours in the North-western frontier of the LTTE-held territory till the SLA was pushed back from Neththaliyaattuppaalam. It also reported heavy fighting in the south-eastern frontier of the LTTE-held territory. The militants also claimed to have seized several arms and ammunition from the SLA in Neththaliyaaru.

January 18: At least 18 civilians have been confirmed killed in troop's artillery fire within the last 24 hours till 3:00pm in several villages of Mullaitivu District and the outer suburbs of Kilinochchi District to the east of A-9 highway, claims pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. At least 42 civilians were wounded on January 18 alone, according to the report. The dead bodies of eight civilians were recovered from Piramanthanaaru and Thearaavil areas of Kilinochchi District and Redd Barna settlement in the Mullaitivu district on January 17. At least 10 more civilians were killed and over 42 wounded on January 18.

Three civilians were shot dead and three others injured by a group of unidentified assailants at the Sadatissagama jungle patch in the Buttala area of Moneragala District. Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranjith Gunasekera, said "Police are investigating to ascertain whether the gunmen were LTTE cadres or gangsters operating in the area."

January 17: SFs captured Ramanathpuram area, a large township in the east of Kilinochchi District. The LTTE militants after being evicted from Iranamadu and Kilinochchi withdrew to Ramanathpuram where they had already made a fortress constructing strong bunkers, training areas, command and logistic points and administrative bases.

SFs killed an unspecified number of LTTE militants in the area about seven kilometres north of Muthuiyankaddukulam tank in the Mullaitivu District. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of 19 militants along with six T-56 weapons, two Light Machine Guns, one Rocket Propeller Grenade launcher, eight claymore mines and four hand grenades from the area.

SFs clashed with militants at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of eight militants along with one Light Machine gun, 10 T-56 weapons, 1000 rounds of T-56 ammunition, six dog tags and one I-com radio set.

SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Puliyanpokkarai, east of Dharmapuram, Kandavalai and Udayarkattikkulam areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. The troops later recovered dead bodies of four militants, including a female cadre, along with one T-56 weapon from Puliyanpokkarai and Udayarkattikkulam areas.

Unidentified assailants shot dead three persons, including a civil defence force soldier, in the Muttur area of Trincomalee District. Police said the assailants killed the victims while they were travelling in a tractor. Two of the victims are believed to be farmers from the Muttur area.

January 16: SFs took full control of the entire perimeter of the Iranamadu tank bund covering about three kilometres in the Kilinochchi District.

SFs attacked LTTE camps at Udayarkattikkulam in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with three T-56 weapons and one tractor.

January 15: Troops of the 58^th Division captured Dharmapuram, one of the LTTE's biggest townships on the A-35 road and about 15 kilometers to the east of the A-9 highway, in the Mullaitivu, Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said. The SFs inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of six militants along with four T-56 assault rifles, an MPMG weapon, two LTTE dog tags, an I-com set, a motorcycle and other items.

The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that the advance by the SLA from Tharmapuram on three fronts was repulsed by the LTTE cadres killing 51 SLA soldiers and wounding 150 others in the confrontation which started in the morning of January 15. The website also claimed that the SLA artillery attack in the Kaiveali, Koampaavil and Vishvamadu areas killed five civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, and injured six others, including an eight-year-old boy.

Heavy fighting erupted between the troops and militants in the Vishvamadu, Kulaweddidal and Mulliyaweli areas in which an unspecified number of militants were killed. SFs later recovered dead bodies of seven militants along with six T-56 weapons from the Vishvamadu and Kulaweddidal areas.

January 14: Troops captured the entire Jaffna peninsula by capturing the last remaining LTTE stronghold of Chundikulam. The military said troops of 55^th Division marching towards Mullaitivu captured Chundikulam which lies parallel to the east of the Elephant Pass isthmus in Jaffna Peninsula. The Army destroyed a LTTE boat with artillery fire killing several militants, including a senior Sea Tiger (cadre of the sea wing of the LTTE) leader, identified as "Lieutenant Colonel' Thiru.

SFs, advanced 40 kilometres from the Nagarkovil defence line in the Eastern edge of the Jaffna peninsula, captured five Sea Tiger bases in Manmunai, Thalai Adi, Vathurayan, Vettalaikerny and Chundikulam. The troops also recovered of a fleet of 125 boats belonging to Sea Tigers and LTTE from Chundikulam along with several other items. With the fall of Chundikulam, the LTTE has been forced to operate only in the seas surrounding Mullaitivu.

The troops clashed with militants in the Dharmapuram, Puliyansekkarai, Ramanadhapuram and Murusamoddai areas of Mullaitivu District and killed an unspecified number of them. At least six dead bodies of the militants were later recovered from Dharmapuram and Puliyansekkarai along with four T-56 weapons, one MPMG weapon, two LTTE dog tags, one I-com set, one motorbike and several other items.

January 13: The LTTE militants withdrawing towards Mullaitivu were fired upon by troops in the Ramanadhapuram, Thanniuttu, east of Puthukudirippu, Muthiyandankulam, west of Puthukudirippu, north of Ampakamam and Kanakarandankulam areas killing an unspecified number of militants. SFs later recovered the dead bodies of six militants along with 10 T-56 weapons, one radio communication set, two I-com sets and one hand grenade from these areas.

SFs attacked the LTTE camps in the Murusamoddai area of Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. While the SFs recovered dead bodies of four militants along with one canter lorry and one motor bicycle during the subsequent search operation, three other militants who were hiding in the area surrendered to the troops.

January 12: After a two day battle, SFs re-captured the Government hospital and its surrounding area at Tanniyuttu town in the Mullaitivu District. Troops later recovered several LTTE uniforms and other equipments used by the militants. The hospital has been used by the militants as a key strategic point to attack the SFs and treat their injured cadres. The outfit had erected several bunkers within the hospital premises.

January 11: The SFs opened fire towards LTTE militants in the Periyakulam, Vaddakkachchi and the east of Iranamadu areas and killed an unspecified number of them. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of eight militants, including a decomposed dead body of a female cadre, along with four T-56 weapons from these areas.

January 10: Seven Tamil civilians, including two children, on their way to cleared areas (area under Government control) seeking protection for their lives, were shot dead by the LTTE militants. According to the military sources, the civilians from Murusamoddai and Kanchipuram areas were on their way to security forces' controlled area when they were attacked by the militants deployed on possible escaping routes to prevent civilian movement. Two children, two females and three males were among the victims, military sources added. However, 49 more civilians, two of them injured in firing, of the same group managed to arrive at the SFs camp in Paranthan.

An unspecified number of militants were killed during fighting in the Vaddakkachchi and Kandavalai areas. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of five militants.

A group of LTTE militants stormed the TMVP office at Killiveddi in the Trincomalee District and opened fire at the TMVP members inside the office killing one of them and injuring two others. In the ensuing exchange of fire between the LTTE cadres and TMVP members providing security to the office, two militants were killed. Dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with one T-56 weapon, three hand grenades, one cyanide capsule, and mobile phone were recovered from the incident site.

SFs, advancing towards Mullaitivu, captured another LTTE airstrip located five kilometers west of the Mullaitivu lagoon. The Defence Ministry said the airstrip was about 2.5 kilometers long and 100 meters wide. This is the fourth LTTE airstrip captured by troops in the recent past, military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Troops operating in the Mullaitivu area captured this airstrip together with two empty hangars, he added.

The Task Force-II troops captured a LTTE base in the Aiyamperumal area of Mullaitivu District. The camp, protected with a 12 feet tall barbwire fence and one 60 mm motor gun, consisted of one lecture hall, 12 temporary huts, one medical room, one store building and a kitchen.

January 9: SFs captured the A-9 highway connecting the south with the Jaffna peninsula after 23 years. Troops of the 53rd, 55th, and 58th Divisions captured the strategically important Elephant Pass, President Mahinda Rajapakse announced. The 53rd and 55th Division advancing from Muhamalai and Kilali linked up with troops of the 58th Division who had taken control of the Elephant Pass south by January 6. The 58th Division cleared the path for the 53rd and 55th Division to move towards the south of Jaffna peninsula compelling the LTTE militants to vacate many of the areas they held in the southern part of the Jaffna peninsula.

SFs recovered the dead bodies of 12 militants along with five T-56 weapons, one General Purpose Machine Gun and two I-com radio sets from the Murusamoddai area of Mullaitivu District.

An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and some solders wounded during clashes at Iranamadu and Wattakachchi in the Kilinochchi District. During subsequent search operations in Wattakachchi, the troops recovered dead bodies of three militants, including a female cadre, one T-56 weapon, ten 81 mm mortar bombs, twenty-two 61 mm mortar bombs, 11 hand grenades and 10 anti-personnel mines.

January 8: Troops of the 53rd Division and 55th Division advancing from the Kilali and Muhamalai forward FDLs captured the Pallai town, the main township south of Muhamalai and Kilali FDLs. Military sources said LTTE had shifted their artillery guns from Jaffna peninsula to the south expecting a troop advance.

The troops captured Sorampattu, about five kilometres southeast of Pallai. The LTTE militants exploded a string of cluster bombs, which have been banned under UN conventions, as the troops were closing in on them and injured a few soldiers. An unspecified number of militants now trapped between Sorampattu and Pallai would have either been killed or injured since all the routes for their passage either through Jaffna, Kilinochchi or to the north of Mullaitivu remain sealed after the capture of several strategic towns in these areas.

Murasumoddai town, on the A-35 road and about 5.5 kilometres to the east of Paranthan town, was captured by troops of the 58th Division. An unspecified number of militants were killed during clashes that erupted in the area since the evening of January 7.

Four civilians and three SLAF personnel were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Morawewa in the Trincomalee District. The explosion occurred when the SLAF personnel were engaged in route-clearing for a tractor of the Irrigation Department which was taking civilian workers to the Neluwa irrigational worksite, killing four civilians aboard the tractor and three accompanying SLAF personnel on the spot. Six more sustained injuries in the blast.

SFs in Mannar confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Pampaimadu area and killed an unspecified number of them. During subsequent search operations, they recovered the dead bodies of five militants along with some arms and ammunition.

SFs attacked LTTE camps in the Urani, Murusumoddai, Mulliyaweli, west of Mankulam, Thaddumalai, Thaddalaimadu, north of Ampakamam and north of Alankulam and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of four militants along with some arms and ammunition.

SFs continued their advance amidst heavy LTTE mortar fire in the Kilinochchi east, Vattaikachchi and Iranamadu. An unspecified number of militants were killed in these clashes. Troops also recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with one T-56 weapon, four hand grenades and two I-com sets from Vattaikachchi.

January 5: SFs reached Elephant Pass with troops of the 58 Division capturing the entire southern part of it and further advancing towards the North to capture it entirely, Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka said. The troops captured Thamilamadam, the causeway to the south of the Elephant Pass.

Heavy fighting erupted in the East of Paranthan and Elephant Pass South for the past two days as the LTTE made their maximum effort to stop the advance of the troops towards Elephant Pass and Murusamudai, East of Paranthan. According to military sources, 10 soldiers were killed and 23 others injured in the fierce battle in Elephant Pass and Murusamudai areas.

January 4: SFs attached to Task Force IV operating in the East of the A-9 road captured the key junction town Oddusudan on the A-34 road taking full control of the Oddusudan- Nedunkerni-Puliyankulam road. "Security Forces killed at least 10 Tiger cadres as they attacked a tractor transporting Tiger cadres and several other vehicles," a military official said.

The pro-LTTE website Tamil Net claimed that at least 53 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 80 sustained injuries during heavy fighting that erupted when the SLA launched an offensive push through 2nd Mile Post on the Paranthan-Mullaitivu Road on two fronts.

January 3: Troops advancing towards Mullaitivu confronted LTTE militants in the Thanniutthu, Thottam, Kachchilamadu, north of Mudaliyankulam and Kumulamunai areas and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. Troops also expanded their FDL further in the Kumulamunai area and recovered the dead body of a militant from the area.

January 2: The Sri Lanka Army captured Kilinochchi, the LTTE’s political and administrative headquarters. The troops are reported to have launched simultaneous attacks from three directions in Paranthan, Iranamadu and Adampan before capturing the town in the early hours of January 2. The military had crossed into Kilinochchi District on July 31, 2008 and has since been engaged in clashes with the LTTE.

January 1: Troops advancing towards Kilinochchi captured the key LTTE garrison of Paranthan following hours of fighting that killed over 50 militants.

The troops captured Iranamadu junction, about six kilometers south of Kilinochchi town centre opening route to the Iranamadu town.