Incidents involving Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

2007

• December 31: Troops at Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district launched an attack on an LTTE bunker and killed three militants. The bunker was completely destroyed.

  Troops moved towards LTTE defence line in the south of Muhamalai and killed two militants while destroying one more bunker.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter at Ethawatunuwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants carried out a small arms attack towards troop’s defence areas at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district killing one soldier. Troops retaliated and repulsed the attack. The LTTE casualties are yet to be ascertained.

  The deadline given by the LTTE for workers of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to vacate the Mullaitivu area of Northern Province expired on December 31. The Voice of Tigers, an illegal radio station operated by the LTTE, claimed that the organization came to this decision after considering the safety of NGO workers amidst the developing conflict in the region. However, others sources revealed another reason for the decision. According to them, the LTTE’s Intelligence Wing has raised suspicions over possible leakage of inside information to the Sri Lankan security forces through NGO workers. The LTTE has not ordered NGO workers to leave Kilinochchi, even though they also face the same volatile situation in that district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed when troops launched an attack after observing a movement of armed militants, south of A9 road at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Troops attacked a LTTE bunker at Kilaly in the Jaffna district. Two LTTE militants were killed and the bunker was destroyed in the incident.

  A military convoy carrying troops from Mannar to Medawachchi came under LTTE claymore attack near Kalli-Aru Bridge. One Army soldier and two sailors were injured in the incident.

• December 30: Four LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a clash that erupted at Pokkaravani in the Vavuniya district.

  At Umayaratuvarankulam in the Vavuniya district, four more LTTE militants were killed by troops during another confrontation between the two sides.

  One soldier was killed and four others injured in an LTTE mortar fire at Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

  Troops on foot patrol in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed one of them.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops during an encounter in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  A cadre of the TMVP, a LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, identified as Dharmalingam Amal Raj Madan, was inured when the LTTE militants fired at the TMVP political office at Pandirippu in the Ampara district. Another person, Valisngham Nithyaprabha, who was in the office at the time of the incident, was also injured in the gunfire.

  December 29: 33 LTTE militants were killed and 38 others inured during confrontation between the militants and the troops at Parappakandal in the Mannar district. Six soldiers were also injured as troops extended their line towards further north in the area west of Parappakandal.

  Four LTTE militants were killed by troops during another confrontation in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Troops during a clash killed three LTTE militants and injured three others at Kilaly in the Jaffna district. Five soldiers were also injured.

  During a pre-dawn attack launched on the LTTE, troops destroyed one of their bunkers at Muhamalai, killing two LTTE militants.

  Troops deployed in Welioya area of the Vavuniya district repulsed an LTTE mortar attack on the Ethavetunuvewa village. Two LTTE militants were killed and three others sustained injuries in the incident.

  One soldier was killed due to the explosion of a hand grenade lobbed by a LTTE militant at Adampan south in the Mannar district. Similarly, one more soldier was killed in a confrontation between the two sides at Narrikkulam in the Vavuniya district. Elsewhere, another soldier was killed in the LTTE fire at Villattikulam.

  Two soldiers, one at Kaduruvitankulam and another at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, were injured due to explosion of LTTE anti personnel mines.

  Two police personnel were injured when LTTE militants hurled a hand grenade at a Police Post in Mannar town. The injured personnel were providing security to heavy vehicles parked at a Road Development Authority (RDA) worksite which were used for re-construction of roads and Mannar Bridge in collaboration with Japanese Company.

  One soldier was injured when LTTE militants fired mortar towards the troops in the Manthotam area of Mannar district.

• December 28: Troops killed four militants during clashes between the twos sides in the north of A-9 road at Muhamalai of Jaffna district.

  LTTE militants opened fire towards troops and Civil Defense Force personnel at Padaviya in the Vavuniya district, injuring one home guard who succumbed to his injuries later. Troops retaliated and during subsequent search recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with four hand grenades and one magazine of a gun.

  At Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, troops shot dead two militants and injured three others.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and one injured by troops during a clash at Vilayathikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Foiling an attempt by the LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the Periyapandivirichchankulam area of Vavuniya district troops killed two militants. One soldier sustained injuries during the incident.

  During an attack launched by the troops in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district, one LTTE militant was killed.

  One soldier was reported dead due to explosion of a booby trap laid by the LTTE in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

• December 27: At least 10 LTTE militants, including a women area leader Savithri, were killed by troops during a clash at Periyakurittakulam in the Mannar district.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district when troops clashed with a group of the outfit’s cadres. Three soldiers were also reported injured in the incident.

  Six LTTE cadres were killed by troops during an encounter at Kaduruvitankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Four civilians, including a 12 year old boy, were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion in the Kurumankadu area of Vavuniya district. The claymore mine was believed to have been placed on a bicycle and detonated from a distance. Six persons, including a policeman, were injured in the explosion.

  Troops advancing further towards north of Chettukulam in the Mannar district captured another LTTE stronghold, killing at least five militants.

  Troops after monitoring movement of LTTE militants in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district launched an attack killing two militants. One soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops destroyed three LTTE bunkers and killed three militants south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  One LTTE bunker at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district was attacked and destroyed by the troops. Two militants were killed in the incident.

  The LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a STF team in the Kalavanchchikudy area of Batticaloa district. One STF officer was killed while another sustained injuries in the explosion.

  December 26: Naval troops supported by the Air Force foiled a LTTE boat movement comprising 16 Sea-Tiger boats from Vedithalthivu in the north of Mannar to Delft Islands destroying six of the outfit’s boats, including two suicide boats, and killed at least 40 militants on board, the Navy said. One of the 12 FAC of the Navy that were engaged in the operation too sustained heavy damage during the sea battle. At least 12 sailors on board the FAC were reported missing after the incident. "The Navy believes it was a logistics movement of the LTTE from Vedithalthivu to Delft Island and we are in the process of evaluating the exact damages to the LTTE during this confrontation," a senior Navy official said.

  At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 19 others injured during an encounter between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Adampan area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while 12 others sustained injuries during the clash. Troops later neutralised six LTTE bunkers.

  Troops at Chettukulam in the Mannar district killed six LTTE militants and captured the area earlier occupied by the LTTE.

  Troops confronted a group LTTE cadres moving towards the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district and killed four militants.

  Troops captured two more LTTE bunkers in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed two militants.

  At Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, troops shot dead two LTTE militants and injured another during an encounter.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and three others injured by troops in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE militant was killed and four others injured by troops at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

• December 25: Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants along the front lines in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district, killing five militants.

  Three LTTE militants were killed during another clash between the two sides in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops shot dead three LTTE militants who were hiding inside a house and lobbed a hand grenade towards the soldiers at Maniarkulam in the Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of the three militants along with some explosive devices from the incident site.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops during another clash at Parikariperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  A cadre of the TMVP, identified as Karunakaran Udayakumar, was shot dead by LTTE gunmen at Sandiveli in the Batticaloa district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier sustained injuries due to LTTE small arms fire in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district.

• December 24: The security forces continued to advance in the Vavuniya-Mannar sector, taking full control of Thampanai town on the Madhu road as the LTTE cadres in the area withdrew amid heavy fire. The fall of Thampanai town is considered a major breakthrough in the efforts to flush out the LTTE from these areas and clear the path to Wanni, senior military officers said. Thampanai is three to four kilometers on the Madhu road from the Mannar-Vavuniya main supply route and stretches to nearly four kilometres.

  An LTTE local leader, identified as Gunaratnam Sahayadevan alias Para, was killed by troops in a retaliatory fire as they were attacked by the LTTE cadres, when they were searching a house at Vinayagapuram in the Ampara district.

• December 24: Troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE cadres in the Kandaperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district on and killed four cadres.

  The LTTE cadres fired heavy volume of artillery and mortar targeting troops in the Pokkaravani area of Mannar district. Troops retaliated and in the ensuing battle two LTTE cadres were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops in the Kandaperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district directed fire on an LTTE movement.

  In the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district troops advanced further in the un-cleared areas (area not under government control) and destroyed one bunker killing two cadres.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops during an encounter in the Narrikkulam area of Mannar district.

  Three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE laid landmine in the Pokkaravani area.

• December 23: Activists of the LTTE destroyed the flag pole and the national flag at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris and caused some damage to the Embassy premises. The attack occurred hours before Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama arrived in Paris at the start of an official visit to Europe where he would engage in talks in Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt.
  
  Troops launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and destroyed four LTTE bunkers killing at least eight cadres.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed when soldiers opened fire at a group of outfit’s cadres in the Narrikkulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district opened fire towards a group of LTTE cadres and killed four cadres.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed when a confrontation erupted between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was killed and nine others injured in the incident.

  During a confrontation between the LTTE cadres and troops at Mullikulam in the Mannar district troops destroyed three LTTE bunkers and killed three cadres. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops killed three LTTE cadres in the Kaduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Tettakkuli area of Mannar district. In the ensuing battle one LTTE cadre was killed while several others sustained injuries. One soldier was also killed in the confrontation.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Pallikuli area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops in Jaffna moved forward and launched an attack on a LTTE position, killing one cadre.

  One soldier sustained injuries due to explosion of a LTTE anti personnel mine at Thampanai in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE denied that its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was injured in a Sri Lankan Air Force attack in Kilinochchi on November 26. Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror in a report quoting military intelligence said the LTTE chief may have suffered only a minor bruise in his right shoulder.

• December 22: Troops in the Mannar district launched an attack on the LTTE entry/exit point on Uyilankulam-Andankulam road around 10.00 am, killing at least 22 cadres and injuring 12 others. Seven LTTE bunkers were also destroyed by the Army troops. During the exchange of fire one solider was killed and six others were injured. However, after the gun battle troops captured the LTTE point.

  One police man on duty near the Mannar bus station was shot dead by a LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadre.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured when the LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at Paranthekulam in the Mannar district.

  One soldier received injuries due to a LTTE mortar fire in the Periyakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops captured a LTTE base known as ‘Vietnam Base’ at Periyapanchankulam in the Vavuniya district. The Defense Ministry in a statement said the LTTE cadres fled abandoning the base stretching approximately 400m and 300m in breadth. The base accommodated 18 to 20 overhead bunkers, eight to 10 cadjan (braided coconut leaf for thatching) roofed huts and a kitchen. Troops also located a 150m long tunnel (2 m width and 2 m height) forming a clandestine exit route from the camp.

• December 21: Troops launched two small arms attack on two groups of LTTE hiding in their bunkers ahead of the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district. Two outfit’s cadres were killed while an unspecified number of them sustained injuries in the incident.

  One more LTTE cadre was killed by troops during a connotation at Mullikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Two unidentified LTTE gunmen shot dead a civilian, identified as Muthukumaran Sivapalan in the Wadukkodai area of Jaffna district.

  The LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at Parikariperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier received injuries in the incident.

  The LTTE is attempting to ‘evacuate’ its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran to a foreign country for medical treatment following November 26 (Prabhakaran’s birth day) air raid by the SLAF at a location in Kilinochchi, reported Daily News. It also claimed that 116 of his bodyguards died and soon after the raid the LTTE completely sealed off the area.

• December 20: Four LTTE cadres were killed during a clash between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were injured and two bunkers destroyed in the incident.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops launched an attack in the LTTE-held areas in Kilaly of Jaffna district. Troops also destroyed some newly built LTTE bunkers. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the attack.

  Two female LTTE cadres were killed when troops opened fire towards a group of outfit’s cadres in the Ethavetunuvewa area of Vavuniya district.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the Talaivankulam area of Vavuniya district, troops killed two LTTE cadres.

  Troops foiled an infiltration attempt by the LTTE in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed two militants.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by the troops in the Kambiliyawa area of Vavuniya district.

  A militant was killed and another wounded in an encounter that occurred between the LTTE cadres and the militants in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops in the Talaivankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Kandaperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district, the LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops and injured two soldiers.

  Troops also confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and injured one cadre.

• December 19: The combined armour and ground troops completely smashed a line of LTTE bunkers, killing eleven cadres in the Narrikkulam area of Mannar district. The gun battle enunciated when a group of LTTE cadres attempted to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under government control) and opened heavy fire towards troop’s positions.

  Troops retaliated after an LTTE attack and shot dead three militants in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Thampanai in Vavuniya district, troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed two of them. Three soldiers were wounded in the clash.

  Troops foiled an infiltration attempt by the LTTE in the Palamoddai area of Mannar district and killed two militants.

  Three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an anti-personnel mine in the Eluttumadduwal area of Jaffna district.

  The government confirmed that the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was injured in an aerial strike by the SLAF on a hideout in Kilinochchi on November 26.

• December 18: Army troops directed fire towards the LTTE bunker line at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, killing three militants. One bunker was also destroyed.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres during an encounter at Mulliankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed and two others injured when the LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine explosion using a remote-controller, targeting troops at Varikuttiaruwa in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres at Muhamalai, south of A 9 road, in the Jaffna district, killing one cadre. One LTTE bunker was also destroyed.

  Suspected LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting a passenger train carrying around 300 civilians at Kantale in the Trincomalee district. The explosion hit the engine compartment of the Colombo bound night mail train from Trincomalee. However, no casualties were reported.

  The LTTE claimed that its militants overran a military outpost at Weerapuram in the Vavuniya district, killing at least five soldiers.

• December 17: Five LTTE cadres were killed and four others injured during confrontations between troops and the outfit’s cadres in Manthai, north of Narrikkulam, in the Mannar district. Two soldiers also received injuries in the incident.

  Troops in the area west of Adampan in the Mannar district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed five of them.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed in a retaliatory fire by troops in the area north of Uyilankulam in the Mannar district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed when troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  Troops launched an attack on the LTTE bunker line at Muhamalai in Jaffna district and destroyed two LTTE bunkers. Three LTTE cadres were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed during a confrontation between the troops and LTTE cadres at Kilaly Jaffna district.

  At Parappakandal in the Mannar district, troops retaliated a LTTE fire and killed one cadre.

  The SLRCS admitted that their volunteer worker, Sooriyakanthy Thawaraja was among the murdered two civilians in the Kaithady area of Jaffna district on December 16. The SLRCS in a special press release claimed that Thawaraja was abducted by unidentified gunmen from his home in the Kalviyankadu area in the presence of his family on December 14.

  One soldier on duty at Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district sustained injuries when LTTE cadres fired at the troops.

• December 16: Troops in the forward defence positions in the Vilayathikulam area of Vavuniya district repulsed two infiltration attempts of the LTTE and killed at least seven militants. One LTTE bunker was also destroyed by the troops.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed and an equal number of them injured during another confrontations between the two sides at Uyilankulam in the Mannar district.

  Troops engaged in a search and clear operation in the Narrikkulam area of Mannar district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed five of them.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed when troops deployed in the Muhamalai area, south of A-9 road, of Jaffna district launched a small arms attack on the LTTE defence line.

  Troops killed a LTTE infiltrator, identified as Isaamudan alias Nadarasa Suriyaprakash, at the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district

  The dead bodies of two civilians hacked to death by the LTTE cadres were recovered in the Kaithady area of Jaffna district.

  Suspected LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district and injured two civilians.

  Two soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres opened fire towards in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was wounded when LTTE cadres directed fire on the troops at Adampan in the Mannar district.

  LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran received minor injuries in an aerial attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force, according to The Nation. The report further said that the LTTE leader has fully recovered from the incident and is now moving about without any problem.

• December 14: 10 LTTE cadres were killed when troops repulsed small arms attacks launched by the outfit in the area North West of Adampan in Mannar district. One soldier was also injured.

  Six LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured by troops in the Kaduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district. The incident occurred when a group of outfit’s cadres attempted to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under government control).

  During a confrontation between the LTTE cadres and troops at Parappakandal in the Vavuniya district, troops killed five cadres.

  At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, four LTTE cadres were killed by troops.

  Troops deployed north of A-9 at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed two of them while injuring a large number of others when they attempted to infiltrate into the security force’s FDL. One soldier was injured during the clashes.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres launched a mortar attack, supported by their artillery, towards troops in the Adampan area of Mannar district and injured five soldiers. One of the injured soldier succumbed to his injuries later. Troops also retaliated, details of which are yet to be ascertained.

• December 13: 11 LTTE cadres were killed when troops countered a small arms attack launched by the outfit in the area north of Parayanakulam in Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants at Kandaperiyakulam, northwest of Poovarasankulam, in the Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

  During an encounter at Parappakandal in the Mannar district, troops killed two militants and also destroyed one LTTE bunker.

  Two LTTE cadres hiding inside a house at Viyaparamulla in the Point Pedro area blew themselves up by detonating explosives, when the troops swooped on the premises at about 5.10 am after receiving information over their presence in the house. Seven civilians, inmates of the house, were also injured in the blast.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in two separate incidents in the Ponnar and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.

  During an encounter between the LTTE and troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district, a soldier was killed and two others wounded.

  The number of LTTE cadres killed during three separate clashes between troops and the militants within a span of four hours commencing at about 11.30 am in the southwest region of Adampan in the Mannar district on December 11 has increased to 33.

  LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting a Police route clearing party at Kurukkalpudukulam in the Vavuniya district, injuring a policeman who died later.

• December 12: Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops opened fire towards a group of the outfit’s cadres near the Kilaly FDL in Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted another group of militants near the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district.

  Investigations have revealed that one person arrested during the recent search operation in Colombo had received training in a foreign flying school and have direct connections with the LTTE.

  The LTTE reportedly has plans to transport explosives for subversive purposes using someone pretending to be an ice-cream vendor.

  French Courts ordered a further remand custody of four months for 19 top LTTE leaders in France. They include the 14 arrested in Paris in April 2007 and five arrested in September 2007.

• December 11: At least 20 LTTE militants were killed and over 30 injured when three separate clashes between troops and the outfit’s cadres occurred within a span of four hours commencing at about 11.30 am in the southwest region of Adampan in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were also killed during these clashes. Meanwhile, the LTTE claimed that at least 26 soldiers were killed and more than 80 wounded in three incidents in Mannar after an army attack.

  LTTE cadres fired mortars towards troops deployed at the Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. Troops in retaliation killed five militants and destroyed one LTTE bunker.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed by troops during another encounter at Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district. One soldier was also killed and another sustained injuries during the clash.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed three LTTE cadres and injured two others during an encounter at Kandaperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Four soldiers were wounded during clashes between the militants and troops in the Periyathampane and Kurisuddakulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE cadres were injured during a clash between the LTTE and troops at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  12 of the over 2000 Tamils arrested in Colombo and its suburbs on December 1 and 2 in one of the largest security crackdown are confirmed hardcore LTTE terrorists.

• December 10: Troops repulsed a LTTE small arms and mortar attack at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district, killing three cadres.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed during encounters between the LTTE and troops at Kurisuddakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed during an encounter between the two sides at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers were injured in a LTTE attack at Periyapantrichurichchan in the Vavuniya district. Troops repulsed the attack causing heavy damages to the LTTE. Details are yet to be ascertained.

  Two soldiers were injured when a anti-personnel mine exploded at Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district.

  Six LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Mullaitivu district.

  Four LTTE militants were killed when troops laid an ambush in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

  At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district, troops retaliated and killed four LTTE cadres when the outfit’s cadres emerging from a wayside jungle tried to strike a foot patrol of the Army.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district during another confrontation between the two sides.

• December 9: At least six LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of outfit’s cadres in the north of Narrikkulam in Vavuniya district on December 9. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  The LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres shot dead a youth, Mayuran, in the Erlaly area of Jaffna district.

  Seven soldiers were injured during clashes with LTTE at Periyapanndivirichchan in the Vavuniya district. One of the injured soldiers died of his injuries later.

  The LTTE cadres attacked troops in the Narrikkulam area. One LTTE cadre was killed and two soldiers sustained injuries during the subsequent clash between the two sides.

  Troops recovered eight dead bodies of the LTTE cadres along with five T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun, one T-81 riffle and two radio sets from the Periyathampane area in the same district. "Dead bodies of eight militants were recovered by Army troops who conducted a search operation in Periyathampane today. Six bodies were handed over to the Vavuniya hospital but the other two were decomposed," the Defense ministry said in a statement.

  At Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district, LTTE cadres attacked troops and injured two soldiers.

• December 8: Troops retaliated and repulsed an attempt by the LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district, killing at least 10 cadres while injuring several others. Two soldiers were injured during the clash.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops during another confrontation at Adampan in the Mannar district.

  Sporadic clashes continued between troops and the LTTE cadres in the Periyathampane area where troops successfully retaliated and repulsed several outfit’s offensives and neutralized a LTTE mortar location by launching a concentrated artillery attack on it. Heavy casualties on LTTE were reported from the confronted areas in Periyathampane, while one soldier was also killed.

  The dead bodies of three LTTE cadres were recovered from Mannar and Thampanai areas along with seven T-56 weapons.

• December 7: 17 LTTE militants, including six female cadres, were killed and 18 others injured in pre-emptive strikes launched by the Army in the Narrikkulam area of Mannar district. The troops also destroyed five LTTE bunkers.

  Troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district attacked a LTTE bunker and killed four cadres. Three cadres were also injured in the incident.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during another encounter between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• December 6: Five LTTE cadres were killed during clashes between Army troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Kallikulam, Parappakandal, Periyaumayadukulam and Pudakkadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Five LTTE cadres, including Muhamalai area leader identified as Gnanasundaram alias Mani, were shot dead by the Army troops deployed at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  A group of LTTE cadres fired towards troops before they attempted to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL. Troops in retaliation killed four militants and also destroyed two of the outfit’s bunkers.

  Troops foiled an infiltration attempt by LTTE cadres in the Omanthe area of Vavuniya district, killing three of them.

  One civilian, identified as Thevarasa Sathin Kumar, was killed and another, Nadarasa Indra Kumar, injured when LTTE cadres stormed a house at Anandapuram in the Kalviyankadu area of the Jaffna district and opened fire towards them.

  Troops, during search operations following the December 5 clashes at Debaraduwa and Dematagala areas in the Hambantota district, found the dead body of one female LTTE cadre from the incident site.

  Three soldiers were injured in a LTTE mortar fire in the Kallikulam and Parappakandal areas of the Mannar district.

  The LTTE claimed that at least 10 soldiers were killed when the outfit’s cadres repulsed army attacks on a LTTE-held area in the Mannar district on December 5 and December 6. The military, however, denied the clashes had taken place.

  The government vowed to destroy the LTTE strongholds and also warned of more LTTE attacks on civilians.

• December 5: 15 civilians were killed and 23 others injured in a LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion targeting a Ceylon Transport Board passenger bus at Abimanpura in the Padaviya area of Anuradhapura district.

  Troops killed five LTTE cadres engaged in the construction of a bunker at Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed during clashes with the troops in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas, while three of their bunkers were destroyed.

  Four LTTE militants were killed during another clash between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Addaikkalamoddai in the Mannar district, troops killed four cadres of the LTTE.

  Four soldiers aboard a tractor were killed and two others injured when the tractor hit a LTTE pressure mine in the Sinnasettikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  A group of LTTE militants who were hiding in the jungles of Chinnacippikulam launched an attack on a regular route clearing patrol of the Army, killing three soldiers. Troops retaliated and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties on the LTTE.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed during clashes that occurred at Periyakuriyittakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Adampan area of Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of militants at Adampan in the Mannar district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops deployed at the Kilaly FDL in Jaffna district.

  The SLDF has accused the LTTE of heaping misery on the island's Tamil community and urged the outfit’s chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to renounce the 'politics of suicide and political killings' to get on to the path of a negotiated end to the ethnic conflict. "

• December 4: At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes between troops and the outfit’s cadres at the Kilali FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers were killed and three others wounded during the clashes.

  Seven LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes between troops and the militants at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district. Four soldiers who were wounded during the exchange of fire succumbed to their injuries later.

  11 LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  10 LTTE cadres were killed during another encounter between troops and the militants at Parappakandal in the Vavuniya district.

  At Manthai in the Vavuniya district, troops razed a LTTE bunker and killed at least seven cadres. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  At the Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna district, troops killed three LTTE cadres and injured two others. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE cadres were injured in the Dematagala and Debaraduwa areas, 30-km north of the Yala National Park in the Hambantota district. Troops conducting search operations inside the Yala reserve mounted an attack when they observed movement of LTTE militants in the area, reports said. One Army soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

• December 3: Troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district launched an attack on two LTTE bunkers killing at least five militants. The two bunkers were completely destroyed.

  Troops launched an artillery attack on a group of LTTE cadres who were moving in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district. One cadre was reportedly killed in the attack.

  Two soldiers who were on duty at Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district sustained injuries due to LTTE artillery attacks.

  In an encounter that ensued after LTTE militants attacked the areas south of Adampan in the Mannar district, 35 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops and an equal number of them injured. Six Army personnel were also killed and 20 others received injuries in the clash.

  Four LTTE militants were killed in heavy clashes in the Muhamalai area at the north of A-9 highway in the Jaffna district. Troops also destroyed one of their bunkers in the attack.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed during a pre-dawn confrontation between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Alakaluppoddukulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops on foot patrol in the general area of Pavattakulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed a member of the LTTE intelligence wing, identified as Suharthan.

• December 2: Troops deployed at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district killed two LTTE cadres during their retaliation. Two LTTE bunkers were also destroyed.

  One LTTE cadre, identified as Darani, committed suicide detonating a suicide jacket while the troops were conducting a search operation in the Vadiri area of Jaffna district.

• December 1: At least 23 LTTE cadres were killed and 57 others injured during encounters between troops and the militants in the area south of Adampan in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were also killed while 20 others were wounded in the clashes.

  20 LTTE cadres were killed and 25 others injured by the troops in the Periyapantichurichchan area of Vavuniya district. Six soldiers were injured due to LTTE mortar fire and three more soldiers were injured in explosion of anti-personnel mines during the clash.

  Six LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres attacked soldiers guarding a defense line at Umayaratakulam in the Muhamalai area of the Jaffna peninsula. Retaliatory fire by the troops killed six LTTE cadres.

  Troops at Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line, killing four cadres and destroying two of their bunkers.

  Troops killed three LTTE militants in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were killed and six others injured during indiscriminate mortar fire directed by the LTTE towards Manthai, Mullikulam, Thiruketheeswaran and other neighbouring areas of Mannar district.

  Two of the outfit’s cadres attempting to enter the security forces held areas of Kokkuthuduwai in the Vavuniya district were shot dead by the troops.

  A claymore mine detonated by the LTTE cadres targeting an army foot patrol in the Urani area of Jaffna district killed one soldier and injured another.

  The dead body of a person identified as, Thambimuttu Nadarasa, was found with cut injuries from the Kalmadu area of Batticaloa district. Investigations revealed that the victim had been a LTTE cadre but later left the organization. It is believed that LTTE had killed him for the desertion.

  Five LTTE cadres were arrested by the troops on duty in the Muttur area of Trincomalee district.

• November 30: Soldiers destroyed a LTTE bunker in northern Vavuniya district and killed six cadres of the outfit.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres at Thampane in the Vavuniya district and killed three cadres.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

• November 29: Troops on a foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Manthottam area of Vavuniya district and killed eight cadres.

  Troops killed eight LTTE cadres during confrontations in the Vilaththikulam, Peryiathampane and Thampane areas of Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed during another confrontation with troops at Kandaperumakulam in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One of the killed cadres was identified as Wannimuththu of LTTE No. 8318.

  Four LTTE cadres, including two female cadres, were killed in the Parappakandal area of the Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed when troops stormed the outfit’s bunkers ahead of Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Three more LTTE cadres were killed when troops launched a pre-dawn attack on to the outfit’s bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres at Vilattikulan in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed during an encounter with the troops at Thampane in the Vavuniya district.

• November 28: The EPDP leader and Minister for Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda, escaped unhurt when a polio affected woman suicide cadre of the LTTE blew herself up at his office at Isipathana road in the Narahenpita area of Colombo. While the Minister was in his office waiting to see members of the public, the woman was allowed to get into the office complex unchecked considering her disability but the PRO of the Minister conducted checking on the physically challenged woman along with others who had come to see the Minister. However, the disguised LTTE woman cadre blew herself up when the physical checking was being done by the PRO. The blast critically injured the PRO, one Ministerial aide and one officer of Ministerial Security Division, who succumbed to his injuries later.

  At least 19 civilians were killed and 35 others injured as a suspected parcel bomb exploded near a popular fashion store at Nugegoda junction near Colombo around 5.55 pm. Police believe that the bomb had been placed in one of the parcel counters at the No Limit clothing store by a suspected LTTE militant who had left the incident site.

  Troops foiling an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate the Kaduruwittankulam area in the Vavuniya district killed five cadres.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kandeperumankulam jungle area of Vavuniya district and killed three cadres.

  At Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, two more LTTE cadres were killed when troops opened fire towards a group of outfit’s cadres. The LTTE following the incident launched mortars and artillery attack on troops in which two soldiers suffered injuries.

  Troops moving into Parappakandal area for clearing operations spotted a LTTE bunker in the jungle which was protected by several outfit’s cadres. Troops after observation destroyed the bunker by launching a concentrated fire on it. Two cadres who were inside the bunker were killed in the fire.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre who tried to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under government control) at Kilaly in the Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at Kokkuthuduvai in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district. In the retaliatory fire, troops killed one militant and damaged one of their bunkers.

  Three soldiers were injured when they were engaged in a search and clearing operation in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district due to anti personnel mine explosion.

  November 27: Six LTTE cadres were killed by troops when a group of militants attempted to breach the SF’s FDL at Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed four LTTE cadres and destroyed one bunker south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed when a group of the outfit’s cadres attempted to breach the SF’s FDL at Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district.

  One more LTTE cadre was killed by troops when a group of militants attempted to breach the SF’s FDL at Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district.

  Four soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres fired mortars towards the troops in the same area.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force completely destroyed the clandestine LTTE radio station, VOT, at Thiruviyar in the Kilinochchi district.

• November 26: Four LTTE cadres were killed in retaliatory fire by troops in the Valiyakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres and injured another during an encounter at Umayaratuvarankulamin the Vavuniya district.

  One civilian, identified as Samiyanada, was killed by a LTTE cadre in the Vavunathivu area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre during clashes ahead of Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district. One soldier was also injured.

  One soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion at Kilali in the Jaffna district.

  One soldier was injured when troops engaged a group of LTTE cadres with small arms and 81 mortars fire in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Four civilians, including one woman, were killed when a group of armed LTTE cadres stormed Mahawilachchiya, a Sinhalese farming village east of Wilpattu sanctuary, in the Anuradhapura district and opened indiscriminate fire towards them

  Troops retaliated and killed three LTTE cadres at Velankulam, west of Omanthe in the Vavuniya district when they were fired upon by the militants.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres during an encounter in the areas north of Periyathampne in the Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of outfit’s cadres attempting to breach the front lines in the area north of Nawathkulam in Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in the area north of Nawathkulam in Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre and foiled an attempt by the militants to breach the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre at Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres from their gun positions in uncleared area (area not under government control) fired a few rounds of artillery towards the civilian inhabited Pullaiaradiirakkam village in the Mannar district. Two lady teachers and five students, including three females, were injured when four LTTE artillery rounds fell on the village school. School buildings were also damaged in the incident.

• November 25: The dead body of a civilian, Keshavan Jayakumar, who was shot dead by LTTE cadres, was recovered by troops on foot patrol at Raza road in the Kopay area of Jaffna district.
  
  A fierce gun battle erupted between troops and cadres of the LTTE at Kurisuddakulam in the Mannar district. At least seven LTTE cadres were killed in the incident. Four soldiers were injured due to an APM explosion during the subsequent clearing operations conducted by the troops.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed by troops when they confronted a group of militants who attempted to enter the Adampan area in Mannar district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Pallankulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district confronted another group of LTTE cadres and killed one of them.

• November 24: Seven LTTE militants were killed in various clashes in the Vavuniya district.

  Six LTTE cadres were killed as troops razed the outfit’s bunker line at Karampaikkulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops retaliated and killed five LTTE cadres in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district when they were attacked by the militants. Two soldiers were injured in the incident.

  Two police personnel were killed when their motorbike hit a Claymore mine in the northern town of Kalawanchikudi in the Batticaloa district.

  An army officer was killed while two others were wounded when they stepped on an anti-personal mine in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed when a group of soldiers who were on a foot patrol attacked the outfit’s bunker east of Omanthe in the Vavuniya district.

  At Parrikkariperiyakulam in Mannar, troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres when they were on a search operation in the area. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  The LTTE prepared to commemorate nearly 20,000 of their cadres killed in ethnic violence so far. Documents released by the outfit informed that 19,887 of their members have been killed since November 1982 when the first loss was recorded. Among the dead were 343 suicide bombers, including 93 women. The LTTE said 950 of their cadres have been killed in 2007. The LTTE’s "Heroes' Week" commemoration will end on November 27 with an annual policy statement by chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

• November 23: The Navy foiled an attempt by a cluster of LTTE boats to target a police station at Pesalai in the Mannar district and killed over 17 LTTE cadres. Six LTTE boats deployed from Vedithaltivu had launched an attack targeting the Pesalai police station. Naval troops from the ground and sea along with the Pesalai police successfully repulsed the sea Tigers attack.

  At least 12 LTTE cadres were killed and six others injured as troops razed the outfit’s bunker line at Karaiththanmodai in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed and three others injured by the security forces when they were attempting to infiltrate into the FDL south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. The troops also successfully attacked the LTTE bunker line and destroyed two bunkers and inflicted heavy damages to the rest of the bunkers on the line.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed in an encounter with the troops at Vilayatikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Chettiyamakan area killed two of them.

  LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting an Army foot patrol at Warikuttu in the Mannar district and killed one soldier in the explosion.

• November 22: Armed LTTE cadres entered into the Adamppan area of Mannar district and launched an assault on the troops. Five cadres were shot dead in the retaliatory action by the troops.

  Troops shot dead three LTTE cadres in the north of Giant Tank in the Mannar district.

  Troops at the FDL towards the northern most point of the A-9 highway at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed two of them when they tried to fire at the troops. One soldier was injured in the clash.

  Troops killed two militants, including a provincial leader identified as Wallawan, who opened fire on SFs on a foot patrol at Palathoppur area of Trincomalee district.

  SF personnel killed one militant at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  The Government of Sri Lanka, which had earlier frozen the accounts of the TRO, proscribed the organisation. "Approval was granted to a Cabinet memorandum presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama for enforcing the ban," Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. He added an appeal will be made to foreign governments and international organisations that have a TRO presence in their countries or have relationships with the TRO to take action against the organisation and to cease transactions with it.

• November 21: A fierce clash reportedly broke out between the troops and the LTTE cadres in Kandaperumkulam area of Vavuniya district after the troops observed the presence of a group of militants in that area. Four LTTE cadres were killed.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by the security forces while trying to infiltrate into the military held areas across the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres who tried to enter the FDL north of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district were killed by the troops.

  Troops in the Navathkulam area of Vavuniya district confronted some LTTE cadres and killed one of them.

• November 20: Security forces attacked a line of LTTE bunkers at Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district and killed at least five militants. The troops also completely destroyed three bunkers of the outfit.

  SFs killed four LTTE cadres, including a leader identified as Ilamaran, at Mulikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  SF personnel killed two more LTTE cadres and destroyed one of their bunkers at Pahala Kokkothuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

  In an encounter in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district, the army launched an artillery attack on a suspected LTTE gathering and killed one cadre. Two more cadres were injured in the incident.

• November 19: Security forces shot dead six LTTE cadres in the Nawathkulam area of Vavuniya district when the militants attempted to enter cleared areas close to the FDL.

  In a gun battle, four militants were killed by the troops in the general area south of Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres near the FDL south of Vellankulam area in the Mannar district and killed three of them.

• November 18: An encounter occurred in the area north of Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district when LTTE cadres fired towards the troops. During retaliation, troops killed four militants.

  Two militants were killed while advancing towards the troops in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Navatkulam in Vavuniya district, troops killed two LTTE cadres who attempted to enter the military held areas.

  Army troops on duty in the general area of Parappakanadal in Mannar district confronted a group of militants and killed one of them.

  Troops launched fire using heavy arms towards an LTTE point to neutralise their attack at the north of Vilayathikulam in the Vavuniya. LTTE communication confirmed that one cadre was killed in the Army fire.

• November 17: Troops at the Nagarkovil FDL carried out raids on a bunker of the LTTE. During the ensuing confrontations, five LTTE bunkers were destroyed. Subsequent search recovered a dead body of a LTTE cadre. Troops intercepting the LTTE communication later confirmed that five cadres were killed while two others were injured in the incident.

  Troops at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district retaliated to an LTTE attack ousing heavy weapons targeting a bunker line of the outfit. Troops confirmed that five LTTE cadres were killed in the incident.

  Three militants were killed during encounters in the general areas of Periyanthikulam and Parappakandal in Vavuniya.

  Members of the LTTE ‘pistol group’ killed one civilian, identified as Kaniah Koneshwaram, at Navali area in the Jaffna district.

• November 16: Troops fired RPG and mortars on a tractor carrying armed LTTE cadres closer to the Kilaly defence line in the Jaffna district, killing at least eight militants.

  In two separate clashes between troops and the LTTE cadres in the general area of Pokkaravani Vaiyattankulam in the Vavuniya district and Karakamune in Trincomalee district, nine militants were killed.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE attack at Karakamune in the Trincomalee district.

  One woman cadre of the LTTE was killed in retaliatory fire while infiltrating into the FDL near Kambiliwewa at Welioya.

  One LTTE cadre hurled a hand grenade on the troops and was killed as soldiers opened fire on him at Thuwarakkerni in Mannar.

  At Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, troops killed one LTTE militant who tried to breach the Forward Defence Line.

• November 15: Four LTTE cadres were killed by the troops at Muhamale in Jaffna when the LTTE bunkers were attacked by the security forces.

  One soldier and one LTTE cadre were killed and many others injured during an encounter at Pallanakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres and wounded four others who were trying to infiltrate into Kattaiadamapan area in the Mannar district. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE cadre who was trying to infiltrate into Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district. However, other LTTE cadres managed to escape from the incident site.

  Two soldiers engaged in search operations at Periyathampanai and Thampanai areas sustained injuries in an anti personnel mine explosion.

• November 14: In a clash between the security forces and the LTTE in the Narikkulam area of Vavuniya district, eight militants, including one female area leader, were killed. According to army sources, six LTTE bunkers were also destroyed in the incident.

  Troops observed the presence of some LTTE cadres close to the FDL at Vilattikulam in the Vavuniya district and in the retaliatory action, five of the outfit’s cadres are reported to have been killed.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed and another injured in retaliation by the army at Palaikulai and Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

  A LTTE cadre was killed by the troops in Jaffna town when he threw a hand grenade on a group of soldiers.

  One cadre was killed and few others were injured when troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in the exchange of fire.

  One LTTE cadre who tried to breach the Muhamale FDL in the Jaffna district was killed by the security forces.

  Four soldiers, on clearing operations in the general area of Kannaddi in Vavuniya district, sustained injuries in an anti-personnel mine explosion triggered by the LTTE.

• November 13: Troops at Palampiddy in the Mannar district pursued an LTTE vehicle and killed four militants. Pullavan Annan, the in-charge of the special weapon section of the LTTE, was among those killed in the attack.

  The security forces FDL at Parappakandal in the Mannar district came under LTTE fire. The counter fire by the army destroyed one LTTE bunker and killed four militants.

  Security forces killed three LTTE cadres and completely destroyed two of their bunkers in a retaliatory attack after the militants launched a strike on the troops at the FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by the security forces in a clash on the same day when a group of militants were trying to infiltrate the FDL at Sirunavatkulam in the Mannar district.

  LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade at the troops on foot patrol in the general area of Sirinathakulam in the Vavuniya district. Counter-fire of the Army troops killed two militants and forced others to withdraw from the scene. One soldier sustained injuries in the LTTE hand grenade explosion.

  Troops confronted a group of armed LTTE cadres in the Manthai area and killed two of them.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in an encounter with the security forces at the south of the A-9 road at Muhamale in the Jaffna district when he tried to enter the military held areas crossing the FDL.

• November 12: The deputy of LTTE intelligence unit in Trincomalee and two other terrorists were killed by the security forces during a confrontation in the area south of Welgamvehera, northwest of Trincomalee town. A group of terrorists fired small arms towards the troops on duty. However, the security forces retaliated and killed three LTTE cadres including the Trincomalee LTTE’s intelligent deputy, Kumudan.

  One LTTE leader was among five terrorists killed at Muhamale in the Jaffna district where three LTTE bunkers on their defence line were destroyed by the troops. LTTE transmission confirmed that one of their leaders, Kadiralan Neelawan, was killed in the clash.

  Troops confronted a group of militants at Umayarathuvarankulam in Vavuniya and killed two of them. One soldier sustained minor injuries in the LTTE fire.

  LTTE ‘pistol group’ cadres killed a civilian, identified as Francis Philip, a resident of Rasaweenthottam in the Jaffna district.

  An unidentified civilian was shot dead at Benedict Lane in the Jaffna district by suspected LTTE cadres.

  November 11: Troops destroyed the bunkers of LTTE at Periyathampani in the Vavuniya district and killed six female LTTE cadres. One soldier was also killed in the clash.

  One civilian was shot dead by the LTTE at Kalviyankadu in the Jaffna district.

  A LTTE cadre, who tried to escape after throwing a hand grenade towards troops on duty at Iyaththalai in the Jaffna district, was shot dead by the troops. A motorbike which was in the possession of the dead LTTE cadre was also apprehended.

  A civilian sustained injuries when his truck was caught up in an LTTE claymore mine attack at Waddawan.

  LTTE cadres shot at and injured one of their political rivals at Annanagar in the Vavuniya district.

  Suspected LTTE cadres attacked Indian fishermen inside India’s territorial waters off the Rameswaram coast and forcefully took away diesel from their boats. Around 150 litres of diesel have been taken away and one fisherman was injured in the incident.

• November 10: Security forces in the Wanni area confronted LTTE cadres in several locations and killed at least 13 of them while inflicting heavy damages on their other cadres.

  In another incident, in the Cheddikulam area in the Mannar district troops engaged the LTTE cadres with a small arms clash. Intercepted LTTE radio communication revealed that nine of their cadres were killed and a large number of their other cadres were injured in the incident.

  At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked a group of LTTE terrorists and killed at least two of them. Three more terrorists were injured and vanished into the jungles with bleeding injuries.

  One soldier was killed in a fierce gun battle that erupted between troops and infiltrating LTTE terrorists at Thampanei area in the Mannar district.

  Troops deployed at Veddayamurippu in the Mannar district shot dead a Tiger terrorist who tried to infiltrate into security lines.

  Troops launched an artillery attack on a suspected LTTE location in Villattikulam of Vavuniya district and killed one LTTE female cadre in the attack.

  Three soldiers were injured in a LTTE artillery attack in the general area of Periyapatri Perichchan in Vavuniya district.

• November 9: Troops attacked two LTTE bunkers along the front line separating government-controlled areas from the LTTE controlled northern Vavuniya district killing six cadres.

  Separate encounters in Vavuniya killed six LTTE cadres and a soldier.

  In the Mannar district, five LTTE cadres died in artillery strikes.

  Two home guards were killed in a LTTE-detonated claymore mine blast in Kambiliwewa area of Trincomalee district.

• November 8: In the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district, troops killed at least four LTTE cadres who tried to breach the security lines several times during the day. Four soldiers were injured in the incident.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by troops in the Umayatarthuwankulam area of the Vavuniya district.

  The dead bodies of two farmers, R.M. Abeywardhena and G.M. Padmasiri, were recovered from Tissamaharama village in the Hambantota district. Police suspected involvement of the LTTE in their killing.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed by the Army personnel who started retaliating the LTTE’s attack at Muhamale in the Jaffna district on November 7-morning. "The number of LTTE cadres killed in the Muhamalai (Jaffna peninsula) attack has risen to 60 according to latest LTTE communication," said the Sri Lankan Army, revising the earlier figure of 52 LTTE cadres killed.

  One LTTE terrorist was killed and several others were injured by the security forces in a confrontation in the Navatkulam area in the Vavuniya district.

• November 7: A fierce fighting broke out between the security forces and the LTTE along the front lines at Muhamale in the Jaffna district. According to the army sources, around 58 LTTE cadres and 11 security forces were killed in the clash. Security forces advanced up to about 5 km further towards the interior and destroyed over 20 bunkers of the LTTE. 41 soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres when they were confronted with a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate into military held areas in Periyathampane in the Vavuniya district.

  November 6: A LTTE terrorist was killed by the security forces when he was trying to infiltrate into military-held area in Periyakuriyittukulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed and several others were injured in Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district when a gang of terrorists confronted the troops in the area.

  In Oliwattataive area of Vavuniya district, one LTTE cadres was killed and three others were injured in another clash between the troops and the LTTE.

• November 5: Troops in their retaliatory fire killed four LTTE cadres at the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed in a confrontation with the security forces in the general area of Vilaththikulam in Vavuniya district. Intercepted communication of the LTTE revealed that a large number of LTTE cadres have sustained injuries in the confrontation.

  Suspected cadres of the LTTE killed three farmers at Thambaraweva village in the Hambanthota district. The three victims have been identified as W.K. Pemananda, Nupe Hewage Piyadasa and Kodithuwakku Kankanamge Piyasena. According to sources, an armed group of LTTE cadres came to their farm huts, took them away for an investigation and killed them a short distance away. Another farmer, who went to look for the abducted people, was injured by an anti-personnel mine.

  In Villattikulam of Vavuniya district, troops confronted a group of LTTE rebels who tried to breach the security lines. During the gun battle, troops killed three terrorists and seriously injured another four who escaped into jungles, according to army sources.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and five others were injured in clashes with troops in the general area of Narikkulam in Mannar district.

  In Vavuniya, a group of LTTE terrorists hiding in the jungles in Pokkaravani launched a small arms attack on troops who were clearing the area. One soldier, who was wounded seriously, later succumbed to the injuries.

  A LTTE cadre, who tried to infiltrate the FDL in Nagarkovil of Jaffna district, was shot dead by the troops.

• November 4: Troops killed four LTTE cadres at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district when they were attacked by outfit cadres. One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries in the incident.

  Three female LTTE cadres were killed by troops in a retaliatory fire when they destroyed a LTTE bunker at the Thampanai FDL in the Vavuniya district from where the outfit cadres were attacking the security forces. One soldier was killed and another injured due to LTTE mortar attack.

  Five dead bodies with gunshot and cut injuries were recovered by the Police from the Thavasikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Eight civilians were injured when a LTTE cadre lobbed a hand grenade at the vehicle they were travelling in at Navaladi in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district. One of the injured persons died of his injuries later.

  A woman, identified as S. Sugandini, was injured in a LTTE grenade attack Kalviyankadu in the Jaffna district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that the Air Force will continue to track down the hiding places of LTTE leaders and launch air attacks.

  Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE, meanwhile, threatened the killing of the group's political chief by the Sri Lankan military has set alight a ‘deep yearning for the goal'’ of a separate homeland, and added, "In a new form, he joins our liberation struggle which is moving on like a lengthy river of blaze. He has nourished that yearning. Strengthened by his nourishment we will continue to travel on our path toward the goal with renewed determination.''

• November 2: S. P. Thamilselvan, the political wing leader of the LTTE and its de-facto number two, was killed in a SLAF air strike at Thiruvaiaru, a location three kilometres South of Kilinochchi around 6am on ‘very reliable information’, identifying the location as a meeting place of LTTE leaders. Simultaneously the fighter jets also pounded a Black Tiger camp in the East of Iranamadu. Five other leaders ‘Lt. Col.’ Anpumani alias Alex, ‘Major’ Mihuthan, ‘Major’ Nethagy, ‘Lieutenant’ Adchgivel and ‘Lieutenant’ Vahakai Kumaran were also killed in the air strike. Their meeting place has now been confirmed as an international communications centre run by ‘Lt. Col’ Alex. It was also a centre for logistics, arms procurement, fund raising and operational matters.

  The LTTE posthumously promoted Thamilchelvan to the self styled rank of ‘Brigadier’ after his death. According to sources this is the first occasion the outfit has promoted one of their leaders to the rank of a ‘Brigadier’. It has also declared three days of mourning in areas they dominate.

  The LTTE chief Prabhakaran has appointed P. Nadesan as the new Political Head. The LTTE’s military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said that Nadesan, who is currently in charge of Tamil Eelam Police, will be in charge of the two departments from now on.

  Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said the military would target the rest of the outfit’s leaders. "This is just a message that we know where their leaders are. I know the locations of all the leaders, that if we want we can take them one by one, so they must change their hideouts," he told Reuters, adding, "When the time comes only, we take them one by one."

  Four LTTE bunkers were destroyed and 14 cadres were killed by the SFs when a group of LTTE cadres attempted to advance the Muhamalai FDLs in the Jaffna district, military sources said.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Manthali area of Mannar district.

• November 1: 22 LTTE cadres and two soldiers were killed during clashes between the troops and LTTE cadres in the Giant Tank area of Mannar district. 10 soldiers sustained injuries during the clashes. Troops also captured several of the outfit’s bunker lines in the area. However, the LTTE claimed that at least 25 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 60 wounded during the clashes in which the outfit lost only seven cadres.

  Troops on duty in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district at around 3.00am overran bunker lines of the LTTE and killed eight cadres destroying four of their bunkers in response to a string of heavy LTTE fire. Five soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  One woman was killed when the LTTE cadres fired mortar shells at the Athikkuli Tamil village in the Mannar district.

• October 31: Six LTTE cadres, including two female cadres, were killed by the troops during a spate of confrontations which occurred in the Kaduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Umayaratuvarankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed four LTTE cadres and injured at least five others when they attempted to launch attacks on the troops conducting search operations in the area.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE cadre in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured when LTTE cadres-triggered a remote controlled claymore mine explosion targeting a military tractor carrying water to troops in the Pampaimadu area. The tractor was damaged.

• October 30: Clashes erupted between troops and LTTE cadres at Muhamalai FDLs in which four LTTE bunkers were raised to ground. Six cadres of the outfit were killed in the incident.

  LTTE cadres shot dead two Tamil civilians, identified as Irridiyam Vedarasa alias Ranjan and Sittambaram Pillai Selvaraja, at Muruganur in the Sittambarampuram area of Vavuniya district. The victims were former PLO TE members.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres and destroyed two bunkers of the outfit at the Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna.

  Troops opened fire on a group of LTTE cadres moving towards the Ethavetunuvewa FDL in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, killing one cadre and injuring two others.

  One female LTTE cadre was killed when troops opened fire towards a group of advancing outfit’s cadres in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Condemning the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura airbase, the TULF leader V. Anandasangaree urged the LTTE chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, to give up violence and come to the negotiating table. In an open letter addressed to Prabhakaran, Anandasangaree charged him with pursuing an elusive goal of Eelam to "safeguard" his prestige and said even now, it was not too late for him to settle for a reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict.

• October 29:Troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE cadres who were advancing towards the SF’s FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. In the ensuing confrontation, troops killed eight cadres, while one soldier also sustained injuries. Artillery, mortar and multi purpose machine gun rounds fell on four LTTE bunkers raising them to the ground.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed during another encounter between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE shot dead a cadre of the TMVP, identified as Vettivel Sudhakar, at Kaththankudi in the Batticaloa district.

  The SLAF fighter jets pounded gathering point of LTTE intelligence wing leaders North of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu district, said the SLAF Group Captain Ajantha Silva.

• October 28: Six LTTE cadres were killed as army soldiers destroyed a LTTE bunker ahead of the FDL at Narikkulama, west of Adampan, in the Vavuniya district.

  At least six LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of outfit’s cadres near FDLs in the Mannar district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed during another confrontation between troops and outfit’s cadres at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when troops opened fire on a group of the outfit’s cadres who tried to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL, north of A-9 road, in the Jaffna district.

  Troops confronted another group of outfit’s cadres in the Murukkankulam area of Mannar district, killing three of them.

  Troops shot dead a LTTE cadre at Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers who were engaged in a search operation in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district sustained injuries in an anti personnel mine explosion.

  October 27: Troops killed four LTTE cadres in the Parappakandal area of Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, troops repulsed a LTTE infiltration attempt by killing three cadres.

  LTTE cadres launched a mortar and artillery attack on troops deployed at the Varany FDL in the Jaffna district, injuring two soldiers. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  Troops at Kambiliwewa in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of infiltrating LTTE cadres and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties on them. One soldier who also sustained injuries in the incident died later.

• October 26: Six soldiers were killed in an accidental explosion caused by a mine that was unearthed from a FDL in the Irana junction area of Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of infiltrating cadres of the LTTE in the Kaduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed three LTTE cadres during a separate confrontation with the outfit’s cadres at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district. One cadre was injured in the incident.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops when they were moving in the jungles in the Parappakandal area of Vavuniya district.

  One civilian, identified as Palany Selvarasa, who had reportedly criticized the LTTE, was killed by the outfit’s cadres in the Pommawali area of Jaffna district.

  The ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, Thangaraja Pradeepan, in the Thattatharai area of Jaffna district.

  Troops twice foiled attempts by cadres of the LTTE to breach the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district, killing one cadre and injuring several others.

  The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran compared the 21-member suicide squad that launched the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Base with those who had fought against the Indian Peace Keeping Force from 1987 to 1990.

• October 25: A 19-year-old youth, Sivalingam Chandrakumar, working at the TMVP, the political wing of the LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, political office in Chenkaladi was shot dead by ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE in the Mavadivembu area of Batticaloa district.

  One of the six LTTE cadres arrested by navy in the Olumaduwai area of Mannar district on October 20 has been identified as, Vivekanandan alias Kandan, an intelligence leader and an explosives expert of the outfit. Kandan was serving as an intelligence leader in the Mannar area to the LTTE for 12 years.

• October 24: Three LTTE cadres were killed and two others inured when a group of outfit’s cadres attempted to infiltrate the Kilali FDL in the Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Troops during a confrontation with LTTE cadres at Giant Tank in the Mannar district reportedly killed three cadres.

  The SLAF fighter crafts carried out two air strikes on identified LTTE targets at Pannichchankulam, north of Mankulam in the Mullaitivu district. One LTTE training center where the outfit used to train Black-Tigers (suicide cadres) was completely destroyed in the attack, the SLAF confirmed.

  The Sri Lankan Parliament has passed a legislation to enable parties like LTTE and TMVP to register themselves and contest elections in the country. The Local Government (Special Provisions) Act incorporating an amendment to this effect was passed on October 23. The Supreme Court has given its nod to the Act as it is in keeping with the constitution of Sri Lanka, it said. Since this provision was not in the earlier act, an amendment had become necessary. The eastern region, faced with similar circumstances, was now ready for the local government election, the website said.

• October 23: Nine LTTE cadres were killed during another encounter between the troops and outfit’s cadres in the Thampanai and Villattikulam areas of Vavuniya district. An unspecified number of militants were injured in the incident.

  One civilian, identified as Sobamane Christ Jayanthan, was killed by LTTE cadres in the Nallur area of Jaffna district.

• October 22: Elite army troops of the Special Forces confronted LTTE cadres who infiltrated and carried out a suicide attack on the SLAF base at Anuradhapura and evicted them from the premises killing 20 militants. Nine SF personnel, including two officers, were killed and 20 others wounded in the encounter. Subsequently the LTTE carried out an aerial attack dropping two shells damaging two MI 24 helicopters parked in the hangar. One more BELL-212 helicopter that was to reinforce SLAF fighter craft resisting LTTE air movement had to crash-land at Doramadalawa area, closer to Mihintale, due to a technical fault, killing both pilots and two gunners. Unconfirmed reports said at least eight SF personnel were injured in the incident. This was the first time the outfit had carried out a combined air and ground attack.

  One civilian, identified as Rathnasami Premasiri, was killed when his cart accidentally hit a LTTE pressure mine at a jungle patch in the Uppuveli area of Trincomalee district.
  
  At least 15 cadres of the LTTE who had infiltrated into the cleared areas (area under government control) of Kaduruvitankulam in the Vavuniya district were killed by troops. The dead included one of the outfit’s group leaders, named Shanthi.

  At least 10 cadres of the LTTE were killed when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres at Narikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  After observing a group of LTTE cadres at Parappakandal in the Mannar district troops opened fire towards them, killing five cadres.

  An airman, who was wounded in the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura air base, succumbed to his injuries raising the death toll to 30, including 14 security force personnel.

• October 21: Troops in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district foiled an LTTE attempt to breach the FDL, killing three cadres while injuring several others. Three soldiers were also killed and an equal number of them injured in the clash.

  At least six LTTE cadres were reported killed in an accidental explosion in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district. Reports said that a LTTE artillery round triggered the explosion at Weerawendan 81-mm mortar base of the outfit.

  Troops foiled an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district, causing damages to the outfit’s bunkers. One soldier was killed in the incident.

  Troops at the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district confronted LTTE cadres, destroying two bunkers of the outfit and injuring an unspecified number of cadres.

  Two LTTE cadres surrendered before the naval troops at Gajaba base in the Mannar district.

  The Canadian Police have uncovered a major scam where the LTTE operatives tried to enter the Caribbean using expertly forged Western passports with the eventual aim of infiltrating the US and Canada.

• October 20: Eight LTTE cadres were killed when troops retaliated intermittent fire by the outfit’s cadre at Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Troops observed a movement of LTTE cadres in the Uyilankulam area of Mannar district and opened fire towards them, killing eight cadres.

  LTTE cadres attacked SF’s FDL in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district killing one soldier and injuring three others. The LTTE communication later confirmed that 20 of their cadres were injured in the retaliatory fire by troops.

  Troops foiled an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate the SF’s FDL in the Nagar Kovil area of Jaffna district killing one cadre and injuring many others. Troops also destroyed three LTTE bunkers.

• October 19: A group of LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Giant Tank area of Mannar district. Troops in retaliation killed one cadre and injured four others.

  SFs shot dead one LTTE cadre who tried to lob a hand grenade towards troops at Koddadai in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district.

  Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to infiltrate the Mannar FDL at Parappakandal and killed one cadre ahead of the FDL.

  Troops observed two LTTE boats sailing in the sea in the Udapathana area, about 10-km north of Yala, in the Hambantota district and opened fire towards them which led to an exchange of fire forcing the LTTE cadres aboard two boats to retreat. It is believed that LTTE suffered heavy losses.

• October 18: At least 13 LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured in a clash between the SLA and the LTTE cadres when the militants tried to storm the security lines in the general area of Periyathampani in the Vavuniya district. Six soldiers of the SLA were wounded in the fighting.

  Four persons were killed and three others wounded when their boat was caught in a cross fire between the LTTE militants and the Sri Lanka Navy off the north-western coast near Pesalai in Mannar district. They were reportedly fleeing the LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi district to seek refuge in India.

  Naval Inshore Patrol Crafts (IPC) detected and attacked a cluster of the LTTE boats making-way towards Pesalai north from Vidattalitivu in the Mannar district. The naval spokesperson D.K.P Dassanayake said that suspicious LTTE boats fired at IPCs which retaliated and forced the outfit’s boats to retreat. However, a boat with the dead bodies of four cadres and three survivors was seized.

  Security forces killed one LTTE cadre and injured four others when a group of militants attempted to infiltrate the Forward Defence Line at east of Giants Tank in the Mannar district.

  At least 5-6 LTTE cadres were injured when troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kallikulam and Palaikul areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured when a group of LTTE cadres attacked SF’s in the Periyathmapane area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were inured when they confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  One LTTE cadre was injured by troops when he tried to break the SF’s FDL in the Attowankottie area of Jaffna district.

• October 17: Troops in the Navatkulam and Karampikulam areas of Vavuniya district confronted LTTE cadres at about 9.40 am and 4.30 pm when they attempted to breach the SF’s FDL and killed at least three of them. An unspecified number of LTTE cadres were injured in the incident.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Palampoddaru area of Trincomalee district and inflicted a large number of casualties on the outfit. Troops later recovered the dead body of one cadre.

• October 16: According to latest reports from ground troops in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district, 30 LTTE cadres were killed during the clashes that erupted on October 15. Earlier, it was reported that 20 cadres and a soldier was killed in the incident.

  Troops foiled two abortive infiltration attempts by cadres of the LTTE into the FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district killing at least six cadres.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  The ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE shot at and injured one Police constable at Sathurukonndan in the Batticaloa district.

• October 15-16: Troops foiled an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to overrun the Thalgasmankada army detachment, south of Panama, about 40-km north of Kataragama in the Hanbantota district. Six soldiers were killed and another injured in the incident. Reports also said that a vehicle belonging to the forest rangers of the Wildlife department was also fired upon. However, the Wildlife officials aboard the vehicle escaped unhurt. Further, on October 16, an army vehicle which was on a rescue in the area hit a landmine laid by the outfit’s cadres. One soldier was killed in the explosion. Casualties among the outfit’s cadres are yet to be ascertained.

• October 15: At least 20 cadres of the LTTE were killed and several others inured during clashes with the SFs in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and seven others injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed by troops when a group of outfit’s cadres attempted to breach the SF’s Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Two police personnel were shot at and injured dead by the ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE in the Koddaveli area of Mannar district. The injured police personnel died of their injuries later.

  Two police personnel were shot at and injured by the ‘pistol gang’ at Bandarukulam, about 2-km west of Vavuniya.

  Two soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres opened fire towards them in the Veerapuram area of Vavuniya district.

  The perception of an increased threat from the LTTE has forced the NTPC Ltd, India's largest power generation company, to relocate its proposed 500 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Sri Lanka.
  
  Six LTTE cadres were killed when troops opened fire towards another group of militants while they were trying to breach the FDL in the Vavuniya district.
  
  Four LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Villattikulam area of the Vavuniya district.

• October 14: Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to enter the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district killing two of them.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Ponnar area of the Vavuniya district when they were trying to enter cleared areas (area under government control). Meanwhile, another group of outfit’s cadres directed fire towards troops who in retaliatory fire destroyed at least four of the outfit’s bunkers from where they directed fire on the troops.

  Three soldiers were inured when LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Thampane area of Vavuniya district. Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the retaliatory fire.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops when a group of outfit’s cadres attempted to breach the SF’s FDL in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• October 13: Three cadres of the LTTE were killed and three others injured during an encounter at Gurunagar in Jaffna. Sri Lanka Army sources said that the encounter occurred after several sea Tiger boats operating beyond restricted sea areas deceptively entered the general fishing areas and confronted troops providing security to fishermen. One of the LTTE boats was destroyed. The dead bodies of three soldiers who went missing in action were recovered later.

  Five cadres of the LTTE were killed and a soldier sustained injuries during confrontations between SFs and the outfit’s cadres who attempted to breach the SF’s FDL in the Periyathampani area of Mannar district.

  Troops at Villattikulam, West of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed four of them. The confrontation erupted when troops conducted a search and clear operation in the area.

  Troops killed two infiltrating cadres of the LTTE in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Troops repulsed an attempt by cadres the LTTE to infiltrate the Periyathampani FDL in Mannar district inflicting an unspecified number of casualties on the outfit. One soldier who sustained injuries during the incident died later.

  October 12: SFs killed three LTTE cadres and inured seven others when an armed clash erupted between army troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Narikkulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured.

  Troops repulsed an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate the SF’s FDL at Vannakulam in the Vavuniya district and killed three outfit’s cadres. Seven other cadres sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed and another injured by troops when they attempted to infiltrate into SF’s FDL in the Giant Tank area of Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were shot dead by troops ahead of the Thirukethiswaram FDL in the Mannar district.

  Troops foiled another attempt by cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate into the SF’s held areas at Thampanai in the Vavuniya district killing two LTTE cadres.

  The LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops conducting clearing operation in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district. Troops retaliated and killed one cadre.

  One LTTE cadres was killed when troops opened counter fire at a group of outfit’s cadres who launched an attack on troops in the Thirukethiswaram area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Soldiers on foot patrol at Karaiyur on Pasiyur-Pannaikottai causeway in the Jaffna district overpowered and killed a LTTE cadre who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards them.

• October 11: A group of armed LTTE cadres advancing towards the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district were fired upon by army troops. Two LTTE cadres were killed in the incident. One soldier also sustained injuries.

  One soldier was killed while another sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion targeting troops on foot patrol in the Nelliady area of Jaffna district.

  At Kulankulam, seven-km East of Parayanakulam in the Vavuniya district, the LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops killing one soldier. Troops retaliated and repulsed the attack. The exact numbers of LTTE casualties are yet to be ascertained.

  One LTTE cadre was killed during a clash between troops and the outfit’s cadres at Kallaikulam. While another LTTE cadre managed to escape, troops recovered two T-56 weapons, two hand grenades and one communication set along with the dead body of the slain LTTE cadre from the incident site.

  A LTTE cadre was killed by troops when he attempted to infiltrate the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre ahead of the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district during his abortive attempt to enter the SF’s held areas.

  Two LTTE boats carrying a six and half feet-long remote controlled aircraft, one toy-type helicopter, four communication sets, 15 Hydraulic oil cans, four satellite mobile phones, 45 antennas, 10 global positioning systems and 100 printed circuit boards were seized by naval troops about 5-km north of Talaimannar in the Mannar district. The Navy spokesperson Commander D.K.P Dassanayaka said, "This is the first time in the history of the military operations against the LTTE, Sri Lanka Navy has been able to capture an aircraft in the possession of the enemy."

• October 9: According to latest intelligence reports of the security forces, an estimated total of 69 LTTE cadres were confirmed killed following two separate aerial and artillery attacks at Chempankundu in the Poonaryn area of Kilinochchi district on September 25 while a rehearsal of a LTTE "Passing out Parade" was in progress. Following specific information, air force fighter craft around 12noon on that day struck the target forcing, sources said, adding, the same evening at about 4.30pm a volume of heavy artillery fire directed by ground troops of the army caused further losses, preventing the outfit from proceeding with the event any further. Reports added that several LTTE leaders were in attendance at the occasion.

  At least 10 cadres of the LTTE were killed by troops when a group of the outfit’s cadres attempted to breach the security forces FDL in the Eluththumaduwal area of Jaffna district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the north of Giant Tank in the Vavuniya district and killed two of them. Three soldiers were also injured.

  The Special Task Force personnel retaliated and repulsed a LTTE attack in the Rupaskulam area of Ampara district. Subsequently troops recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre.

• October 8: Four LTTE cadres were killed during an encounter between the SFs and outfit’s cadres in the Taladi area of Mannar district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and three bunkers of the outfit were destroyed by troops during another clash in the Kilali area of Jaffna district.

  One STF member was killed and two other SF personnel were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion in the Kangikudichchiaru area of Ampara district.

  One soldier was killed during a confrontation between SFs and the LTTE cadres in the Pockaraveni area of Vavuniya district.

• October 7: The SLN destroyed another arms carrying ship of the LTTE in the seas 1,700-km off Dondra Head, the southern extremity of Sri Lanka. The LTTE vessel identified as MV "Matshusima", a 70-m long vessel with displacement of 3,000 tons, was intercepted and destroyed by the SLN Task units after a long hot pursuit, security sources said. There were 12 to 15 LTTE cadres on board the vessel at the time it was destroyed. "The ship caught fire and sank. There were about 12 to 15 (people on board) and no one survived," said SLN spokesperson Commander D.K.P Dassanayake.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres during a confrontation in the Janaka Pura area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed when LTTE cadres after infiltrating Murusuvil area in the Jaffna district lobbed a hand grenade towards troops on picket duties.

• October 6: At least six cadres of the LTTE were killed or seriously wounded when troops repulsed a LTTE offensive on the FDLs north of Uyilankulam in the Mannar district.

  Troops deployed at Adampan south in the Vavuniya district retaliated and killed six LTTE cadres when the outfit’s cadres launched an attack on troops. An unspecified number of cadres also sustained injuries.

  One soldier was killed when LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at the Kambiliwewa FDL (Forward Defense Line) in the Padaviya area of Vavuniya district.

• October 5: LTTE communications confirmed that four of their cadres were killed during confrontations with troops in the Vaiyattankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed four LTTE cadres and injured two others during a confrontation at an identified LTTE location north west of Giant's Tank in Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres, including a leader identified as Kalivanan, were killed during an encounter with the troops on at Ethawetunuwewa in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district, the Media Center for National Security said.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE cadres in the Navathkulam area in Vavuniya district and killed two female cadres.

  Four soldiers sustained injuries when troops on foot patrol in the Periyathampani area of Vavuniya district came under LTTE fire. Troops retaliated and forced the outfit’s cadres to retreat with an unspecified number of casualties.

• October 4: Sixteen LTTE cadres were killed and one of their vehicles seized during three separate clashes between SFs and the outfit’s cadres in the Thampanai and Vilachchikulam areas of Vavuniya district. Troops in retaliatory fire killed five LTTE cadres in the Thampanai area at about 10 am. Separately, a group of LTTE cadres tried to enter into another area of Thampanai at the same time. Troops in retaliation killed four of the outfit’s cadres. Further, five more LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted with another group of militants aboard a vehicle at around 2.30 in the Vilachchikulam area of Vavuniya district. Simultaneously, two more LTTE militants were killed when they appeared from a jungle and opened fire towards the troops. SFs also seized the vehicle from the incident site.

  Troops on clearing operation in the Pulliyankulam area of Trincomalee district were fired upon by a group of LTTE cadres. One soldier was killed in the incident. Troops retaliated and reportedly inflicted an unspecified number of casualties on the outfit.

• October 3: Troops deployed in the Vilachchikulam, Periyathampani, Pokkaravani and Navathkulam areas West of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district were continuously attacked by cadres of the LTTE using small arms, mortars and artillery. At least 12 cadres were killed and 24 others injured during clashes between the troops and LTTE cadres. Three soldiers were also killed while five others sustained injuries in the incident.

  A pre-dawn attempt by LTTE cadres to breach the FDLs in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district was foiled by troops injuring or killing at least two of them. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation.

• October 2: Troops on duty in the Kuduruvittankulam area were fired upon by LTTE cadres in which one soldier was killed and three more injured. Troops in retaliatory fire killed two cadres.

  The army claimed to have killed a top LTTE leader during an air raid at Iranamadu in the Mullaittivu district. The Defence Ministry said the LTTE hideout in Iranamadu was destroyed.

• October 1: Four LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres in the Kurunchankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  Thee LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed during a confrontation that occurred in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district. Several other cadres sustained injuries in the incident.

  At Vilattikulam in the Vavuniya district, troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres aboard a tractor and killed two of them.

  Troops on duty in the Parappakanadal area of Vavuniya district killed one LTTE cadre.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Periya Thampanai area of Vavuniya district and during subsequent search operations recovered the dead body of a female LTTE cadre.

  Three air force personnel and one civilian sustained injuries when LTTE cadres targeting an armoured carrier of the SFs triggered a claymore mine explosion in the Salambekulam area of Vavuniya district on Mannar-Vavuniya (A-30) road.

• September 30: At least 10 cadres of the LTTE were killed and 20 others wounded when troops manning the FDL in Nagarkovil of Jaffna opened fire at them. The cadres were trying to breach security defensive positions. One soldier was killed and seven others injured in the incident.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kallikulam area of Mannar district and killed at least five of them.

  At Pallaikkuli in the Mannar district, troops killed two more LTTE cadres who tried to infiltrate the security forces-held areas.

  Troops retaliated and inflicted heavy casualties on an unspecified number of LTTE cadres who had launched a small arms attack towards them at the Kambiliwewa FDL in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district. One soldier died in the incident.

• September 29: At least six LTTE cadres were killed when troops launched a defensive battle against the outfit’s cadres who tried to storm the military held areas in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

• September 28: Troops retaliated and killed six LTTE cadres when the latter opened fire towards them in the Narikkulam area north of Mannar district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed by the troops when a group of the outfit’s cadres attempted to breach the SF’s FDL at Navathkulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops at Ampadailuppaikulam in the Vavuniya district. A soldier who was injured during the encounter succumbed to his injuries later.

  Troops at Umayaratuwankulam in the Vavuniya district retaliated and killed a LTTE cadre.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops in the area of Periyathampanai Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed by troops in a retaliatory fire when he along with his accomplice opened fire towards them at Polikandy in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district. However, his accomplice managed to escape.

  One of the LTTE cadres identified as V. Vijayakumar, reportedly responsible for the September 27-claymore explosion at the Chunnakam market made an abortive suicide attempt by triggering a hand grenade he was carrying along with him at Inuvil in Jaffna district. However, he was arrested by the SFs along with one cyanide capsule.

• September 27: Eighteen Sea–Tigers, including a self-styled ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ Nishanthan, were killed and three of their boats destroyed during a sea battle off Pulmodai, north of Kuchchaveli and Trincomalee. One sailor was reported to have died in the clash.

  SFs confronted a group of LTTE cadres at the Elutthumadduval FDL in Jaffna district and killed six of them. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops foiled an infiltration attempt by LTTE cadres at the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district and killed five of them.

  Three civilians were killed and 17 others, including six women, sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Chunnakam market in Jaffna. One of the civilians, identified as Kanekarasa, died of his injuries later.

  Troops killed three LTTE cadres during a encounter at Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district.

  One Tamil civilian, identified as Selvarasa Akilan, was shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres in the Jaffna town.

• September 26: Seven LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops confronted three different groups of the outfit’s cadres at different places in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and another wounded in the incident.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed by troops when they made a pre-dawn attempt to breach the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district. An LTTE leader, identified as Ravi, was among those killed.

  A Catholic Priest, Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, was killed by LTTE cadres in an uncleared area (area not under Government control) of Mannar district.

• September 25: At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops confronted the outfit’s cadres, attempting to infiltrate the SF’s FDL on two occasions in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when troops in the Ponnar area of the same district confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres.

  Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to infiltrate the SF held areas in Pokkaravani, west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district and killed three of them. Five soldiers were also injured.

  A female lecturer in Jaffna University, Sharadha Maransodhi, and a government technical officer, Kandan Nishandan, were killed and three soldiers wounded in a LTTE-triggered claymore blast in Jaffna. The attack was reportedly directed towards an army route clearing patrol at Sithankerni junction along the Manippay - Karainagar main road.

  French Police arrested Ranjan, the second layer LTTE leader, who substituted for Parithi alias Nadarajah Mathienthiran, who was arrested on April 1 and being held in custody since then. He was arrested along with the Vennila gang members in the suburb of Paris. The report added that Ravi Manickam alias Oothai Ravi, the leader of the Vennila group and the key man entrusted by the LTTE to take care of the anti-LTTE Tamil groups in France was also arrested. Ravi is suspected of a number of mysterious murders and abduction of Tamil Diaspora in France.

• September 24: At least 20 LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured during a pre-dawn exchange of fire between SFs and the outfit’s cadres when the latter tried to infiltrate the SF’s Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district. While one soldier was killed and five others wounded during the clash, more than 10 LTTE bunkers were also destroyed.

  Latest intelligence obtained by the SFs following the aerial shelling on LTTE’s Vishwamadhu ‘Imbran Pandyan’ military complex during the weekend on September 21-22 confirmed that four top rank LTTE leaders were among those feared dead. The intelligence also re-affirmed that one of those dead cadres has been posthumously promoted to the rank of a ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ by the LTTE hierarchy.

  Twelve LTTE cadres were killed and 36 others injured during clashes between the security forces and LTTE cadres near Giant Tank in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were killed and four others injured during the clash.

  One civilian was killed when LTTE cadres launched an attack towards the troops in the Kandalkadu area, north of Ralkuli in the Trincomalee district.

• September 23: Troops conducting a search in the Giant Tank area of Mannar district came under a LTTE attack in which one soldier was inured. Troops retaliated and killed three LTTE cadres.

  Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead Balasubramaniyam Luxman, chief priest of the Thumpalai Luxman Thottam Pulleyar Hindu temple in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district.

  A Tamil businessman, identified as Tulendran Mogan Sudakaram, was shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district.

• September 22: Two LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when clashes erupted between SFs and the outfit’s cadres at Tampane in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while eight others sustained injuries during the clash.

  LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting a passenger bus, plying between Trincomalee and Erakkandy, at Salli Sambalthivu area, killing the driver. Two passengers were also injured in the explosion.

  Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead a supporter of the TMVP and injured two others at Alliadiwembu in the Ampara district.

  One youth, identified as Ariyarathnam Selvakumar, a relative of a TMVP supporter was shot dead by LTTE cadres at Wellaweli in the Batticaloa district.

  Troops killed a LTTE cadre and inured several others during a confrontation between SFs and the outfit’s cadres at Umayaratovarankulam in the Vavuniya district

• September 21: Troops foiled an attempt by the LTTE cadres to infiltrate the FDL in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district, killing two cadres of the outfit.

  Three civilians were injured when the vehicle they were traveling in struck a LTTE planted roadside claymore mine, targeting special task force personnel, in the Chavalakade area of Batticaloa district. One of the injured, identified as S. Sahajahn, died later.

  One LTTE cadre who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards security forces was shot dead by the troops in the Jaffna town.

• September 20: Troops on duty at Kuduruvitankulam FDL in the Vavuniya district foiled an infiltration attempt by LTTE cadres killing five of them and injuring several others. Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

  The Grama Niladharee (Village State Official) of the Thoppur area in Trincomalee district, identified as Muththumaran Paramajothi, was shot dead by a suspected LTTE cadre at his residence.

  A Tamil civilian, identified as Darmalingam Gokulavendran, was shot dead by a suspected LTTE cadre on Munaiappar road in Jaffna town.

• September 19: Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Maradamadu area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

  The LTTE confirmed that the Sea-Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) leader Soosai was injured in an accidental explosion off the Mullaitivu seas recently while his son was killed. In comments over the Voice of Tiger radio, a LTTE ‘official’ Radha said Soosai had now fully recovered. According to the radio report, Soosai was injured during a Sea-Tiger training exercise.

• September 18: Four soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district. One of the troopers succumbed to his injuries later.

  One civilian was injured in a LTTE mortar fire attack directed towards Murunkan police station in the Mannar district.

• September 17: Troops overpowered and arrested a LTTE cadre attempting to lob a hand-grenade towards them in the Mannar town.

• September 17: Troops repulsed a LTTE in the Kuduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district killing one cadre and injuring several others.

  September 16: Five LTTE cadres were killed during confrontation between the troops and outfit’s cadres in the Kuduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when troops confronted a group of outfit’s cadres in the Umayarathuwamkulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier who sustained injuries in the incident died later.

  Troops confronted different groups of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed at least two outfit’s cadres.

• September 15: Three LTTE cadres were killed in an attack by the troops at a camp located in Navathkulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed as he tried to infiltrate into the SF’s FDL at Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

• September 14: 10 LTTE cadres were killed as troops foiled attempt by cadres of the outfit to infiltrate into the SF’s FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Troops in the Kallikulam area confronted LTTE cadres on two occasions when they attempted to infiltrate into the government controlled areas killing eight of them. In the first incident at around 8.40 am troops directed a small arms attack on a group of infiltrating outfit’s cadres killing at least six of them. Similarly, two more outfit’s cadres were killed when troops observed another group of outfit’s cadres at the same location at about 12.45 pm and opened fire towards them.

  Troops retaliated and killed six LTTE cadres in the Kadeperuma Kulam area of Vavuniya district when cadres of the outfit opened fire towards SF personnel killing three of them.

  The LTTE cadres triggered a powerful claymore explosion mine targeting a convoy of troops moving from Palaly to Point Pedro in the Jaffna district killing two of them and inuring seven others.

• September 13: Two LTTE cadres were killed as troops launched an artillery fire attack on a suspected hide-out of the outfit in the Palamoddai area of Mannar district.

  A group three LTTE cadres shot dead a member of the EPDP, identified as Velayudan Ilayarajah, while he was selling EPDP newspapers at Vellington in the Valaichchena area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops confronted a group of armed LTTE cadres in the Parayanakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them.

  Sri Lankan Air Force bombed the financial nerve centre of the LTTE at Puthukuduiruppu in the Mullaitivu district.

  Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force destroyed a flotilla of 20 LTTE boats in the northeast sea off Mullaitivu.

  Three persons, Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, Sivarajah Yathavan, and Arumugam Rajeevan, were charged for using Tamil Coordinating Committee at Melbourne in Australia to raise funds for the LTTE. They reportedly appeared for the start of their committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Mark Dean S.C, the Commonwealth prosecutor, told the court that US $1.9 million was deposited into a bank account for the Tamil Coordinating Committee between 2001 and 2005. He alleged that US $1.2 million of that money was withdrawn in cash and used to purchase electronic equipment and other items for the LTTE. He said money provided to the LTTE was collected under the guise of donations for charitable projects and included money raised after the 2004 tsunami.

• September 12: Troops confronted a group of outfit’s cadres at Periyathampani of Vavuniya district and killed at least five of them. One soldier was killed during the confrontation.

  A police man was injured in a LTTE-triggered Improvised Explosive Device blast inside a police bunker near Mihindupura School at Mihidupura in the Trincomalee district.

• September 11: The SLN claimed that it had virtually wiped out the LTTE’s ability to smuggle arms into the country after sinking three gun-running vessels - Mayoshi, Seishin, and Koshi, as indicated in the LTTE Naval registry - and killing up to 45 of the outfit’s cadres during the past 24-hours. The SLN chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda said the LTTE was bringing three light aircraft, artillery and a bullet proof vehicle in the ships sunk some 600-kilomtres off the island's south-eastern coast in Matara district. He also said that the LTTE’s smuggling operations will be severely affected as they are left with just one ship. The navy has so far destroyed a total of nine LTTE ships, he informed.

  Seven LTTE cadres attempting to infiltrate into the FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district were killed by SFs in two separate incidents. SF personnel confronted a group of LTTE cadres at Kaththiriththan Muhamalai at around 8.15 am and killed three of them. Similarly, four more LTTE cadres were killed in another encounter in the same area at around 10 am.

  September 10: Troops in the Navathkulam area of Mannar district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed one of them. Further, troops retaliated and chased away another group of the outfit’s cadres who offered assistance to their fellow-cadres around the same time. One more cadre was killed during the counter-fire.

  One LTTE cadre was killed and three others injured as troops foiled an attempt by cadres of the outfit to infiltrate into the Wanni FDL in the Navattkulama area.

• September 10: Three LTTE cadres were injured when the navy and the army jointly attacked a suspected Sea-Tiger boat in the Mandaithvu area of Jaffna district.

  Two police personnel were injured when the LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a police motorbike at Salambakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE’s procurement and finance chief Shanmugan Kumaran Pathmanadan, also known as KP, was reportedly arrested in Thailand. KP who has obtained Thai citizenship runs the global network of LTTE offices and its weapons procurement, logistics and money laundering operations. He has been on Interpol's Most Wanted list for a number of years. He has also been implicated in several assassinations of political leaders. KP a smuggler of arms and narcotics, operating with bank accounts opened in London, Frankfurt, Denmark, Athens and Australia was arrested in Bangkok.

• September 9:Police recovered the dead body of a Tamil civilian, identified as Sinnappan Michael, who was abducted and subsequently beheaded by LTTE cadres at Veerapuram in the Vavuniya district. He was killed for his refusal to join the outfit.

  Two police personnel were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion near Thalikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Six LTTE cadres were killed in two separate clashes between troops and the outfit’s cadres in the Jaffna and Vavuniya districts. The army retaliated when two groups of LTTE terrorists attempted to launch attacks at the Vempathukerni FDL in Jaffna and at Appadi-Illuppaikulam FDL in Vavunia. Four cadres were killed near Jaffna FDL and two more were killed near Vavuniya FDL at about the same time.

• September 8: Five LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  An abandoned LTTE vehicle laden with explosives exploded while troops were conducting a close observation on it in the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district. One soldier was killed and six others injured in the incident.

  Two LTTE cadres surrendered before the troops at Tirukkovil in the Jaffna district.

• September 7: Five LTTE cadres were killed as troops foiled an attempt by a group of LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the Kuduruvitankulam, Thampanai and Umayarathuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also killed during the confrontation.

  Three civilians were killed in the Wantharamulai area of Batticaloa district when their tractor accidentally hit a LTTE planted pressure mine.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district when a group of armed militants from the outfit attempted to infiltrate the FDL.

  One EPDP member, identified as Sellaiya Jayabalasinham, was shot dead by a suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres at Kaithadi in the Jaffna district. He was a nominee for the Chavakachcheri local government.

  EPDP member Rasaiya Yohanadan, a key member of the party for 10 years and nominee for the Mannar local government, was shot dead by a suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadre at Eluthur in the Mannar district.

• September 6: Nine LTTE cadres, attempting to infiltrate the FDL in the Wanni area, were killed in clashes with troops in three separate incidents. In the first incident, five LTTE cadres were killed when troops fired upon a group of the outfit’s cadres moving towards the FDL in the Navatkulam area of Vavuniya district. Two more cadres were killed in another clash at Kuduruvitankulam. Troops confronted another group of LTTE cadres in the same area in which two more of them were killed. One soldier was also injured.

  LTTE cadres fired heavy mortars at the troops deployed in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district killing one soldier and injuring another.

  STF personnel arrested a suspected LTTE cadre, Velumurukku Ravindran, along with a T-56 rifle at Vachikudah in the Akkaripattuwa area of Batticaloa district. He is believed to be a senior LTTE cadre who was trained in Wanni and directed to carry out undercover operations in the area.

• September 4: Troops retaliated and killed three cadres of the LTTE in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district when they tried to launch an attack towards troops conducting search operations in the area.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed by troops in a retaliatory fire at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed in a retaliatory fire by troops when they were fired upon by the outfit’s cadres at Kolankerni in the Sittandy area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE is planning to use chemical weapons against government troops, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka told Parliament. "We have evidence that the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) has plans to use chemical weapons against the security forces. During the past several weeks the security forces have detected them transporting large quantities of acid," Wickramanayake said, adding, the timely action by the defence authorities had foiled LTTE plans to use chemical weapons to create mass destruction.

• September 3: Troops foiled an attempt by cadres of the LTTE to set up a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. Three of them were killed and several others injured in the incident.

  LTTE cadres fired towards troops on duty in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district. Troops retaliated and killed one of the cadres.

  Four soldiers were injured in a LTTE mortar attack in the same area.

  The dead bodies of 12 civilians, including eight women and three children, killed during the clashes between troops and the LTTE at Silavaturai in the Mannar district on September 1 were handed over to the ICRC.

  A 16-year old boy and two women were injured when LTTE cadres fired a mortar towards Ethawetunuwewa village in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  September 2: Troops retaliated and killed one LTTE cadre in the Thampanai area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE agents in France destroyed the flag pole and the national flag at the Sri Lanka Embassy and caused damage to the Embassy premises. The attack occurred hours before Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama arrived in Paris at the start of an official visit to Europe.

• September 1: Five cadres of the LTTE were killed during clashes with the SFs at Kuduruvitankulam and Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district and Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

• August 31: Eleven LTTE cadres, including a provincial leader, were killed and nine soldiers injured during a clash between the SFs and outfit’s cadres at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district. The army also destroyed several bunkers of the outfit.

• August 30: Two members of the EPDP, Sinnathambi Siriniwasan and Mitharawel Wasandan, were shot dead by LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres at Iyankerni in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.

• August 29: Seven LTTE cadres were killed and several others wounded when troops foiled an attempt by a group of the outfit’s cadres to infiltrate the SF’s Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Three more LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops retaliated an attack by the outfit in the Kandapurumakulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade towards two police constables posted at a guard point near Alles Garden in the Trincomalee district. Four labourers of the road development authority and one of the police constables were injured in the explosion. Later, one of the labourers, identified as Madhusanka, died of his injuries.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards the SFs at Vadari army detachment in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district.

  Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead a Tamil youth, identified as Nadarasa Kumanan alias Murali, at Ambivelipuram in the Trincomalee district. He was a supporter of the TMVP, the political wing of the LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna.

  Troops on duty at the Kalmadu FDL in Vavuniya killed one LTTE cadre who was trying to infiltrate the area along with his associates.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them.

  A US Senate Foreign Relations Committee report reveals that the government of Eritrea is providing direct military assistance to the LTTE. The Committee came to this conclusion after a study during 2006 in 20 countries of Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America on American military assistance to combat terrorism.

• August 28: Troops foiled an attempt by six cadres of the LTTE to infiltrate the SF’s Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed three of them. However, three others managed to escape.

  The STF personnel rescued seven LTTE child combatants, between the ages 14 and 16 years, along with another 20-year old cadre of the outfit who had been forced to engage in a terrorist attack against the security forces in the Kangikaidichchi Aru area of Ampara district.

• August 28: Civilian sources in Wanni revealed that eight LTTE tax collectors had been executed publicly by the supporters of the outfit’s intelligence leader, Pottu Amman, at Vattakachchi in Kilinochchi two weeks ago. Pottu Amman later informed the public that the eight cadres had to be executed because they had misappropriated funds of the terror outfit. However, a civilian who had managed to escape to government controlled areas recently told the Website that the actual reason for the killing was because they criticized the LTTE leaders who used funds for personal ends. The Website further learned from these sources that the victims had openly criticized Pottu Amman for being the most fraudulent leader.

  Three police personnel were wounded in a LTTE-triggered pressure mine explosion at Manipuram in the Karadiyannaru area of Batticaloa district.

• August 26: Troops reportedly clashed with LTTE cadres in the northwestern district of Mannar and on the border of neighbouring Vavuniya. "Our troops confronted two batches of LTTE cadres coming towards their front line… Nine of their cadres were killed. Five soldiers were injured," disclosed military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.

• August 24: LTTE cadres shot dead one civilian, identified as Thurairasa Pradeep Prabath, and injured another, Pushpanathan, in the Saliyasambalthivu area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops ambushed a group of LTTE cadres at Kannalkadu in the Manirasakulam area of Trincomalee district and killed on of them, while the others managed to escape.

  LTTE cadres using small arms attacked troops on a foot patrol in the Chundankadu area of Trincomalee district. Troops retaliated and killed one of them.

• August 23: A civilian, identified as Selliah Chandram, was shot dead by the LTTE cadres in the Navaly area of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed one LTTE cadre in the Rampettikulam area when he tried to infiltrate into the SFs Forward Defence Line in the Jaffna district.

  A high security alert for a possible LTTE attack in an immediate suburb of capital Colombo led to the arrest of 14 suspects. SFs raided Nugegoda, a popular residential suburb east of Colombo, and arrested 12 Sinhalese and two Tamils. The search was conducted on information that the LTTE may carry out a bomb blast in and around Nugegoda.

  The Colombo Magistrate ordered the release of a Tamil Hindu priest accused by the authorities of helping LTTE cadres, officials said. The priest and the trustee of the Hindu temple in the Kayts island of Jaffna peninsula were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in May after explosives belonging to the LTTE were found hidden in the temple premises. They had been detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division in the capital Colombo since their arrest resulting in their filing a fundamental rights petition seeking release.

  The Trincomalee Harbour Police conducting investigations into an arrested person on suspicion have identified the suspect to be the LTTE's former ‘Police Chief’ in Sampur. The suspect, identified as Kalimutthu Vinodkumar (29), was arrested by the Harbour Police at a roadblock in Trincomalee. He is known among LTTE cadres as "Sanjeewan Master", police sources said.

  Citing Royal Canadian Mounted Police sources, the Jane's Intelligence Review said the LTTE controls portion of US $ one billion drug market in the Canadian city of Montreal. It said that one of the main ways of earning money is the LTTE involvement in narcotics smuggling using its merchant ships, which also transports illicit arms and explosives which they procure all over the world.

• August 22: Three LTTE cadres were killed during a confrontation with the SFs in the Kachchudankulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district. The outfit’s cadres retreated but began to pound the area with 60-mm mortars injuring two soldiers. In the retaliatory fire, troops killed one of the outfit’s cadres.

  A LTTE cadre who tried to infiltrate into the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district was shot dead by troops.

  Troops in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district recovered the decomposed dead body of a LTTE cadre from a shrub.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE attack targeting the SFs at Nagarkovil in Jaffna district.

  One soldier was injured when LTTE cadres using snipers directed an attack in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  The LTTE demanded a rupee one million ransom from the owner of the Ideal Guest lodge in Wellawatte as compensation for the loss of two claymore mines detected at the lodge on a tip-off by the owner.

• August 21: LTTE cadres opened mortar fire towards troops in the Kuduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured in the retaliatory fire by troops. Nine soldiers were also injured during the exchange of fire.

  Three SF personnel were killed and several others injured when LTTE cadres fired mortars towards troops at Thampanai in the Vavuniya district. SFs retaliated and inflicted heavy damages to the outfit, said the Media Centre for National Security.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Ampaddailuppaikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  Three of the four Tamil suspects charged for the Oslo shootout on August 12 appeared in court. The fourth suspect is hospitalised after injuries sustained in the Oslo shootout. The Oslo court said the police could detain two of the suspects for four weeks and one suspect for two weeks.

• August 20: Two local employees working for the Danish Halo Trust De-mining Non-Governmental Organization in Jaffna were killed by suspected LTTE cadres along the Kasthuri road in Jaffna.

  Thambipillai Thiyagachandran, the elder brother of Batticaloa district Member of Parliament from the TNA, Jeyananda Moorthi, was shot dead by a suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadre of the LTTE at Oddamavadi in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district.

  LTTE cadres operating in dense jungles surrounding Vavuniya launched mortar attack towards troops in the Thampanai area, killing one soldier and injuring some others.

• August 20: A group of LTTE cadres, disguised as police officials, aboard a plying jeep on the Nelukkulam-Neriyakulam road fired indiscriminately towards a police post in the Ulukkulam area of Vavuniya district. Four home guards and a civilian were killed and one police personnel wounded in the attack.

• August 19: At least seven LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when a clash erupted between army troops and the outfit’s cadres in the areas west of Omanthai in Vavuniya district. One soldier was killed and eight others sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres in the Piramanthikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At least one soldier was killed during a mortar attack by the LTTE towards the security forces’ FDL in the Vavuniya district.

  Another large hospital complex run under the name "LTTE Medical Unit" used by the LTTE cadres was captured by troops during a search operation at East of Narakamulla in the dense jungle of Thoppigala in Batticaloa district.

  August 18: One cadre of the LTTE who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards troops conducting a cordon and search operation at Mengamam in the Trincomalee district was shot dead by security forces.

• August 17: The SLN prevented a small LTTE boat from infiltrating the Jaffna peninsula from sea off the coast of Point Pedro. Two LTTE cadres on board opened fire at the naval personnel who retaliated killing one of the outfit’s cadres while the other jumped overboard.

  Army troops patrolling the Point Pedro beach area killed another LTTE cadre who was trying to infiltrate the beach. Navy believed that he was the LTTE cadre who swam ashore.

  The Japan International Corporation Agency which was due to donate medical equipment worth millions of rupees to hospitals in the North called off their mission due to protection money demanded by the LTTE, said a spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry.

• August 16: A Tamil journalist, Sathyavel Prabhash, who was abducted in Colombo several months ago was found in Kandy. The journalist told police that he was abducted by the LTTE and threatened not to supply pictures to Sinhala newspapers.

  A court in France has decided to extend the period of detention of all 14 LTTE suspects who were arrested on April 1, 2007, for a further period of four months till the first week of December 2007. The Sous-direction Anti Terroriste, the counter-terrorism agency in France, is in the process of framing charges against the suspects and according to the French law, if convicted they could be sentenced for a maximum period of 10-years in jail.

• August 15: One LTTE cadre was killed in an encounter with the troops in the jungles of Mollipothana in Trincomalee district.

  A LTTE cadre who tried to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under government control) committed suicide after exploding himself with a hand grenade when he was detected by troops on the FDL at Gurunagar area in the Jaffna district.

  Two claymore mines (weighing about 9-kg and 5-kg), three hand grenades and one detonator were recovered by the troops from the Ideal Guest Inn at Sinasabha Road in the Wellawatta area of Colombo district. Deputy Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratne said the LTTE may have been using the guest house as a transit point to transport the claymores to their intended target.

  The government is working on the arrest of the LTTE-linked Singapore based businessman Charles Gnanakone with the help of the Interpol, said Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. He said Gnanakone had openly admitted he had direct links with the LTTE.

• August 14:Five police personnel were injured when LTTE cadres operating in areas North West of Meddawachchiya attacked five Police posts along the Mannar-Medawachchiya trunk route, at Settikulama.

  A group of LTTE cadres fired at a SFs foot patrol with small arms and mortars towards Vavuniya FDL in the Northern Vavuniya area, MCNS spokesman said. "The clash erupted throughout the day and Security Forces successfully repulsed the attack killing six Tiger cadres," he added. A soldier succumbed to his injuries during retaliatory attack.

  A MCNS spokesman said when the LTTE cadres attempted to infiltrate the Weli-Oya FDL in the Kalyanapura area of Vavuniya district, it was successfully retaliated by the army foot patrol, killing three LTTE cadres.

  One soldier was killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion in the Kaduruvitankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The mastermind of the January 25, 1998-LTTE attack on the temple of the sacred tooth relic, Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, in which 12 devotees were killed and a part of the sacred temple was destroyed, was arrested by the Special Task Force. The most wanted LTTE cadre, Nawasiwayam Suwendirarasa a.k.a. Nithyanandan, was arrested from Palugamam area in the Ampara district.

  Three top LTTE suspects who were under detention in Thailand for attempting to smuggle weapons to Sri Lanka in 2003 were deported to Sri Lanka. Sujit Gunapala (aged 27), Sasiljaran Teverajah (aged 27) and Satiepawan Arseawatap (aged 34) were arrested from the Ranong province in Thailand on May 12, 2003, along with 10 Glock pistols and three HK Mark 23 pistols. They pleaded guilty and in November 2003 received a five-year jail sentence. Following their arrest, 14 nationals of Thailand, including eight security force personnel, were also detained. They were believed to be part of the same smuggling network.

• August 13: The SLN foiled a LTTE attempt to rescue its cadres trapped in the East killing six Sea-Tigers and injuring 10 others in the sea off Pulmodai in Trincomalee district. A LTTE boat was also completely destroyed in the attack launched after a Navy patrol detected two of the outfit’s boats in the sea off Pulmodai. Three sailors were injured in the clash.

• August 12: Four soldiers were killed and thirteen others injured in a LTTE-triggered IED blast targeting an army truck in the Kachchanthoppu area of Jaffna district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed and 10 others injured in a confrontation with SFs in the Pulmodai area of Trincomalee district. One soldier was killed in the incident.

  LTTE launched a mortar attack targeting civilians at Athawatunawewa in the in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district, killing one civilian while injuring five others.

  During a violent clash at Oslo in Norway on August 12-evening between two rival factions of the LTTE, three LTTE cadres, ‘Selika’ Ranjan, Kannan and Kuhan, were injured. ‘Selika’ Ranjan later succumbed to his injuries. Clashes erupted between the supporters of Soosai, ‘commander’ of the Sea-Tigers (sea wing of the LTTE), and cadres from the intelligence wing of the outfit led by Pottu Amman at REMA1000 supermarket in Kaldbakken, Oslo, and ended outside a house at Gardsveien 2. According to police estimates, there where ten people involved in the incident.

  SFs on mobile patrol in the Kumburupiddi area of the Trincomalee district confronted a group of LTTE cadres killing one of them on the spot.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in a retaliatory fire by the SFs when they were trying to infiltrate into cleared areas (area under government control) and opened mortar and heavy weapon fire towards troops in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in a LTTE in the Periyathampanai area of the Vavuniya district.

  A civilian, identified as Pedurupillai Jesudasan, was reportedly injured in a LTTE firing in the Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka government has announced an amnesty period starting from September 1 for the LTTE cadres trapped in Eastern jungles to lay down their weapons and surrender to the security forces.

• August 11: LTTE cadres who were laying anti-personnel mines west of Nilplokunawewa in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district were chased away by troops after directing a small arms attack on them. Four cadres were killed in the incident.

• August 8: Ten LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured during a clash with SFs in the Madu area of Mannar district.

  The LTTE attacked two Civil Defence Forces' points in the Mamailankulam area of Vavuniya district. The SFs foiled the outfit’s attempt to infiltrate into the area killing two LTTE cadres. A soldier and a home guard were also killed in the incident while three home guards and two soldiers sustained injuries.

  A group of LTTE cadres attempting to infiltrate Ranabapura village in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district was beaten back by security forces. A home guard was killed in the incident.

  At Umayaratuvarankulam in Vavuniya district, troops recovered a decomposed dead body of a LTTE cadre along with two LTTE secret code sheets.

  Three soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres in hiding directed mortar fire towards troops in the Ampaddailuppaikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting troops on a foot patrol in the Thonikal area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres carried out a mortar attack in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE is said to be pressurizing International Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the outfit’s controlled areas of Wanni to channel funds to be used for development purposes in the area through the TRO.

• August 7: A senior LTTE leader for the Pandarikulam area in Vavuniya district, identified as Ayyanna alias Neeshan, blew himself up detonating a suicide belt when the troops swooped on a group of LTTE cadres moving in the Koomankulam junction area. Two soldiers were injured in the incident.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Pankulama area of Trincomalee district and killed two of them.

  Three hand grenades were lobbed at troops on duty in the Pumankulam area when troops attempted to search two persons on suspicion. In the retaliatory fire, troops killed one of them, while the other detonated a suicide belt and killed himself.

  Two LTTE cadres lobbed hand grenades and simultaneously opened fire towards troops in the Nellukkulam area of the Vavuniya district. In retaliatory action, troops killed one of them while the other managed to escape.

• August 6: Army troops confronted two groups of LTTE cadres in the general areas (area under government control) of Kuduruvitankulam and Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district. Seven LTTE cadres were confirmed killed during the clashes.

  Security forces shot dead two LTTE cadres in the Jaffna peninsula.

• One soldier was killed and another injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Chackkadipilavu in the Vavuniya district.

  Five soldiers and a civilian were injured in another remote controlled claymore mine explosion carried out by LTTE cadres in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district.

• August 4: STF personnel launched an attack on a group of armed LTTE cadres hiding in the jungle area of Kanchikudichchiaru in the Ampara district and killed six of them. One STF officer was injured in the incident.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

• August 3: A group of LTTE cadres who were moving closer to the Nagarkovil FDL to launch an attack on troops were fired upon by SFs. Troops confirmed that one LTTE leader was killed in the SFs fire.

  One sailor sustained injuries when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a navy foot patrol in the general area of Pallemunai in the Mannar district.

• August 1: Twenty LTTE cadres were killed and five others injured in heavy fighting between the Sri Lanka Army and LTTE cadres who were attempting to breach the forward defenses at Periya Panchan and Thampanai in the Mannar district of Wanni.

  A group of LTTE cadres fleeing from the Thoppigala area across Galmitiyawa in the Trincomalee district were confronted by troops on the Trincomalee-Habarana main road. Three of them were killed and an unspecified number of them wounded in the incident. During a subsequent search operation in the area, troops recovered dead bodies of the three LTTE cadres.

  A 22-year-old Tamil journalist, Nilakshan Sahapavan, of the Media Resource Training Centre in Jaffna University and a part-time reporter, was shot dead by unidentified assailants.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Palampattar area of Trincomalee district and killed at least one of them. One soldier also sustained injuries in the incident.

  At least six soldiers were injured in an explosion when they accidentally stepped on an anti-personnel mine laid by the LTTE at Perillaveli in the Welikanda area of Pollonnaruwa district.

• July 31: A claymore mine explosion triggered by suspected LTTE cadres killed three soldiers in the area south of Maseri in the Jaffna district. Military sources said the claymore mine had been placed in close proximity to a well used by the army troops to obtain water.

  Troops, during retaliatory action, killed three more LTTE cadres in the Ampaddailluppai Kulam area of Vavuniya district. An unspecified number of LTTE cadres were reported wounded in the incident.

• July 30: Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the security forces FDL at Muhamale in the Jaffna district and killed two of them.

  LTTE cadres carried out a claymore mine attack targeting a government vehicle at Gurunagar in the Jaffna dsitrict, injuring a 12-year old child who was passing by.

• July 28: The SLN destroyed two Sea-Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) boats which were trying to pass off as part of a cluster of Indian trawlers in the Vidattaltivu area of Mannar district killing six LTTE cadres.

• July 27: Troops confronted and killed two LTTE cadres in the Navathkulam area of Jaffna district.

• July 26: Troops ambushed a group of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district and killed two of them.

  Troops after observing a temporary hut erected by the LTTE cadres at Navathkulam in the same district, opened fire using RPGs and destroyed it completely. It is believed that at least one LTTE cadre died and two more were wounded in the attack.

  Troops foiled an attempt by a group of LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the security forces FDL at Eluthumadduval in the Jaffna district and killed one of them.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Aandankulam area of Batticaloa district and killed one of them.

• July 25: Troops killed two LTTE cadres during clashes with a group of the outfit’s cadres at Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE cadre trying to enter the SFs FDL at Kilaly in the Jaffna district was killed by the troops.

• July 24: Twelve soldiers were killed and 13 persons, including six civilians, sustained injuries when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting an army bus at Settikulama on the Mannar-Madawachchiya road in the Vavuniya district. The bus was carrying unarmed soldiers who were on leave. The Media Centre for National Security said the claymore mine was fixed to a bicycle that had been parked close to a vehicle owned by an NGO.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. The troops ambushed a group of LTTE cadres who had unsuccessfully attempted to enter the cleared areas (area under Government control) in the east of Madhu.

• July 23: Four SF personnel were inured in a LTTE attack at FDL in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. One of the wounded soldiers later succumbed to his injuries.

• July 24: Suspected LTTE cadres launched a pre-dawn attack on a Sinhalese border village at Thiruwegama in the Vavuniya district, killing four home guards, the military said.

• July 23: Four cadres of the LTTE trying to infiltrate the FDL at Muhamale in the Jaffna district were confronted and shot dead by troops. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  A local employee of the Danish Refugees Council, an International Non Governmental Organization, identified as Mariyanayagam Aloysius, was shot dead by a LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadre in the Annaikottai area of the Jaffna district.

  A clandestine operation to produce fake National Identity Cards (NIC) with a view to employing LTTE cadres or their spies in the Jaffna peninsula and elsewhere was detected by troops following a tip-off given by a civilian. Troops following information raided the venue and took a large number of forged NICs and different rubber stamps of government institutions and agencies, including the police into custody. A stock of stationery and other raw materials required to produce forged documents were also seized from the house at Puloly West of Jaffna centre.

  According to reports, the LTTE is still getting weapons smuggled from Cambodia. Cambodia’s Interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak acknowledged that some weapons might still be getting to the LTTE, but said any smuggling would be small-scale. "There could be some bad people involved.... We would like information to lead us to the offenders," he said, and added, "We are victims of weapons, so we don't want people in other countries to suffer the same crisis."

• July 22: Troops observed a movement of armed LTTE cadres in the Navatkulam area of Vavuniya district and opened fire at them, killing one outfit’s cadre.

• July 21: Six LTTE cadres, including one area leader identified as Ravindran, were killed by STF troops during the final phase of Operation Niyathai Jaya (Definite Victory) launched by the STF at Kanchikudiaru in the Ampara district.

  A group of LTTE cadres who came close to the FDL in the east of Mannar on a reconnaissance mission was observed and fired upon by the troops. One cadre was killed in the incident.

  One civilian, identified as Kularas Mohan, was hacked to death by cadres of the LTTE in the Marathamadam area of Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting an army foot patrol on the Vavuniya-Mannar road, injuring two soldiers.

• July 20: The LTTE launched a pre-dawn attack on an army detachment in the Nelachchena area of Mannar district. In the ensuing gun battle nine outfit’s cadre and three soldiers were killed, the military said. 24 outfit’s cadres and four soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  A group of LTTE cadres was fired upon by troops closer to the FDL at Eluthumadduval in the Jaffna district. Troops later confirmed that five outfit’s cadres were killed in the incident.

  Troops opened fire towards a group of fleeing LTTE cadres in the area south of Narakamulla in the Batticaloa district. During a subsequent search operation in the area, troops recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE cadres.

  Two women were injured when LTTE cadres fired mortars towards the Ethawetunuwewa village in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

• July 19: Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the area west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district. Five of the outfit’s cadres were confirmed killed during the confrontation.

  The Sea-Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) leader Soosai was critically injured in a boat explosion off Mullaitivu seas. "We believe that the sea Tiger leader Colonel Soosai was in the exploded boat and critically injured", military sources said.

• July 18: A group of LTTE cadres operating in the Periyathampanai area, east of Madu, in the Vavuniya district launched small arms fire towards the troops. Troops retaliated and forced them to withdraw. Subsequently, the outfit’s cadres launched a mortar attack on the troops injuring three soldiers. Intercepted communications of the outfit later confirmed that at least three outfit’s cadres were killed in the retaliatory fire.

  The London-based Jane’s Intelligence Review says the LTTE has not only created one of the most sophisticated insurgencies in the world but also has an annual ‘profit margin’ of $200 to $300 million. The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons: the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department). As per Jane’s, the Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the procurement arm. The LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms, it reports. The report says the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.

• July 17: Fighting that broke out between security forces and cadres of the LTTE at Thampanai and Periyathampanai, east of Madhu area in the Mannar district since July 14 resulted in the total destruction of two 120-mm mortars of the outfit. Four LTTE cadres, including their regional leader Semmalani, were also killed during the clash.

  Troops shot dead a LTTE cadre in the Karuwankerni area of Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of the slain outfit’s cadre from the incident site.

  Condemning the assassination of the Chief Secretary of the EPC, President Mahinda Rajapakse has vowed to wrest control of all territory held by the LTTE. In a statement issued by his office, he said, "This assassination further strengthens our resolve not to give in to the forces of terror, but to proceed with our task of restoring freedom and democracy to the East, and all of Sri Lanka." Meanwhile, the LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan denied involvement in the assassination and said, "We had nothing to do with it. We don't have any idea who was behind this. Maybe it was for political gain."

• July 16: Troops retaliated when cadres of the LTTE opened fire towards them in the Nawakkulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one outfit’s cadre.

• July 16: The Chief Secretary to the Eastern Province, Herath Abeyweera, was shot dead by cadres of the LTTE. Sources said that the LTTE cadres fired at the Chief Secretary while he was in his office located at Inner Harbour Road in Trincomalee at 6.00 p.m. Abeyweera earlier served for more than 15 years as the District Secretary, Ampara.

  The LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan claimed that four soldiers and a cadre of the outfit were killed and six other soldiers sustained injuries during a clash between troops and outfit’s cadres in the Vavuniya district. Denying any such clash the Sri Lanka military spokesperson Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe, however, said that the outfit on July 16 handed over four dead bodies of soldiers killed in the same region on July 14 and informed that the number of troops killed in that clash had risen to 14.

  The Army claimed that at least 13 LTTE cadres holed up in the Thoppigala jungles surrendered to the security forces. It is after a long gap that so many active cadres of the LTTE have surrendered at a time, sources said, adding, the usual practice for the outfit’s cadres is to consume cyanide capsule in the event of capture.

• July 15: Four civilians were killed by suspected LTTE cadres in the Vavuniya district. Police recovered the four bullet-ridden dead bodies with their hands tied behind and eyes blindfolded at Thavasikulam.

  A group of three LTTE cadres stopped a vehicle of the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs in the Vavuniya district and asked the three officials, including Director Shanthi Navukarusan, aboard the vehicle to get off the vehicle. Later, they took away the vehicle along with the driver whose bullet-ridden dead body was found in the Bandarikulam area on the same day.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres at Sittandi in the Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE cadres from the incident.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE cadres at Ransarathenna in the Batticaloa and recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre.

  At Koggala in the Batticaloa district, troops recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre.

  Troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE cadres at Omanugala in the Pollonnaruwa district and recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre.

  Troops have found a major LTTE burial ground in Thoppigala. "In the burial ground, which covered a vast area, tombs of hundreds of dead LTTE cadres can be seen. On the tombs were written the names of terrorists and the year in which they died in Tamil language. Also a monument in memory of the dead cadres has also been built," an unnamed senior military official said, adding, a large number of newly built tombs were found, confirming that a large number of cadres had been killed in the recent clashes.

• July 14: 10 soldiers were killed and 34 others injured when cadres of the LTTE opened mortar fire towards SFs at the Perithampane FDL in Vavuniya district. Troops in the retaliatory fire completely destroyed a LTTE mortar base which was reportedly used to attack their FDL at Perithampane. A large number of outfit’s cadres were confirmed killed.

  Troops detected a movement of about 150-200 LTTE cadres fleeing from Thoppigala area and launched an attack on them killing and injuring an unspecified number of outfit’s cadres in the Welikanda area of Pollonnaruwa district. During subsequent search operation troops recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre from the area.

  Two LTTE cadres fleeing for the Thoppigala area were arrested by troops at Kunjakulam in the Batticaloa district.

• July 13: The Media Center for National Security said that two LTTE cadres surrendered to the troops at the Uilankulam checkpoint in Mannar district. It also informed that the number of surrenders after the 2002 cease-fire agreement has now reached 707.

  Protests have poured into the office of Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, urging him to ban the Trafalgar Square rally organised by the LTTE on July 14. The Mayor has given permission with restrictions to conduct a meeting organised by Harrow Councilor Daya Idaikadar. The organisers have reportedly been told not try to propagate the programmes of the outfit and not to publicise the LTTE leader in the form of placards depicting his images.

• July 12: Cadres of the LTTE triggered an explosive device targeting a security force’s vehicle at Katkolam in the Jaffna district. However, the explosion missed its intended target and wounded a civilian passerby who succumbed to his injuries later.

  One soldier was killed when cadres of the LTTE opened fire towards an Army point in the Neelachchena area of Mannar district.

  Troops shot dead a LTTE cadre and arrested three others during a search operation at Veppanulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE warned that it is aiming to cripple the country’s economy with major attacks on military and economic targets.

• July 11: President Mahinda Rajapakse declared that the military had captured Thoppigala, the last remaining pocket of influence of the LTTE in the East that has been under its effective control since 1994. Earlier, the military made an announcement that its commandos and soldiers have reached the Baron’s Camp of the LTTE in Thoppigala and said, "With this victory, troops have captured the ‘nerve centre’ of the LTTE terrorists in their last stronghold in the Eastern province."

  Hours after losing Thoppigala, the LTTE while acknowledging the capture by government troops, said that it will not be easy to hold the area in the future. The outfit’s spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said, "They (government forces) may have captured the area, but the question is whether they can hold it." He also warned that the LTTE would not give in easily if the government attacks the north, saying, "If they are coming into our territory, they will find stiff resistance from our people. We will deploy the necessary tactics and the necessary tools to protect our people from the opposing force." Top LTTE leader S. Puleedevan as saying, "The modus operandi may have changed, but the fighting will continue."

  The Social Services and Social Welfare Minister, Lionel Premasiri, has instructed relevant authorities to investigate the incident where eight life jackets belonging to an NGO were found on LTTE boats seized by the Navy recently.

• July 10: At least five cadres of the LTTE were killed by SFs along the FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  An alleged member of the LTTE was arrested in Sydney and charged with supporting a terrorist organization. Arumugam Rajeevan, aged 41, has been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, providing support or resources to a terrorist outfit and making an asset available to a proscribed entity, the report said. The Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty informed that Rajeevan was from Toongabbie in Sydney’s West.

• July 9: Two LTTE cadres were killed by security forces in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE cadre who was trying to infiltrate the FDL in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres opened fire from the Vilattikulam area in the Vavuniya district, injuring one officer and a soldier in the area west of Omanthai.

• July 8: 11 Sea-Tigers, including a top Sea-Tiger intelligence leader, Neelan - bearing LTTE ID card no: 0018, were killed in a clash which erupted between the SLN personnel and Sea-Tigers in the seas off Pulmodai in the Trincomalee district.

  Troops retaliated when a group of LTTE cadres opened fire towards them at Sittandy in the Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre.

  The UK has placed the LTTE as the second most dangerous terrorist group after the al Qaeda. The UK already has put 44 groups on its list of terrorist organizations.

• July 7: Fifteen dead bodies of cadres of the LTTE were recovered from the Thoppigala West area of Batticaloa district. Earlier, SFs had opened fire at two tractors carrying outfit’s cadres in the Thoppigala West area on July 6.

  Naval troops on foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Kuchchaveli area of Trincomalee district and killed three outfit’s cadres.

  SLN using Dvora fast attack craft foiled an attempt by Sea Tigers to carry out an attack on the SLN personnel in the seas off Kallarawa in the Trincomalee. A flotilla of about 15-20 Sea Tiger boats approaching from Nayaru area was observed and confronted by the sailors forcing the LTTE boats to flee towards north. Simultaneously, SLN personnel repulsed a ground attack launched by the LTTE cadres from a nearby location. One civilian sustained injuries due to indiscriminate fire directed by the withdrawing LTTE cadres. It is believed that the LTTE suffered major casualties in retaliation by the Navy.

• July 6: Six soldiers were killed when cadres of the LTTE opened mortar fire towards troops at Narakamulla north in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops on duty in the areas west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district were fired upon by LTTE cadres from the Palaimoddai area. During retaliatory fire, troops killed two outfit’s cadres.

  Troops after observing a movement of armed LTTE cadres a few meters ahead of the Welioya FDL in the Vavuniya district opened fire at them. Intercepted outfit’s communication later confirmed that one LTTE cadre was killed in the incident.

• July 5: At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed during confrontation with SFs in the Periyathampanei area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed and eight others sustained injuries in the incident.

  LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting an army truck in the Nelumkulam area. However, it missed its intended target and instead killed a 70 year-old civilian passerby.

  The LTTE commemorated the 20th anniversary of the first attack by their elite Black Tiger, a suicide wing of the outfit, and remembered the 322 Black Tigers, up from 273 commemorated in 2006.

  A British Court froze all bank accounts of the London LTTE leader A.C. Shanthan alias Krishnatha Kumar and of his wife. Britain's Anti-Terrorism Unit had filed 28 charges against Shanthan including extortion, operation of business enterprises, printing press and oil storages with ill-gotten wealth. Those employed at these enterprises were exclusively LTTE members, it was revealed. The money earned by these business ventures as at July 2 is reportedly 4 billion sterling pounds. The money thus earned had been utilised to purchase weapons from China and Israel to attack the Lankan Navy. Meanwhile, Goldan Lambert who was also arrested along with Shanthan is under house arrest. Lambert was arrested on charges of kidnapping for ransom and extortion. Another female LTTE cadre, identified as Pakyadevi, is reported to be absconding.

• July 4: An army foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed two of them in the area west of Omanthai in Vavuniya district.

• July 3: At least 12 LTTE cadres were killed during clashes between troops and the outfit’s cadres at Umayaratuvarankulam, west of Omanthai, in the Vanni region. Troops after observing the movement of a group of LTTE cadres opened fire, killing two of them, while the others managed to escape. Further, troops chased and confronted the same group of LTTE cadres, who had managed to escape, killing four of them and injuring four others. Subsequently, six more LTTE cadres of the same group were killed by troops during another confrontation. Three soldiers were also injured during these clashes.

  Three soldiers were killed in a LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion at Kandapuram in the Vavuniya district.

  ‘Pistol gang’ LTTE cadres shot at and injured a police constable in the Jaffna Magistrate Court.

• July 2: Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the government controlled area at Muhamale in the Jaffna district, killing four of them.

  LTTE cadres opened small arms, machine guns and mortars fire towards SFs at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district and injured one soldier.

• July 1: Troops discovered an underground mini hospital of the LTTE in the thick jungles of Pullikudiyiruppu in Thoppur area of Trincomalee district.

  Two young LTTE cadres surrendered to the troops at Narakamulla in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

• June 30: Troops foiled an attempt by LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the government controlled area of Iranai Illuppaikulam in the Vavuniya district and also recovered the dead body of a LTTE female cadre from the incident site.

  Civil Defence Force personnel on duty at Thambalagamuwa in the Trincomalee district fired at a group of LTTE cadres who were fleeing from the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

• June 29: Four civilians who have gone inside the jungles off Mavilaru, in search of their missing cattle, in the Serunuwara area of Trincomalee district were shot dead by the LTTE cadres.

  Two civilians, identified as Singarwel Yogendran and Subramanium Ambige, were killed by two ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE at Temple Road in the Vannaparanai area of Jaffna district.

  Five civilians, including two children and an equal number of women, aboard a passenger bus were wounded in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion near Cheddikulam on the Medawachchiya-Mannar road in the Mannar district. Troops later arrested three LTTE suspects along with three hand grenades.

  Two soldiers and a civilian were injured in another claymore mine explosion carried out by the LTTE in the Makiyapiddi area of Jaffna district.

• June 28: Troops killed at least 11 LTTE cadres in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

  Two army personnel were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion in the Nawaththurai area of Jaffna district.

  The LTTE cadres killed Thillainadan Udayakumar, the chairman of Thirukkovil Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Administrative Council) in the Batticaloa district. He belonged to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance party. However, Asian Tribune blamed the LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna for the killing.

  A 16-year-old ex-LTTE cadre who was attending evening prayers at the Murugan Kovil (Temple) in the Sittandy area of Batticaloa district was shot dead by a ‘pistol gang’ cadre of the outfit.

  Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias Shanthan, president of the British Tamil Association, the high-ranking agent of the LTTE, and head of finance, Goldan Lambert, were charged by Scotland Yard under the Terrorism Act 2000 with providing support to the LTTE, which is a proscribed organization in the United Kingdom. Shanthan of Norbury town in South London faced five charges under the. Lambert, of South Croydon, was charged with assisting in the management of the Hyde Park event, knowing it was for the purposes of supporting LTTE, a proscribed organisation.

• June 27: Four soldiers were killed and three others sustained injuries in a pre-dawn gun battle that occurred near SFs bunkers at Aluthgama, Avaranthulawa and Settikulam between SFs and a group of LTTE infiltrators. LTTE cadres entering through the jungles off Vavuniya reportedly launched a small arms attack on a bunker manned by troops at about 1.00 am, killing four of them.

  Two soldiers were killed and another wounded when LTTE cadres launched another pre-dawn attack on the SFs in the Thalladi area of Mannar district at about 2.55 am.

  One soldier was killed and another injured when they accidentally stepped on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) planted by the LTTE cadres in the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district.

• June 26: Security forces foiled a LTTE attempt to infiltrate FDLs in the Jaffna district. "They have tried to infiltrate the defense lines, so we have fired some mortars," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, adding "Ground troops and intelligence suspect 12 cadres were killed or injured."

  Naval troops on foot patrol retaliated and killed one LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadre in the Pesalai area of Mannar district.

• June 24: Troops in the Kaluwankerni area of Batticaloa district recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre along with one micro pistol, pistol pouch with two magazines, 15 rounds of ammunition, two cyanide capsules and Rupees 13,650 in cash from his possession inside a Hindu Temple. He had committed suicide by swallowing cyanide, sources added.

• June 24: One LTTE cadre who attempted to launch an attack on the troops on duty in the areas west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district was shot dead by troops.

  One police personnel was injured when a LTTE mortar bomb fell close to a police bunker in the Uyilankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE blew up a bridge that connected Karadiyanaru with Thoppigala road in the Batticaloa district. Meanwhile, advancing troops in the Thoppigala area found polythene sacks with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees emblem which contained dry rations for the Internally Displaced Persons, but was used by the LTTE to cover up their bunkers. An unnamed military official said that security forces during the weekend came across a number of LTTE’s destroyed bunkers, public buildings, vehicles and many other items. Troops also collected a large stock of arms, ammunition and various explosives abandoned by the withdrawing LTTE cadres.

• June 23: Thirteen LTTE cadres were killed in a clash between the Army troops and the LTTE in the Murunthankulam area of Vavuniya district. The confrontation began as the LTTE cadres attempted to breach the forward defences in the west of Omantahi.

  One LTTE terrorist, who tried to run away after throwing a hand grenade at the patrolling troops at Kaluwankerni of Batticaloa district, was shot dead by troops.

• June 22: SFs engaged in clearing operations in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and subsequently recovered 15 dead bodies of the LTTE cadres.

  A suspected LTTE boat exploded off the Nilaweli coast in the Trincomalee district, killing at least three of the outfit’s cadres, the MCNS said. The boat exploded as SLN vessels upon observing a suspicious boat among the fishing boats fired warning shots. Subsequently, the dead body of a female LTTE cadre was recovered from the sea.

  Troops on a foot patrol in the Muhamale area of Jaffna district confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed two of them.

  Troops retaliated and foiled a LTTE attempt to infiltrate the security points at Katkolam in the Point Pedro area of Jaffna district. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE cadres.

• June 21: Three soldiers were killed and another sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting an army vehicle transporting food items at Chundikkulam in the Jaffna district.

  One police personnel was killed in an LTTE attack at Pesalai police post in the Mannar district.

  British police reportedly arrested two key LTTE agents, identified as A.C. Shanthan and G. Lambert. "UK Metropolitan Police from the counter Terrorism Command arrested A. C. Shanthan (51 yrs), the LTTE leader in the UK who operates under the title of President of the British Tamil Association (BAT) and Goldan Lambert (29yrs), Head of Finance of the BAT yesterday (21) around 3:45 p.m," stated reports. The latter was arrested on arrival from Dubai at the Heathrow Airport. The arrests are in connection with the Black July rally they organized in conjunction with the Tamil Youth Organization in Hyde Park London on July 25, 2006, which has been under investigation for sometime.

• June 20: Troops on duty in the Ampaddailuppaikulam general area (area under government control) of Vavuniya district were fired upon by cadres of the LTTE from their hideouts in un-cleared areas (area not under government control). Troops retaliated, killing six LTTE cadres and injuring an unspecified number of them.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards three police constables who went for a bath at a public well on the Medawachchiya road in the Bou-Oya area of Mannar district, killing one of them while wounding two others. One civilian was also killed in the incident.

  A 19-year old LTTE cadre surrendered to the troops at Sandiveli roadblock in the Batticaloa district.

• June 19: The SLN destroyed five LTTE boats and severely damaged another nine in a confrontation off the Vettilaikerni coast in the Jaffna district. 40 Sea Tigers were reportedly killed in the confrontation that erupted when SLN Fast Attack Craft engaged around 20 LTTE boats which had tried to attack naval craft off Point Pedro. The army also fired artillery aimed at the outfit’s boats and the air force too engaged them.

  Troops engaged in the battle at Thoppigala in Batticaloa district captured more than 42 square kilometers of area between Akkaraththaviai and Kattuvelikulam, killing more than 30 LTTE cadres. Five SF personnel were injured due to anti-personnel mines and mortar attacks by the LTTE. Reports added that a huge ammunition dump of the outfit in the Narakamulla area caught fire due to army artillery and mortar fire.

  An army foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres crossing Trikonamadu in the Welikanda area of Pollonnaruwa district and killed three of the outfit’s cadres.

  SFs foiled a LTTE attempt to infiltrate the civilian-inhabited Kalkudah village in the Batticaloa district. During a subsequent search operation, SFs recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE cadres.

  The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net has reportedly been inaccessible in the island for a number of days. The Website said that the Sri Lankan government had asked local service providers to block it. It quoted unnamed Sri Lankan service providers as saying that they had had directives from "higher authorities" in this regard.

  The LTTE chief Veluppillai Prabhakaran’s son Charles Anthony, may have been trained by Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, is now on the watch list of the Indian agencies after reports that he heads the air wing of the proscribed outfit. Reports indicate that the LTTE air wing is a complement of nine pilots and seven light single-engine aircrafts. They also have strength of about 60 airmen to maintain and service the planes mostly operating from secret airfields around Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. The air wing is useful for carrying out suicide strikes on Sri Lanka security forces and for reconnaissance missions before an attack. Investigations by agencies indicate that apart from Mossad, senior LTTE cadre is also trained by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence operatives. The LTTE owns a fleet of sea-going ships to transport their supplies and arms since 1986.

• June 18: Troops retaliated and killed one LTTE cadre when the outfit’s cadre opened fire towards troops in the Ralkuli area of Trincomalee district.

  The LTTE made a fresh pledge to rid their ranks of child soldiers by the end of the year 2007. The LTTE made the same promise in 1998 but have since been accused by the United Nations of recruiting more than they actually freed. The LTTE in a statement said that its "Child Protection Agency (CPA)" had freed 135 males and females below the age of 17 who were found within their guerrilla army in the past six months. Meanwhile, the UNICEF said that there were 1,591 outstanding cases of underage recruitment by the LTTE as of the end of May 2007.

• June 17: Army officials said that hundreds of LTTE cadres entrapped in the Thoppigala jungles commenced fleeing the area amidst a major assault by the SFs on their Beirut base, cutting off all supply routes. Officials said that over 75 LTTE cadres had fled the Thoppigala jungles towards the Wanni. SFs launched a major assault on the fleeing terrorists and alerted the troops and home guards in settlements close to Habarana and other areas in Trincomalee fearing desperate attacks by the fleeing outfit’s cadres. So far, nearly 100 Tiger cadres have surrendered to the SFs while 270 cadres have been killed during confrontations in the battle to capture Thoppigala, sources said.

  One LTTE cadre surrendered to Army troops through the Eelam People’s Democratic Party office at Valaichchenai in the Batticaloa district.
  
  Troops on duty in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district were fired upon by LTTE cadres. In the retaliatory fire, troops killed three LTTE cadres.

• June 16: Sri Lankan police has intensified security measures in the capital Colombo. Rohan Abeywardena, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Colombo security, said that special plans are underway to check possible infiltration by the LTTE cadres to carry out attacks in the city.
  
  Four LTTE cadres from Thoppigala surrendered to the SFs at Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district.

• June 15: Two cadres of the LTTE were killed in a clash with the Sri Lankan soldiers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil villages along a defense line separating government-held and LTTE-held territories of Jaffna district.

• June 14: Troops engaged in search and clear operations at Andankulam in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE cadres. At least one LTTE cadre was killed and an unspecified number of them sustained injuries in the incident.

• June 13: Three LTTE cadres were killed and several others sustained injuries when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres at Kappathivu in the Jaffna district.

  Two unidentified dead bodies were recovered near the 4th mile post of the Ampara-Thirukkovil road in the Ampara district.

  Naval troops arrested five suspected LTTE cadres along with 10 sacks of cement from the Pesalai area of Mannar district.

  One LTTE child soldier, identified as P. Dewan, surrendered at the Polwatta army camp in the Batticaloa district.

• June 12: Four LTTE cadres were killed during confrontation with troops at Pulipanchikulam in the Sittandy area of Batticaloa district.

  The bullet riddled dead bodies of two Tamil youths, identified as Anthonypillai Sudhaharan and Jeyamuspillai Sudhaharan, suspected to be killed by the LTTE were recovered from the jungles of Iluppukulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the LTTE has infiltrated and misled UN agencies. Reacting to the demand of UN agencies in Sri Lanka to halt rights abuses by the government, he claimed, "For 30 years or so, this LTTE planned this, they infiltrated the U.N."

  British minister Kim Howells said that there was no likelihood of de-proscribing the LTTE which still continues to use terrorism as a mode for securing their demands.Suspected LTTE cadres destroyed a transformer using explosives in the Orugodawaththa area of Colombo district.

• June 11: Troops shot dead two LTTE cadres during another confrontation in the area west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

  Three young LTTE carders surrendered to the troops at the Polwatta roadblock in the Kahawattamunai area of Batticaloa district.

• June 10: LTTE cadres shot dead a cadre of its breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, identified as Manoraj, while he was in his residence at Mawadivembu in the Batticaloa district.

• June 10: SLN personnel confronted a group of LTTE cadres during a search operation at Puliyankandal in the Kayts Island area of Jaffna district. Four outfit cadres were killed while three others sustained injuries during the clash. A sailor who was injured later succumbed to his injuries.

  Troops killed one female LTTE cadre in the Pandaripuliyankulam area of Batticaloa district.

• June 9: LTTE cadres detonated an explosion of a claymore mine targeting a police team in the Dutuwewa area of Vavuniya district, injuring one home guard. The dead bodies of two civilians were recovered during a subsequent search operation in the area.

• June 8-9: Sri Lankan troops captured four camps of the LTTE in the Batticaloa district after two days of fighting that left at least 30 rebels and one soldier dead.

• June 8: Troops on foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district and killed two of the outfit’s cadres.

• June 6: Five LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them sustained injuries in a clash with troops in the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district. Four soldiers were also injured.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting an Army tractor at Ambawatta in the Puwarasakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres triggered an explosion targeting a Colombo-bound train at Vakaneri junction in the Batticaloa district. A pressure mine laid on the track exploded while the train was passing the Vakaneri junction injuring three passengers and also damaging the railway track.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards a police guard post at Weddukulam in the Vavuniya district, injuring two police personnel.

  Two police personnel were wounded when LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops at Settikulam in the Vavuniya district.

• June 5: Cadres of the LTTE detonated a claymore mine targeting STF personnel on search operation personnel along the Ambalanthure – Thikodai road in the Ampara district, killing one STF officer and injuring another.

  The LTTE is increasingly resorting to the use of places of Hindu worship in the North to carry out its subversive plans and in the process bringing disaffection to the SFs among the Tamil community when search operations are conducted on these premises, a report said. The report also said that SFs recovered large caches of weapons from at least five Hindu temples in the North in the recent past with shootouts occurring inside one such temple when troops entered the premises following a tip-off that weapons were hidden in its sanctum. Some arms and ammunition, including grenades, were also found in a bag hidden behind the altar at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Jaffna.

  The TMVP, the political wing of the Karuna faction, will contest elections in the future to have their representation in Parliament to attend to the eastern people’s grievances, said TMVP Ampara district political leader Iniya Bharathi. Bharathi, adding, they are expanding their activities in the Eastern province to contest future elections. He said they will not lay down arms till the LTTE threat is removed.

• June 4: Three civilians were shot dead by the LTTE cadres at Nallur in the Jaffna district.

• June 3: Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampanai area of Vavuniya district, killing two of them.

• June 2: At least 52 LTTE cadres and 30 soldiers were killed in heavy fighting between troops and the LTTE cadres ahead of the Omanthai FDL in the Vavuniya district. The LTTE cadres reportedly launched an attack using artillery and mortars on troops in the area. Troops countered the LTTE fire and successfully repulsed the attack. An unspecified number of soldiers and LTTE cadres also sustained injuries in the incident.

  Three LTTE cadres were reportedly killed by troops during confrontation in the area west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  Two Sri Lanka Red Cross members, identified as S. Shanmugalingam and K. Chandramohan, who were abducted earlier by unidentified persons from the Fort railway station were found shot dead in the Kiriella area of Ratnapura district, police said.

  Troops reportedly shot dead two LTTE cadres in the area closer to the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the general area (area under government control) of Mannar district.

  LTTE cadres fired small arms towards the home guard security point at Wilgamvehera in the Trincomalee district, killing one home guard.

  The dead body of a LTTE cadre who was killed in confrontation with the troops was found in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE cadres from Thoppigala surrendered before the troops at Black Bridge in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa district.

• June 1: One soldier and a home guard were shot dead by the LTTE cadres at Kiruvegama in the Kabithigollawa area of Anuradhapura district.

• May 31: SFs foiled a LTTE attempt to infiltrate into the government controlled areas of Vavuniya district, causing heavy casualties to the outfit reports. However, the number of LTTE fatalities is yet to be ascertained. Five SF personnel were reported killed in the incident.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Batticaloa district. In retaliation, troops killed three LTTE cadres, including a member of the LTTE intelligence wing.

  One soldier was killed and seven persons, including two women, an Army officer and a home guard, were injured in LTTE mortar attacks at Athawetunawewa village in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops retaliated to a LTTE attack in the Kinnya area of Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre.

  The LTTE accused the government of imposing fuel restriction to the Vanni region and termed it as oppression by other means.

  The LTTE is soon to be listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia. The move would rank the outfit alongside 19 other proscribed groups, including al Qaeda, Jemmah Islamiah and the Pakistan-based LeT.

  Sri Lanka has warned Australia that LTTE activists are using credit-card fraud overseas to raise funds. In a written warning to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra said Australians could be ripped off by consumer scams perpetrated by the LTTE.

• May 30: Troops foiled another LTTE infiltration attempt in the Madu area of Mannar district reportedly causing heavy casualties to the outfit. However, the number of LTTE fatalities is yet to be ascertained. Five SF personnel were reported killed in the incident.

  Four LTTE cadres were shot dead by SFs during clashes in the area west of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed two of them. Two soldiers and an unspecified number of LTTE cadres sustained injuries in the incident.

• May 29: At least nine LTTE cadres were killed by troops in a fierce gun battle in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards SFs at Sarambakulam in the Vavuniya district, injuring one SF personnel who succumbed to his injuries later.

• May 28: Seven civilians were killed and 42 persons, including 36 civilians and six STF personnel, sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered remote-controlled claymore mine explosion targeting STF vehicle at Belekkade Junction in the Rathmalana area of Colombo district. The STF vehicle moving towards Colombo was slightly damaged with its windscreen completely smashed.
  
  LTTE cadres opened fire towards a group of soldiers at Ethawetunu Wewa in the Welioya area of Moneragala district, injuring one soldier. Troops retaliated and killed two outfit cadres. Two other outfit cadres sustained injuries in the incident.
  
  Three suspected LTTE cadres were killed when the bomb they were carrying exploded accidentally at one of the victim’s houses in the Poonthottam area of Vavuniya district.

LTTE cadres opened fire towards SFs at Sarambakulam in the Vavuniya district, injuring one SF personnel who succumbed to his injuries later.

• May 27: The LTTE triggered a bomb blast targeting a truck, killing three civilians at Thirukkovil in Ampara district. The vehicle had earlier reportedly been used by the security forces.

  Sri Lanka Navy sailors killed three cadres of the LTTE during a ground operation in a jungle area north of the eastern port town of Trincomalee.

  Police killed a LTTE cadre after he hurled a hand grenade at them in the Ampara district.

• May 25: SFs shot dead 12 cadres of the LTTE in separate encounters in the Vavuniya district. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that "Initially 10 LTTE cadres were killed in a successful assault launched by the army… Subsequently, two more tiger cadres were killed in a separate incident."

  Troops killed two armed LTTE, who had entered into the government-held territory in Muhamalai on the Jaffna peninsula.

• May 24: At least 10 sailors were killed when the Sea Tigers, naval wing of the LTTE, boats attacked and infiltrated a SLN base on an island off the Jaffna peninsula before dawn, the military said. Denying the LTTE claim that 35 sailors were killed in the incident, military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe informed, "The Tigers have attacked a small naval detachment on Delft island in Jaffna. Less than 10 sailors are dead," adding, "We didn't even have 35 people there. That's totally false propaganda." The SLN spokesperson, Commander D. K. P Dassanayake, said that the outfit attacked the navy base at Delft in a flotilla of 15 boats and navy sailors sank one of them in attempts to repulse the ambush.

  LTTE cadres shot dead three home guards in the Kirivegam area of Vavuniya district, according to Sri Lana Army.

  A suspected LTTE suicide bomber on an explosive laden motor bicycle rammed a bus carrying army personnel on the first cross street in capital Colombo at around 9:00 am, the military said. Two soldiers were killed and five other persons sustained injuries in the attack.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in a retaliatory fire when they were attacked a by a group of outfit cadres at Navundaiyambu in the Batticaloa district.

• May 23: One LTTE cadre hiding inside a house opened fire towards SFs conducting search operations at Kannankadu in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district, injuring one soldier who succumbed to his injuries later. In retaliation, troops killed the LTTE cadre. During further search operations, SF personnel recovered the dead bodies of six LTTE cadres from Thalayaya in the same area.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting troops at Pompemadu in the Vavuniya district

  An army foot patrol confronted a group of armed LTTE cadres in the Neelapanichchankulam area of Trincomalee district. One soldier who sustained injuries in the incident later died.

  SF personnel shot dead a LTTE cadre attempting to infiltrate the FDL at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district.

• May 22: Three LTTE cadres were killed during two separate clashes in the Vavuniya district, said military spokesperson Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed by troops in the Batticaloa district.

• May 21: LTTE cadres fired towards SF’s bunker in the Salambakulam area of the Vavuniya district, injuring an unspecified number of SF personnel.

• May 21: Two SF personnel were killed and three others sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion, targeting a tractor transporting troops, at Iranai Iruppai Kulam.

  Two soldiers were killed in a LTTE attack in the Welioya area of Moneragala district.

  Troops in retaliation killed two LTTE cadres when they were fired upon by the outfit cadres in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district.

• May 20: Eight LTTE cadres were killed by troops in an ambush at Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district.

  SFs killed two LTTE cadres in the area north of Parappakandal in Mannar district.

• May 19: Three LTTE cadres attempting to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district were killed by troops.

  Two cadres of the LTTE and a soldier were killed in continuing clashes between the LTTE and the military in the area near Madu village in the Trincomalee district.

  The Sri Lankan Ambassador to USA, Bernard Goonetileke said that Norway had lodged a complaint with the Interpol about the 130,000 Norwegian passports stolen "over a period of time." He also that the LTTE had employed a corrupt police officer to steal the passports for them and when it sold the passports they also sold them to an al Qaeda group in Algeria.

• May 18: Troops in retaliation killed two LTTE cadres after they attacked a navy foot patrol in the Kayts area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries when a group of LTTE cadres opened fired on a route clearing patrol near Kadawana in the Trincomalee district.

  The Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Com. D.K.P. Dassanayake said that the a trawler which the Maldivian Coast Guard sunk on May 17, on suspicion that it was a LTTE gun-runner, was registered in Kerala, adding, the vessel bearing the name Sri Krishna (registration number KFO 7339 ALP 2749) had set sail from Kollam in Kerala on March 7. He added that the man who surrendered was Simon Soza, the vessel's engineer and the others were apparently Tamils.

• May 17: Troops killed five LTTE cadres during another clash in the Batticaloa district.

  Maldives coast guard opened fire on and sank a small vessel carrying suspected LTTE cadres after a 12-hour standoff at sea in southern territorial waters of Maldives. According to reports, four of the nine-member crew were killed, four others were arrested and one surrendered. Reports said that the vessel, which started off as a deep sea fishing trawler, was hijacked by the LTTE to do some gun-running for it. The boat was carrying guns and mortar bombs.

  Heavy mortar fire by the LTTE in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district forced the ICRC representatives at the Omanthai entry/exit point to withdraw. Military sources said the LTTE launched intermittent mortar attacks from early morning forcing the authorities to temporarily close the Omanthai entry/exit point to civilian traffic.

  In a Quebec Court testimony that concluded on May 17, Kathiravelupillai Sithamparanathan, President of the World Tamil Movement's Montreal office, an organization that is suspected of funding the LTTE, has testified that he considers the LTTE as freedom fighters and he supports their activities that would benefit the people. But he denied that his organization has sent money to the outfit. He, however, acknowledged attending a 2004 workshop in Sri Lanka organized by the outfit. Asked about his view of LTTE chief Prabhakaran, he called him a freedom fighter who is organizing a struggle to win the rights of the people in Sri Lanka. Asked whether the World Tamil Movement supports the LTTE, he replied: "Actions that would benefit people, the right actions, yes."

  The Sri Lankan Ambassador to USA, Bernard Goonetileke, has alleged that the LTTE has stolen 130,000 Norwegian passports and sold them to the "highest bidders" including operatives of the al Qaeda. He disclosed, "One of them [LTTE cadre] surfaced with 700 of the stolen passports in Thailand and got caught to the police."

• May 16: At least 20 LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the area east of Madhu in Mannar district. One soldier who was injured in the incident succumbed to his injuries later.

  A London Court was told that Senthuraj Thavapalasingham alias "Psycho" of Romford is the enforcer leading a gang of LTTE extortionists called "East Side Boys". Newham Council and Metropolitan Police told Stratford Magistrates Court that this gang has been working in Newham for two years. Chief Inspector Derrick Griffiths said, "To my knowledge there are around five Tamil gangs operating in London. This is a gang of about 30 young men aged between 15 and 32 who are paid by an organization called the LTTE. They were paid to extort money from local businessmen and residents. Their victims were paying anywhere between Pounds 5,000 and 25,000 a year. In one case a businessman was paying 25,000 a year for four years."

• May 15: The LTTE set ablaze a Sri Lanka Central Transport Board bus carrying about 100 passengers, including school children and women, in Jaffna after ordering its passengers to alight from the bus. Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, said none of the passengers was injured in the incident while the bus was completely destroyed.

  Troops arrested two suspected LTTE sympathisers aboard a lorry who were attempting to smuggle a stock of illicit medicine and several other vehicle spare to the uncleared areas (area not under Government control) through the Omanthai Entry/Exit point in Vavuniya district.

• May 14: One LTTE cadre was killed and another sustained injuries when troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres who were trying to infiltrate the Army defence line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Troops on a static guard point at Sandilipai in the Jaffna district observed the suspicious approach of a LTTE cadre and asked him to stop immediately and surrender but he lobbed a hand grenade towards the soldiers ignoring the warning signal. In retaliation, the troops reportedly shot him dead.

  A LTTE cadre, identified as Thangawelu, who was trying to evade the troops in the company of another LTTE cadre was shot dead by troops in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

• May 13: Seven cadres of the LTTE were killed by SFs during clashes with the outfit in the areas closer to the Madu FDL in Mannar district.

  One soldier and a LTTE cadre were killed during clashes between SFs and LTTE cadres in the area west of Vavuniya.

  The chief priest of the Pabbatharamaya Temple at Mahadivulwewa in the Morawewa area of Trincomalee district, Ven. Nandarathana Thera, was shot dead by three LTTE gunmen. Thera was a prominent social worker, sources added.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE cadre who attempted to lob a hand grenade at an Army foot patrol in the Sandilippai area of Jaffna district.

  Suspected LTTE cadres reportedly robbed money from fishermen at Punnakudah in the Batticaloa district. The suspects who threatened the fishermen at gun point relieved them of Rupees 33, 020 in cash and also took their National Identity Cards.

  The LTTE is reportedly planning to beam a second television channel called Tharishanam (Revelation). The new transmission will be a pay channel and will run as a client of Globecast of France and is to be up linked on to the Israeli Satlink platform in the Hotbird 8 satellite, the report said.

• May 12: Four LTTE cadres were reportedly killed by SF personnel who confronted a group of the outfit’s cadres in the Periyathampanai area of the Mannar district.

  An LTTE cadre attempting to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district was shot dead by troops.

• May 10: One LTTE cadre was killed in a retaliatory fire by troops at the FDL in the Muhamale area of Jaffna district.

  A group of suspected LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade towards the IDP centre at Saratha School in the Kattankudy area of Batticaloa district, injuring eight IDPs, including two children.

  One civilian was injured when LTTE cadres opened fire targeting an Army foot patrol at Ukkulankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, a Sri Lankan citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to the LTTE and attempted exportation of arms and ammunition.

• May 9: Naval troops arrested five LTTE cadres from Nolton in the Kumburuppidi area of Trincomalee district.

• May 8: The LTTE cadres killed a civilian, identified as Thawarasa Suseedaran, in the Varani area of Jaffna district.

  One LTTE cadre was killed as troops retaliated to a LTTE attack at Thonical road in the Bandarikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was inured in a LTTE attack at a static guard point in the Iranailluppakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, a suspected LTTE cadre who was arrested along with another cadre, Sivarajah Yathavan, after raids in Sydney and Melbourne on the charges of providing material support and funneling money collected from donors in the garb of a Tsunami charity to the outfit on May 1, reportedly had access to $5,26,000 in two bank accounts between August 2001 and December while he was unemployed, a Melbourne court was informed.

• May 7: The former head of the LTTE International Secretariat, Valummylum Manoharan alias Mano, has been granted French nationality status. His application for nationality was pending for many years due to his involvement with the LTTE.
  
  Two LTTE cadres, identified as S.Rajindran alias Ashok, the leader for Kokkodicholai, and K. Ragunathan, from the LTTE medical team, were killed in a retaliatory action by the SFs following a clash at Angodavillvu in the Welikanda area of Pollonnaruwa district.

  Two soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres opened fire towards SFs guarding the road construction teams at Pariyipunchan Kulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops at Neelapola in the Trincomalee district observed LTTE cadres’ movement and fired towards them. One soldier sustained injuries during the clash.

• May 6: LTTE cadres carried out an explosion targeting a tractor carrying STF personnel in the Kokadycholai area of Batticaloa district, killing three STF personnel and injuring four others.

  Four soldiers were injured in a LTTE mortar fire towards troops at FDL in the west of Omanthai in Vavuniya district.

  Naval personnel retaliated as one sailor was injured in a LTTE attack in the Thiriyaya area of Trincomalee district.

  According to reports, after TTN Television channel was closed down in Paris, the LTTE is planning to introduce TTN Channel contents, including news and views to promote terrorism, in their supplementary free channel Mathuram. They have already started this second channel called Mathuram from 14 April.

  A Hindu temple in south London, which reportedly raises nearly £500,000 each year, may have possible links to the LTTE in Sri Lanka. A BBC report said that the Armulmihu Hindu temple in Tooting "has had its assets frozen pending an investigation into alleged links with the UK banned Tamil Tigers."

• May 5: Five LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them sustained injuries as SFs retaliated to an attack by the LTTE in the area northeast of Madhu in Mannar district.

  Five more LTTE cadres were killed during a confrontation with the SFs in the Talaivankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two bullet riddled dead bodies of LTTE cadres were recovered by troops from the Veppawadduwan area of Batticaloa district along with two cyanide capsules lying beside the dead bodies.

• May 4: SLN personnel destroyed eight LTTE boats off the coast of Mullaittivu killing 12 of the outfit’s cadres (known as Sea-Tigers) and injuring 15 others when Naval patrol crafts detected a cluster of 26 Sea-Tiger boats consisting of ten large boats, four suicide boats and twelve smaller boats, including four suicide boats, heading towards Pulmudai from Nayaru in Mullaittivu. Two sailors were also injured in the incident.

  LTTE cadres infiltrated a Sinhalese dominated village in the Nidhanwala area of Polonnaruwa district and fired indiscriminately on a group of farmers at work in their paddy fields, killing four farmers and injuring two others.

  Troops after observing a movement of armed LTTE cadres ahead of FDL in the Vavuniya district killed three LTTE cadres.

  A group of LTTE cadres managed to escape as naval troops at Thiriyaya in the Trincomalee district confronted them when were trying to infiltrate the area and reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on them. Meanwhile, the fleeing LTTE cadres reportedly shot dead two fishermen and injured three others at a nearby fishing village.

  STF personnel during a search operation at Porativu to arrest a LTTE cadre from a house in the Palugramam area of Batticaloa district were fired upon by the outfit’s cadre hiding inside the house. In retaliation, the troops killed the LTTE cadre.

  Troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE cadres at Siththaru in the Trincomalee district and during subsequent search operation recovered the dead body of one LTTE cadre.

  A Singapore-based terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna claimed that the LTTE has been procuring aircraft, arms, explosives and other technological devices from Australia for more than a decade. Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said the LTTE were buying light aircraft from local manufacturers in the mid-1990s and as recently as 2006 bought remote control devices to detonate bombs in Sri Lanka.

• May 3: The LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade towards a guard point at Ceynor jetty in the Jaffna district and killed one of the soldiers on duty.

  One police personnel was killed during a LTTE attack on a Police post at Salambakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Security forces recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre from the Kokuthuduwai area of Anuradhapura district

  Troops arrested three LTTE suspects at the roadblock near Karthivu People’s Bank in the Ampara district.

• May 2: Troops retaliated and killed two LTTE cadres in the Palaimoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  One home guard, identified as Mohomad Faum, was shot at and injured by LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres at Iyankerni junction in the Eravur division of Batticaloa district. Later, he succumbed to his injuries.

  One LTTE cadre trying to infiltrate the FDL at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district was shot dead by troops.

  The Navy has reportedly recovered a suicide device which has not been previously used by the LTTE. "It is a small device packed with steel balls to carry out an individual assassination," said an unnamed Navy official.

  The Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer acknowledged that some funds were being raised in his country to finance the operations of the LTTE.

  Sri Lanka's Honorary Consul in Melbourne, Rodney Arambewela, said that there were a large number of complaints from the Sri Lankan community of being intimidated into donating funds to the LTTE.

• May 1: Troops on foot patrol in the general area (area under Government control) of Mannar district confronted with several groups of LTTE cadres. Ten LTTE cadres were reportedly killed during the clashes.

  Three more LTTE cadres were killed in a retaliatory action by troops in the Welioya area of Moneragala district.

  The Australian Police arrested two suspected LTTE cadres, Aruran Vinayagamoorthy and Sivarajah Yathavan, after raids in Sydney and Melbourne on the charges of providing material support and funneling money collected from donors in the garb of a Tsunami charity to the outfit.

  Three farmers engaged in agricultural activities in the Thiliveddi area of Batticaloa district were shot dead by the LTTE. The victims reportedly had continuously refused to supply diesel, petrol and batteries to the outfit.

  Three LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district.

  A LTTE cadre surrendered to the home guards point in the Pubudugama area of Batticaloa district.

• April 30: One LTTE cadre reportedly deserted the outfit and surrendered to the Police at Damminna in the Aralaganvila area of Polonnaruwa district.

• April 30: The LTTE warned the government of more air strikes on military installations. The LTTE spokesperson Rasiah Ilanthirayan told Reuters, "The Sri Lankan military, especially the air force, are adamantly trying to prove they will always seek a military solution. So we have no other way than to take our own measures. There will definitely be more. We have no choice other than striking back."

• April 29: An LTTE aircraft bombed oil and gas storage facilities in and around capital Colombo at 1.45 am. Confirming the strike by the LTTE on key installations near Colombo, the defense ministry said the outfit dropped two bombs at the Muthurajawela gas storage facility of Shell and dropped two more bombs at the main oil storage depot at Kolonnawa. One of the two bombs dropped on Muthurajawela caused minor damage to the fire guard equipment of a private gas company and the other damaged water supply, while the two bombs dropped on the Kolonnawa failed to explode. The LTTE, meanwhile, in a statement claimed that two oil depots that supplied fuel to the SLAF were targeted by its aircrafts at 1.50 am and 2.05 am and that their aircraft returned safely to their air base in Vanni after the mission.

  Two top LTTE leaders, identified as Eelamaran, leader in charge of Jaffna, and his deputy Udayan, were among five outfit cadres killed inside Amman Kovil at Suruvil in the Kayts Island area of Jaffna district. The incumbent of the Kovil was also killed in the crossfire.

  Three LTTE cadres, including two teenagers, who were trying to infiltrate cleared areas (area under Government control), were fired upon by troops in a clash at Kokkutoduvai in the Welioya region of Moneragala district. During subsequent search operations in the area, troops recovered the dead bodies of three female LTTE cadres.

  Troops on route clearing operation in the same area after observing a terrorist movement opened fire on them and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of the three LTTE cadres.

  Troops recovered a LTTE claymore from the Chundikkuli area of Jaffna district. During a subsequent search operation in the area, troops arrested one suspect along with one claymore mine in his possession.

• April 28: LTTE cadres opened fire towards several fishing boats that left the Pasiyur jetty of Jaffna district, injuring one fisherman, identified as Rasappa Joshep, who succumbed to his injuries later.

  LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting troops on foot patrol in the Varikuttuur area of Vavuniya district, injuring two soldiers. However, one of them succumbed to his injuries later.

• April 27: Three SLN personnel were killed and one sustained injuries during a clash with the LTTE cadres at Kuchchiweli, north of Trincomalee.

  Buththala Police in the Moneragala district arrested a Sinhalese man allegedly spying for the LTTE. The Police claimed that he was also commissioned by the outfit for certain murders to be committed in future. He was readying for it on orders of the LTTE. According to the information revealed by the arrestee, several female Sinhala cadres had undergone LTTE training in places yet to be disclosed, the Police informed, adding, 19 Sinhala LTTE cadres had been arrested so far and further arrests would be made based on the information received through their confessions and statements.

• April 26: One civilian was killed and one more civilian and a soldier were injured during a clash between security forces and the LTTE cadres in the Sittandy area of Batticaloa district. The injured soldier succumbed to his injuries later.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when troops opened fire on a LTTE cab in the Madu area ahead of the SFs Mannar-Vavuniya FDL (forward defense line).

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE attack in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district.

• April 25: At least 21 LTTE cadres were killed and 26 others injured during a five-hour long clash between troops and the outfit’s cadres near the coastal town of Mannar. Two soldiers were killed and about 15 others wounded in the incident. However, the LTTE claimed that around 10 soldiers were killed and 50 others wounded on the government side while the outfit suffered no casualties.

  Troops retaliated to a LTTE mortar attack in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, killing at least 15 of the outfit’s cadres and injuring several others. Two soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of them sustained injuries in the incident.

  At least three LTTE cadres were killed when troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE cadres moving along the river bank in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed by troops on a foot patrol in the same area.

  Two STF personnel were killed and four others injured when LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine explosion from a hideout close to Damana in the Bakimitiyawa area of Ampara district targeting a combined foot patrol of the STF.

  The ‘director’ of LTTE in New York, Karunakaran Kandasamy, was arrested by the FBI in Queens. He was arrested on federal charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said.

  Intelsat has shut down a satellite transponder used illegally by the LTTE to broadcast propaganda radio and Television programmes. The U.S.-based satellite company has terminated the unauthorised use of one of its satellites, Intelsat 12, by the LTTE for its TV and radio transmissions to Europe and Asia over the April 21/22 weekend, shuting down the transponder which the LTTE had used for its transmissions.

• April 24: SFs foiled a LTTE attempt to carry out an aerial attack at the Palaly Air Base in Jaffna. According to the Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, troops detected an aircraft arriving from the South of Jaffna peninsula towards Palaly Air Base at 1.20 am. "The aircraft took the path along the marshy lands in Jaffna where lesser number of troops on duty", he said, adding, troops stationed at the Palaly HSZ opened fire towards the aircraft compelling it to change its path towards Thondamanaru area near the sea. The light aircraft dropped three bombs at Milady area killing six soldiers, he informed. Earlier, the LTTE claimed they carried out their second aerial attack against Government forces targeting the main military complex in Jaffna peninsula using two light aircrafts.

  Four LTTE cadres while trying to fire small arms on a group of troops on foot patrol were killed after confronting them in the Nawatkulam area of Vavuniya district.

• April 23: A bomb blast occurred on a Colombo bound passenger bus on the Vavuniya - Mannar road between Settikulam and Parayanakulam, in the Vavuniya district. Five civilians were killed and 33 others sustained injuries in the explosion.

  Troops launched an attack after observing movement of some LTTE cadres, killing three of them in the Palaimoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards civilians collecting firewood inside Kankuveli jungle in the Trincomalee district, killing one of them.

  Troops arrested one LTTE female cadre while she was entering the cleared areas (area under Government control) of Eravur in Batticaloa district.

  A 15-year-old female child soldier reportedly surrendered to the troops at Siththandy in the Batticaloa district. She had been given training by the LTTE at Panchchimarchani female training camp in the Thoppigala area.

  The UN is believed to have secretly negotiated for the release of two UN workers held by the LTTE in the Wanni, according to top officials who alleged that Colombo-based UN officials kept the seizure under wraps believing that the LTTE would eventually free them.

• April 22: A fisherman in a complaint made to the Mannar Police claimed that his boat was also forcibly taken away by the LTTE cadres on April 20.

  Sri Lankan authorities accused the LTTE of masterminding a credit card scam which has hit around 200 petrol stations in Britain.

• April 21: Five LTTE cadres were killed during clashes with the troops in the general area (area under Government control) of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres exploded a claymore mine at Kaatankudi in the Batticaloa, killing one civilian and injuring three others.

  The dead body of a fisherman who went missing following the LTTE attack on a group of fishermen in the Silvathurai Sea area on April 20 was found near the seas off Baththalangunduwa in the Mannar district.

  Troops retaliated to a LTTE attack towards a STF foot patrol in the Thirukkovil area of Ampara district and during subsequent search operations arrested an injured LTTE cadre who succumbed to his injuries later.

  A fisherman, S. Kumar Kandan, abducted along with four others by the LTTE on April 18 managed to escape from detention and surrendered to the Army at Narivillukkulamm.

• April 20: Four LTTE cadres were killed in a retaliatory fire by troops at Vilachchikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were killed and an equal number of them were injured when a tractor carrying soldiers was hit by a landmine laid by the LTTE at Thrikonamadu in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa district.

  Sri Lanka military said that a senior LTTE cadre, identified as Sivapalasuntheram Gunaseelan alias Kalaiyalaagam, the LTTE International Communications Coordinator, was killed in the air raid that targeted a vital communication centre of the outfit in the Puthukudiyirippu area of Mullaitivu district on April 18th.

  Troops in the Siththandi area of Batticaloa district arrested three LTTE suspects when three hand grenades were found from their travelling bags.

  A group of fishermen clamed that some of their fishing boats and engines were forcibly taken away by suspected LTTE cadres while they were fishing at Sea in the Puttalam district.

• April 19: Three LTTE cadres committed suicide blowing themselves up after being rounded up by the SFs when they were trying to infiltrate the Forward Defence Lines at Thannankilappu in the Jaffna district.

  Troops retaliated and repulsed a LTTE attack in the Eluththumadduwal area of Jaffna district. A soldier injured in the confrontation later succumbed to his injuries.

  A LTTE cadre, identified as Vithtalingam Roshan, committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule as he was questioned by Army personnel after being arrested at Bakthipura check point in the Vankala area of Mannar district.

  Chilaw Police in the Puttalam district recovered two claymore mines each weighing four kg, eight hand grenades and four meters of detonator wire, hidden in a well of the house at Battalu Oya in the Udappuwa area after the disclosure of a LTTE suspect arrested two weeks ago. The occupant of the house was also taken into custody.

  Chilaw Police also recovered two T-56 magazines, containing 18 and 30 live rounds of ammunition hidden at another house at Sellapuram following information given by the LTTE suspect, the Police Media spokesman Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne said. He added, "The police team were obstructed by a mob when they were returning after arresting the occupant of the house where the explosives were uncovered. The mobs were supporters of the suspect and the police was forced to open fire to disperse the mob," adding further, a member of the mob and another suspect taken into custody were injured in the incident.

  One of the suspects detained in connection with the Mavilaru compensation fraud is alleged to have links with the LTTE, the CID disclosed. On an application by the CID, Colombo Additional Magistrate allowed the CID to detain the suspect, Saravanamuttu Aravinda, until the completion of the ongoing investigations.

• April 18: The Defence Ministry stated that a SLAF attack on a LTTE training base at Vattappalai village in the Mullaitivu district on April 17 may have killed or wounded as many as 70 LTTE cadres. Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse of the Defence Ministry's information centre, citing visuals taken from the air said, "The base of the LTTE suffered major damage due to our bombing," and added, "Generally 60 to 70 (guerrillas) live in such bases and we believe that they have died or (been) wounded due to the bombing and resulting explosions." However, LTTE spokesperson Rasiah Ilanthirayan denied the Government report, saying "no training camp was hit" and there were no casualties.

  The LTTE cadres in two separate hand grenade explosions in the Irattaperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district killed one soldier and damaged a private passenger bus.

  A LTTE cadre attempting to infiltrate the Forward Defence Line at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district was shot dead by troops.

  A group of LTTE Sea-Tigers arrived in three boats at Vankalai, North of Arippu in the Mannar district and abducted seven fishermen. They were reportedly taken towards Silavathurai.

• April 17: The LTTE cadres shot dead two Tamil civilians, including a woman, in the Kovilkudieruppu area of Batticaloa district. The victims were identified as Muttaiyah Paskaran and Suppan Rasamani.

  Four suspected LTTE cadres stormed into a house in the Kiranavakulam area of Vavuniya district and shot dead a civilian, identified as Chandrabos Sudhakaran, after dragging his two little children out of the house.

  LTTE cadres shot at and injured a 20-year-old Tamil youth near the 6th mile post at Uppuveli in the Trincomalee district.

• April 15: A civilian, identified as Selvaraja Gajendran, was shot dead by a group of LTTE cadres at his residence in the Ganeshapuram area of Vavuniya district.

• April 14: LTTE cadres shot dead a member of the TMVP, political wing of the LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, at the TMVP Chenkaladi office in the Batticaloa district.

  LTTE cadres abducted a three wheeler driver, identified as Jesurathnam Roshan, in the Vavuniya district.

  Fisherman K. Ganesharaja lodged a complaint with the Mannar Police that an armed LTTE group stormed his house at Shanthipuram road in the Mannar district and forcibly removed his boat and engine.

  Troops at the Polwatta roadblock arrested a person on suspicion. During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he had undergone four months of training with the LTTE.

• April 13: LTTE cadres shot dead five members of a family, including a three year old child, at Chenkalady in the Batticaloa district. Three of them died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital subsequently.

  Civilians caught an LTTE cadre, engaged in collecting ransom at Chunnakam in the Jaffna district. One claymore mine, one cyanide capsule, one mobile phone and Rupees 16,000 were recovered from him.

• April 12: At least seven civilians, including six women, were shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres in the Vavuniya district. Defence officials said that the cadres raided a Sinhala community village of Avaranthalawa at around 4:30 p.m. and executed two families in two houses. The victims, six females, all above 50 years of age and one male, were dragged out of their homes and shot.

  The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said the Washington-based Intelsat cooperation had assured that it would take all possible steps to stop the LTTE from broadcasting its propaganda over their satellite. The Ministry claimed that Intelsat had promised to do "every possible thing to turnoff the LTTE [sponsored national Television of Tamil Eelam and Voice of the Tigers radio programme] as soon as possible" from their satellite. It maintained the position of the corporation that the LTTE was pirating an empty transpondence frequency of their Satellite 12. Earlier, the New York-based www.tothecenter.com Website published a lengthy article pointing out the fact.

• April 11: The Army gained full control of the 41-km A-5 Badulla - Maha Oya – Chenkaladdy road, controlled by the LTTE since 1994, on April 11-morning confining the LTTE to around 150-square kilo meters in the Thoppigala jungle. SFs estimate that there are around 300 to 350 LTTE cadres trapped inside the jungle. The operation launched by the SFs on February 24, 2007, to liberate the Batticaloa south, west and area south of Thoppigala jungle has cleared 700 square kilometers till April 11. Troops so far have controlled settlements like Koduvamadu, Thamparaveli, Pankudaveli, Illupayadichenai and Karadiyanaru south of the A-5 road in the Batticaloa district.

• April 10: Sri Lankan troops killed at least 20 LTTE cadres after a mortar attack in the Vavuniya district killed seven soldiers and injured four others. The LTTE, however, denied any losses in the clash and instead claimed to have killed 10 soldiers in a separate clash overnight in the same region.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in small arms fire by troops at Kontakkarankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in two separate LTTE mortar attacks in the Eravur Pattu and Kodduwamadu areas of Trincomalee district.

• April 8: Three LTTE cadres were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as troops repulsed an attempt by the outfit to enter the SFs held areas in the Mullikulam region of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine explosion targeting troops on foot patrol at Pandatirippu in the Jaffna district, killing one soldier.

  In a firm crackdown on LTTE activities, French Police has cancelled the permission granted earlier to hold a protest rally in Paris condemning Police arrest of outfit cadres on April 1. The protest rally was scheduled for April 9 from 2 pm to 5 pm at Trocadéro in Paris. The LTTE-controlled business chamber, youth organization and women front of the outfit were involved in organizing the proposed protest rally.

• April 7: At least five persons, including an Army soldier, were killed and twenty-eight others were seriously wounded when the LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine on a passenger bus in the Periyamanayankulam area of Mannar district at 7.30 a.m. The bus with 50 passengers was traveling from Mannar town to Vavuniya. Three civilians later succumbed to their injuries.

  LTTE cadres opened fire targeting SFs on foot patrol in the Iruna Iruppaikulam area of Vavuniya district. SFs retaliated and during subsequent search operation recovered three LTTE dead bodies along with three weapons from the incident site. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in the incident.

  SFs were fired upon by the LTTE cadres in hiding in the Rukam area of Batticaloa district. Security force personnel retaliated the LTTE fire and subsequently recovered three dead bodies of LTTE cadres and five T-56 weapons from the incident site. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Two police personnel sustained injuries when a police post at Ambawaththa-Pampemadu in Vavuniya was attacked by the LTTE with hand grenades.

  Eight armed LTTE cadres raided Sadahussain hamlet in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district and robbed at gunpoint jewellery worth Rupees 300,000 from the inmates and managed to escape.

• April 6: A naval Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) on patrol off Baththalangunduwa in the Kalpitiya area of Puttalam district detected five Sea-Tiger boats carrying arms from the Silawathura area heading towards South. The IPC intercepted the boats North of Baththalangunduwa and destroyed a suicide boat with its crew on board, while the other four managed to escape. One sailor sustained injuries and the IPC was also damaged.

  US authorities said they, following a three year undercover operation’ busted an arms-trafficking gang, arresting six Asians from the eastern port of Baltimore to the South Pacific US territory of Guam, who had been trying to smuggle weapons from the US to the LTTE. "The disruption of the supply chain of this organisation should reassure the public that the US Government is committed to dismantling terrorist groups worldwide," said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent William Chase.

  The leader of the LTTE’s France branch since 2003, Nadarajah Mathinthiran alias ‘Parathi’ and Thuraisamy Jeyamorthy alias ‘Jeya’, who are in charge of the money collections in France, were among those 17 LTTE suspects arrested by the French authorities on April 1. Investigations have revealed a vast network of local representatives with whom they were working to collect money. The LTTE had deployed ‘collectors’ under the supervision of local leaders whose only activity is to extort money and who were allowed 20 per cent of the sums collected as their ‘salary’. The arrested LTTE activists are charged with running for several years a vast operation of financial extortion among the Tamil Diaspora in France. During 2006, the LTTE has collected more than six million euros where each Tamil family was forced to pay 2000 euros per year and shopkeepers were made to pay 6000 euros. The transfer of the funds collected in France is sometimes physically carried in cash by ‘suitcase carriers’ usually to Switzerland to avoid bank records.

• April 5: Four farmers were killed and two others sustained injuries when the LTTE cadres opened indiscriminate fire towards six farmers, harvesting their paddy fields, after infiltrating Nidhanwala in the Aralaganwila area of Polonnaruwa district.

  According to reports, the LTTE, when it failed to conscript children from Tamil families, had been taking their parents hostage and imprisoning them in special cells inside their Vellaveli camp, situated about 8-km south of Kaluwanchikudy in the Batticaloa district..

  Advancing troops cleared many LTTE-held areas south of Batticaloa including Arsadyttivu, Ambalathurai, Palukamam, Poratthivu, Vellaveli, Paladiwatta and the stretch between Kandikudichchiaru and Vavunatthivu.

  Security forces averted a major attack planned by the LTTE and defused a 12-kg heavy claymore mine hidden in a business centre at Wattala on the Colombo–Negombo road in the Gampaha district.

  A 55- year old Singapore national, Haniffa Bin Osman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to the LTTE, said US Attorney for the District of Maryland.

  A Court in Paris remanded 15 LTTE cadres and released four of them out of a total 19 arrested on charges of illegal fund-raising.

• April 4: Three LTTE cadres who attempted to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district were shot dead by the SFs, who also recovered a T-56 assault rifle and a magazine, two anti- personnel mines, an anti- tank mine and a global positioning system machine.

  One soldier, identified as Private S.M.S. Kumara, was killed when LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade towards a guard point at Ceynor jetty in the Jaffna district.

  SLAF jets attacked the Sea-Tigers Headquarter of the LTTE in the Pudukudyirippu area of Mullaitivu district and destroyed it completely.

  Troops consolidating their positions in and around south and west of Kokkadicholai in the Batticaloa district after flushing out LTTE cadres wrested control of Mahaoya - Pullumale road (A-5) up to Rukamputtur by April 4. A day earlier, troops captured area adjoining Rukam tank, Rukamputtur and Urukamam. Reports said that LTTE’s Vellaveli, Ambalanthurai camps and a few other bases were also captured by the advancing troops.

  A double cab of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), identified as "Non-Violent Peace Force", working in Trincomalee was seized with a hand grenade. Two suspects were also arrested.

• April 3: Troops killed two LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres who fired towards STF personnel, injuring one STF Sergeant, who later succumbed to his injuries, in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district.

  LTTE cadres opened fire towards a group of soldiers guarding a defence line in the Jaffna district. Troops retaliated and killed three LTTE cadres.

  Two LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade towards a military roadblock in the Jaffna town. The soldiers fired back, killing one of them, while the other managed to escape.

  Troops on search and clear operations in the Vemurai junction area shot dead a LTTE cadre who unsuccessfully tried to lob a hand grenade at them.

  An 18-year-old boy and one home guard received injuries when LTTE cadres stormed in the Mahamilankulam area of Vauniya district and opened fire indiscriminately at civilians who were fishing at the Mahamilankulam tank.

  Troops on duty at Morakotanchchenai in the Batticaloa arrested one LTTE cadre along with two hand grenades.

  On information provided by a LTTE suspect in police custody, the troops recovered 210 60-mm mortar bombs, seven 40-mm RPG rounds, two thousand 7.62-mm MPMG rounds, one hundred and seventy three 60-mm fuses, one hundred and eighty 60-mm cartridges and five 40-mm RPG chargers from a LTTE hide-out in the Palampatar area of Trincomalee district.

  Several areas to the northwest of the newly captured Kokadicholai in the Batticaloa district were captured by troops, including one LTTE 120-mm mortar launching base and the Navarathnam base.

• April 2: Troops killed at least 23 LTTE cadres during clashes in the Batticaloa district. The battle erupted while the soldiers were on an operation in the Unnichchai village. Reports confirmed the recovery of 10 dead bodies of LTTE cadres from different spots.

  At least 15 civilians, including three children, and a soldier were killed in a LTTE-triggered bomb blast inside a bus. 25 persons, including two soldiers, were injured in the blast that occurred at Konduwatuawana in the northwest of Ampara district, on a civilian transportation bus bound for Bibile in the Badulla district from Ampara.

  Troops retaliated when LTTE cadres launched a small arms attack on an Army foot patrol in the Pudukulam area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered two dead bodies of LTTE cadres from the incident site.

  One soldier was injured when a Police water browser was fired upon by LTTE cadres using small arms at Murunkan in the Mannar district.

• April 1: Six Sinhalese aid workers who attended construction work at the "Village of Hope", a housing scheme built for orphan children in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district, were shot dead by the LTTE at Mailambaveli. Two other aid workers were injured in the incident.

  LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting troops on route clearing patrol in the Setikulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring one soldier.

  LTTE cadres opened small arms fire targeting troops in the Palaimodai area of Vavuniya district, injuring one soldier.

  A high voltage transformer was destroyed by the LTTE in the Sinnasanthadi area of Batticaloa district.

  17 suspected LTTE cadres were detained in Paris during an investigation into terrorist financing activities. The suspects are alleged to be involved in extortion, violence and detentions as part of fundraising activities for the outfit.

  The LTTE acquired two light aircraft from Indonesia in early 2005, intelligence sources in Colombo told Sunday Times. According to these sources, the outfit procured three light aircraft through intermediaries. Two of them, in knocked-down condition and packed in two containers, were to be shipped from the port of Jakarta.

• March 31: One STF personnel was killed and another injured when the vehicle in which they traveled was targeted by a claymore mine by the LTTE in the Batticaloa district.

  Two SF personnel were wounded when an army vehicle was caught in a landmine explosion at Thavasipuram in Vavuniya.

  One soldier of the STF was killed and two personnel were injured in clashes between the Sri Lanka military and the LTTE in the north and east even as the air force targeted yet another LTTE base.

  A statement by the military said one STF personnel was killed and another injured when the vehicle in which they traveled was targeted by a claymore mine by the LTTE.

  One dead body of an LTTE cadre was recovered from the Kalkuda area in the Batticaloa district.

  Two soldiers were wounded when an army vehicle was caught in a landmine explosion carried out by LTTE cadres at Thavasipuram in Vavuniya.

  LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting a Special Task Force route clearing patrol in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district, injuring an officer.

• March 30: Five security force personnel were killed and one sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered remote–controlled claymore mine explosion in the Parayanakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops recovered two LTTE dead bodies from the Innorvillu area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops retaliated to an LTTE attack at Mailawadduwan in the Vavunativu area of Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre from the incident site.

  Troops in the Nellukkulam area of Vavuniya district arrested a suspected LTTE cadre with one micro pistol, one hand grenade and one cyanide capsule from his possession.

• March 29: At least 10 civilians were killed and seven others were injured in two separate mortar attacks by the LTTE on Sittandi, Sandiliveli and Morakottanchchena villages in the Batticaloa district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Thambalagamuwa area of Trincomalee district, killing two cadres.

• March 28: At least three LTTE boats with Sea-Tiger cadres aboard were completely destroyed in a naval confrontation in the seas off Alampil in the Mullaittivu district. Naval authorities are of the view at least 12-15 Sea- Tiger cadres were killed in the incident. One sailor was also injured.

  Troops killed at least three LTTE cadres and injured eight others when they attempted to infiltrate into the forward defence line at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district.

  Police personnel repulsed LTTE attack on a Police point in the Settikulam area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered three hand grenades, four condensers, one field dressing, one mobile phone, dry rations and Rupees 2096.

  A statement by the Military said troops seized a large number of mines, improvised explosive devices, guns and other weapons left behind by fleeing Tiger cadres in the face of advancing troops from Kokkadicholai, to the south of Batticaloa in the East.

• March 27: SFs retaliated and shot dead two LTTE cadres when they were attacked by the outfit cadres in Mannar.

  LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade in the Ariyampathi area of Batticaloa district, injuring four civilians and two Police constables.

  The LTTE carried out a suicide attack targeting the Army main base at Chenkalady in the Batticaloa district against. Three members of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), identified as Carthic, Chandru and Vicky, a 12-year-old boy Navarathnam two security force (SF) personnel were killed in the explosion. Five civilians, two Army soldiers and two Policemen were injured. According to reports, soldiers on sentry duty at a road barrier in front of the Chenkalady Army camp spotted the unusual movement of a tractor around the camp premises alerted the main road barrier as the tractor laden with explosives was fast heading towards the main entrance of the camp. The tractor with two suicide bombers crashed into the barrier but the troops immediately opened fire on the tractor. Subsequently LTTE cadres blew themselves up causing a huge explosion that covered a considerable extent of the area that housed a political office of the EPDP nearby.

• March 26: The LTTE carried out their first ever air attack on the main Sri Lankan Air Force base in Katunayake, killing three air force personnel and injuring another seventeen at 12:45 am on, the military said. A light wing aircraft manned by the outfit dropped two bombs near the engineering section of the base, Media Center for National Security said. There were no damages to the fighter jets. The bombing has not affected the adjoining civilian airport, Bandaranaike International Airport and it is functioning normally since 3.30 a.m., officials said. Officials added that no security threats were prevailed to the commercial flights or passengers. The airport was earlier closed temporarily as a precaution and few commercials flights were diverted to destinations in India. Meanwhile, the outfit claimed responsibility for the attack warning more attacks to follow. "A couple of aircraft of Tamil Eelam Air Force have launched an attack on a Sri Lankan military airfield and hangars of military aircraft," outfit military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told Reuters, adding, "It is not only pre-emptive, it is a measure to protect Tamil civilians from the genocidal aerial bombardments by Sri Lankan armed forces." he added. He warned, "More attacks of the same nature will follow."

• March 25: Three Tamil civilians, identified as Soosaithaas Thanaraaj, Arulraaj Jeyantharoopan and Yoakalingkam Chaarangkan, were shot dead by suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres near the Hatton National Bank in Jaffna town, the military said. The men were in a tea boutique when two suspected LTTE cadres on a motorcycle fired at them.

  A prominent social worker and a People Alliance organizer, Kandapudi Subharathnam, was shot dead by suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres opposite his residence at Eruvil in the Batticaloa Town.

  The LTTE supplied forged passports to Ramzi Yousef who bombed the World Trade Center, counter terrorism expert Aaron Mannes said. He was commenting on the report about the outfit stealing Norwegian passports and selling them to al-Qaeda affiliates in the Daily News of March 20. Mannes in his commentary, published in the Counterterrorism Blog quoting Rohan Gunaratne, said the Sri Lankan terrorist group not only supplied forged passports to Yousef, it also smuggled weapons from Pakistan’s militants to their counterparts in Philippines. Yousef, the convicted mastermind of the 1993 bombing at New York’s World Trade Center, was sentenced to a jail term of 240 years without parole and is spending his time in a US federal jail. The attack killed six and injured more than 1,000.

• March 24: Two persons were killed when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself up at a military check point in Jaffna. The man was killed along with the soldier who tried to search him near a Hindu temple.

  LTTE cadres from Thoppigala jungles opened indiscriminate fire towards populated Kommanthurai and Chenkalady villages in the Batticaloa district, killing a 6-year-old girl and injuring two other civilians.

  LTTE cadres fired mortars on troops in the Parayanakulam area of Mannar district, killing one soldier and injuring three others.

  Soldiers on sentry duties along the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district killed one LTTE cadre who was attempted to infiltrate the FDL.

  Two LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army detachment in the Unnichchiya area in the Batticaloa district.

• March 23: At least twenty LTTE cadres and nine soldiers were killed in a clash between SFs and outfit cadres in the Mannar district near Vavuniya border. The battle marked the opening of a new front in escalating hostilities between soldiers and the outfit cadres in the Northwest, as fighting had previously been concentrated in Northern and Eastern districts.

  SFs and LTTE cadres clashed in the Batticaloa district, after which troops recovered the dead bodies of six outfit cadres.

  Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead a civilian, identified as Araslingam Robinson, at Urumpirai in the Jaffna district.

• March 22: Thirteen LTTE cadres were killed in three separate confrontations with the security forces in the Northern Province, the defence ministry said. Troops observed two motorcycles moving near the forward defence lines at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district and opened fire on them, killing four outfit cadres. Another seven cadres who arrived at the scene on a tractor were also shot dead by troops. In the Jaffna district, troops shot dead two LTTE cadres who tried to break into the Military line at Nagarkovil.

  Two businessmen were shot dead by the LTTE cadres in the Vavuniya district for failing to pay ransom to the outfit, defence sources said. "It is believed that the victims have already paid around Rs.375, 000, a couple of months ago to the LTTE extortionists," the sources added.

  One Police constable who sustained injuries in LTTE small arms fire at Salambakulam in the Vavuniya district succumbed to injuries later.

  One home guard was killed when LTTE cadres launched a small arms attack on a home guard point at Thambalagamuwa in the Trincomalee district.

  LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting an Army tractor travelling in the Pompemadu area of Vavuniya district, injuring three soldiers.

  LTTE gang in Paris has ransacked a residential apartment and removed scores of recorded video, audio cassettes and DVDs from the apartment of Luxmy, the editor of a Tamil literary journal and a leading Tamil feminist. She is also an organizer of the literary meetings, Ilakkiya Chanthippus and seminars in Europe.

• March 21: More than 30 LTTE cadres are believed to be dead and four SFs were killed, when a fierce battle erupted between troops and the outfit cadres in the Batticaloa district, said Military officials. The outfit cadres continued to fire artillery and mortars at the Kumburumalai, Siththandi, Black Bridge, Mavedivembu and Chenkaladi Army camps, while at the same time a group of 300 outfit cadres attempted to infiltrate the camps in small groups. The indiscriminate shelling injured many civilians and severely damaged their houses. SFs retaliated with mortar and small arms fire, which killed more than 30 outfit cadres and injured many others. During the mortar attack four soldiers were killed and 14 were injured.

  SFs killed five LTTE cadres who attempted to infiltrate the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line in the Jaffna district.

  Police arrested three Tamil men in the Mannar district who were transporting 10,500 liters (2,730 gallons) of diesel fuel, allegedly for LTTE cadres, the defense ministry said.

  The LTTE is reported to be carrying out a very effective extortion campaign within Colombo targeting the relatives of the expatriate Tamils.

• March 20: Four LTTE cadres were killed in a retaliatory fire by troops in the Chamalankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two SF personnel were injured when LTTE cadres triggered claymore mine explosion using a remote controller device in the Nelukkulama area of Vavuniya district.

• March 19: STF personnel killed four LTTE cadres in the Vellaveli area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops on routine patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Periyathampanai area of the Vavuniya district and killed three outfit cadres.

  Troops retaliated when LTTE cadres opened small arms fire and simultaneously lobbed a hand grenade towards them, injuring a SF personnel, near the Jaffna Hindu College.

  Four LTTE boats that entered the restricted sea off Kilaly in the Jaffna district were completely destroyed by the Army using artillery fire. Entry of the four boats to the restricted sea from the direction of Kalmunai Point and Sangupitty Jetty was confirmed before artillery was fired destroying all four boats.

  One LTTE cadre surrendered to the Kattankudy Police in the Batticaloa district. He handed over his T-56 weapon to the Police along with five magazines, one hand grenade, one cyanide capsule and one first aid box.

  The LTTE have stolen Norwegian passports and sold them to the al-Qaeda organisation to earn money, said Norwegians Against Terrorism Organisation chief spokesman Falk Rovik. "The LTTE has sold these passports to the highest bidders including an Algerian al-Qaeda group," Rovik said.

  University Teachers for Human Rights, Jaffna, an independent union of Tamil academics, in their latest bulletin has accused the LTTE of continued conscription of children, as young as six years and even the disabled.

  Two cadres of the LTTE women's front including its leader Ankayartkanny and Seevaratnam Ambihai were detained by the British Police inside the premises of House Of Commons at the British Parliament in London for taking pictures of participants in a Parliamentary seminar on the theme 'A way forward to peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka' organised by the Campaign for Peace and Unity in Sri Lanka.

• March 18: Troops opened fire after observing a gathering of LTTE cadres in the Peraru area of Trincomalee district, killing two outfit’s cadres and injuring few others. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  Troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Sempimalai area of Trincomalee district. One soldier, identified as Private C.T. Chandrasekara, was killed and another sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

  LTTE cadres ambushed a group of soldiers killing two of them and wounding 12 others in the Batticaloa district.

  In Jaffna, a soldier was killed and another injured after LTTE opened fire on troops conducting a foot patrol around Muhamale FDL.

  LTTE launched mortar attack on the populated Ethawetunawewa village area of Anuradhapura district, injuring one 15-year old girl and a 65-year old woman.

  Three LTTE cadres surrendered to the Muttur Police in the Trincomalee district.

  One suspected LTTE vessel that was carrying a consignment of armaments to their organization across the seas about 195 nautical miles away from Arugam Bay in the Ampara was district was destroyed by the naval troops on duty. More details about the contents in the vessel and the fate of the LTTE men abroad the vessel are awaited. Hours later another LTTE vessel was destroyed.

  The LTTE blamed that SFs were attacking territory held by them and the outfit cadres were retaliating in kind, reported AFP. "Sporadic artillery exchange is reported at Mannar, Vavuniya, Manalaru and along the northern forward defence line of Vanni," LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said in a statement.

  Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama called on the US Government to prevent the LTTE from engaging in fund-raising activities through numerous front organisations in the US.

  The Sri Lankan Government has said the on-going action against the LTTE is only a defensive military operation. ‘‘The defensive military operation by the Government of Sri Lanka was started only after the LTTE’s abortive attempt to kill the command of the Lankan Army last year,’’ said the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in India in a communique. He added that from the time the CFA in February 2002, the outfit had violated it more than 3,800 times compared to 346 times by the Lankan security forces.

• March 17: Three LTTE cadres were killed in an encounter in the Kanthirathan – Killali area of Jaffna.

  The LTTE strongly denied two sacked Government ministers' claim that there was a secret deal between the outfit and President Mahinda Rajapaksa. "This is all false propaganda. This is how politicians in the south play political games. When they have differences among themselves, they bring the LTTE into the picture," a local newspaper quoted LTTE spokesperson Rasiah Ilanthiriyan as saying. He said they had not made any deal with any party in the south other than the 2002 CFA. Earlier, Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, urged that the alleged deal with the LTTE be investigated as soon as possible.

  Four LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army road block in "Q" junction in Chenkaladi of Batticaloa after escaping from the outfit’s training camp at Kodduwamadu.

• March 16: Counter fire launched by SFs in response to LTTE sporadic mortar and artillery fire at the Omanthai defence line in the Vavuniya district neutralized their fire and forced them to withdraw towards Mullikulam and areas north of Kirisudan. Intelligence reports confirmed that LTTE has lost a number of their cadres and that seven dead bodies of the outfit cadres were seen lying ahead of the FDL. Five soldiers were also killed and twelve others sustained injuries in the incident.

  FDLs of SFs at Nagarkovil and Muhamale in the Jaffna district were attacked by LTTE cadres, reports SLA. These sporadic artillery and mortar fire killed one soldier and injured another on duty at Muhamale FDL.

  SFs shot dead a LTTE suicide bomber in the Annakottai area of Jaffna district who made an attempt to blow up a soldier on duty.

  Three LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army at Kokkadicholai in the Batticaloa district through International Committee of Red Cross on March 16.

  Government urged the U.S. to extend a crackdown on the LTTE’s overseas groups that help raise funds for the outfit. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Sri Lanka had sought "greater vigilance and greater action by the U.S. law enforcement authorities in terms of the ones who are responsible for collection of funds for the LTTE, adding, "U.S. authorities in Boston and Baltimore had helped halt fund-raising by LTTE "front groups" who funneled cash to rebels fighting the government under guise of charities."

• March 15: Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Mullikulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were injured in the ensuing fight.

  Another soldier was injured in a LTTE fire in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district.

  SFs arrested two LTTE cadres, including a female, who were trying to explode a hand grenade on the troops conducting routine checking procedures at a roadblock in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.

• March 14: LTTE had taken control over the Karadiyanaru hospital forcing civilians to evacuate the hospital in preparation of a Vakarai type operation in face of the ongoing Security Forces (SFs) operations to liberate the areas west of Batticaloa, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

  Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said that over 60 LTTE cadres and 10 troops have been killed in clashes in the island's restive Northern and Eastern provinces over the last few days.

  Two LTTE cadres from Thoppigala, surrendered to the SFs at Black Bridge in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa district.

• March 13: Two top level LTTE intelligence wing cadres, identified as Vendran and Illakkian, were among eleven outfit cadres killed during SLAF air strikes in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE fire towards troops in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured when LTTE cadres fired mortar rounds towards troops on duty at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

• March 12: The LTTE cadres triggered a powerful claymore mine explosion targeting a route clearing patrol of the home guards using a remote-controller in the forest area surrounding Dutuwewa in the Kebitigollewa region of Anuradhapura district and killed a home guard in the.

  Troops at Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district after detecting the presence of an armed LTTE cadre, ahead of the FDL, opened fire and killed him.

• March 11: During an encounter between soldiers on route clearing duties and LTTE cadres at Unnichchi, area between Chenkalady and Mahaoya in the Batticaloa district troops killed nearly twenty LTTE cadres and injured a large number of them.

  Troops launched an attack on a LTTE movement in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three outfit cadres and injured many others during the attack.

  STF personnel on foot patrol along Kalmunai - Batticaloa road in the Pandiruppu area of Ampara district were caught in an LTTE claymore explosion. Two STF personnel were killed and another sustained injuries in the explosion.

  LTTE opened mortar fire towards Badhirekka and Tampitiya villages in the Ampara district, killing one civilian, identified as N. A. Rathumahathaya, and inuring his wife and two children.

  The leader of the LTTE breakaway faction Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, also known as 'Colonel' Karuna, has accepted that he has areas under his control. He claimed that his group is " involved in civil administration" in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

• March 10: Troops retaliated when LTTE cadres opened fire towards them in the Nagar Kovil area of Jaffna district and killed four outfit cadres.

  During a confrontation at Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district, troops killed three LTTE terrorists and injured a few more.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres at Kokkuthuduwai in the Welioya region of Moneragala district on March 10 and subsequently recovered one LTTE female dead body from the incident site.

  Five soldiers sustained injuries when troops on duty in the area west of Kohombagasthalawa in the Batticaloa district came under LTTE fire.

• March 9: Anti-insurgency commandos overran a LTTE base in the Ampara district, killing at least 20 outfit cadres. Three commandos were killed and 12 others sustained injuries during the operation.

  Eight persons, including two senior Army officers, two soldiers, warden for Wilpattu National Park, three wildlife rangers were ambushed and killed by LTTE cadres in the Anuradhapura district.

  SFs completed a 48-hour humanitarian operation capturing four major LTTE bases in Peraru jungles North of Trincomalee. Later, Brigadier Samarasinghe said, "… We believe that there are no more Tiger bases in the North of Trincomalee and the area is now free of LTTE threats…"

  The Sri Lanka Government accused the LTTE and its allies of involvement in abductions and killings across the island to defame the Government. The charge came in the wake of confirmation by the Police that the five persons killed in execution style and dumped in a village close to Colombo three days ago were members of the Karuna faction.

  Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called for increased support from the United States to prevent the LTTE from obtaining fresh consignments of armaments. Outlining the Government's two-track strategy to defeat the LTTE, he emphasised the need to prevent the outfit from replenishing their depleted arsenal. He reiterated his determination to militarily defeat the LTTE.

• March 8: During confrontations between SFs and LTTE cadres, ten outfit cadres were reported killed and seventeen others sustained injuries in the Thoppigala region of Batticaloa district.

  One soldier was injured when troops repulsed LTTE attack on a foot patrol of the security forces close to Black Bridge in the Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE is holding five soldiers captive in the Wanni area. These captives include one Army and four Navy personnel who were captured on September 9 and October 11 last year.

  The Defense Ministry said that ground troops, backed by artillery, captured three LTTE bases in the Trincomalee district in a major Military operation that began on March 8 and ended on March 9-morning (today).

  An international arms dealer from Indonesia pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to export guns, surface-to-air missiles and other military hardware to LTTE.

  The activities of the LTTE are no longer confined to Sri Lanka as the IISS publication Military Balance 2007 has pointed out there are now emerging commercial links between the LTTE and the al-Qaeda movement, said Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in London.

  UNICEF said as at January 2007 they have recorded 6,241 child abductions in the North and East provinces and blamed the LTTE for having recruited 6,006 of them for war. The UNICEF also blamed the breakaway Karuna group for abducting 235 out of the recorded 6,241. The UN agency said 1,879 children are still being held by both groups out of which 1,710 are still being kept by the LTTE while the Karuna group uses 169 of them.

• March 7: The LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting a police jeep traveling in the Mamaduwa area of Vavuniya district, injuring four constables on the vehicle and one civilian nearby. One police constable succumbed to his injuries later.

  A Sri Lankan policeman was killed in the Vavuniya town by the LTTE cadres.

  The LTTE has warned civilians not to board any Sri Lankan vessels traveling between Trincomalee and Jaffna as it has decided to attack such vessels. It also accused the armed forces of using civilian vessels to transport troops and military hardware.

  Sri Lanka is to investigate foreign and local non-government organizations (NGOs) for alleged links with the LTTE.

• March 6: LTTE cadres shot dead an airman of SLAF on duty along the Bazaar street in the Vavuniya district.

• March 5: Three soldiers, identified as, Sergeant K.G. Priyantha Pathirana, Lance Corporal W.M. Anura Shantha and K.M. Sumeda Dammika were killed in the Jaffna district, when troops traded fire with rebels of the LTTE.

• March 4: Two SLA personnel and an officer of the intelligence unit were killed in a claymore mine attack targeting the vehicle carrying them, near Kothiyaladi between Maruthanamadam junction and Chunnakam in the Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres shot dead two deserters from their ranks identified as T. Mohan and K. Srikumaran after storming their residence at Kondayankerni junction in Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district.

  One STF personnel was killed in Pottuvil town of Ampara district when the LTTE cadres opened fire on a road patrol.

  A police commando was killed when forces encountered a LTTE group during a foot patrol in the Ampara district.

  At least four civilians received injuries when LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine and destroyed TMVP political office of LTTE (Karuna faction) in Batticaloa. The claymore explosion completely destroyed the office injuring one of the party supporters inside the office.

  At least three security personnel were injured in a LTTE mortar attack at the Army's forward defence lines at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

• March 2: Two security personnel were injured in a LTTE-detonated claymore mine blast targeting security forces at Irattaperiyakulam railway crossing in Vavuniya district.

  SLAF attacked identified LTTE camps in Thoppigala in the Eastern Batticaloa district and injured 31 LTTE cadres, including 14 women cadres in the camp.

• March 1: STF troops, after intercepting a movement of LTTE cadres in the general area of Kallady in Batticaloa district, opened fire and killed three of them.

• February 28: SLN blew up an unidentified arms-smuggling ship and killed about 12 of its crew off southern Sri Lanka. Anti-insurgency commandos in Mannar district killed three LTTE cadres in a counter-attack.

• February 27: SLN sank two LTTE boats in the North off Pulmoddai coast that had tried to sail southward to target naval craft and installations, and killed at least 16 LTTE cadres. Two SLN personnel were injured in the confrontation.

  The Ambassador of Italy Pio Miriani and the USA Ambassador Robert Blake were injured in the LTTE’s mortar firing, targeting an air movement carrying Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe along with few foreign diplomats in Batticaloa. Defence sources said that the mortars were launched as the two helicopters landed at the Webber stadium in the Batticaloa town. Sources further said that Minister suffered no injuries in the attack.

  February 24: Sri Lankan troops capture three LTTE bases in the north-eastern region, forcing the outfit’s cadres to flee into the jungles, said Defence Ministry. The area is near the port city of Trincomalee, which has a major Sri Lankan navy base and serves as an important supply line to the north.

• February 22: The Sri Lanka Navy destroys two LTTE boats off the Kalpitiya coast, killing nine Sea-Tigers in the process.

  The bullet-riddled bodies of three civilians are found at three different locations in the Vavuniya town.

  One soldier is killed when an Army sentry point near the Chenkaladi market in the Batticaloa district came under LTTE attack.

  The LTTE warns of resuming their ‘freedom struggle’ claiming the CFA was virtually non-existent.

  The LTTE stated that thousands of people have begun fleeing their homes in northern Sri Lanka, fearing a fresh fight between.

• February 21: Two civilians and a Police officer are killed and 16 others, including ten civilians, four Police and two Army personnel, sustained injuries when the LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine fixed to a motorcycle on the wayside of Ottamavadi town in the Batticaloa district targeting a Police cab.

  Four students and a tuition master are injured when the LTTE lobbed a hand grenade targeting troops, which missed its intended target and fell into a tuition class at Yalai junction in the Jaffna district.

  Security forces charged the LTTE of using places of worship for their terror acts after the military found a cache of weapons from St. Mary’s Church in Jaffna on a tip off.

  According to Ministry of Defence MoD some Sinhalese women have undergone training in LTTE camps.

  A LTTE attempt to procure a large consignment of urgently needed arms, ammunition and equipment, from one of Sri Lanka’s key weapons suppliers failed recently, following swift government action to stop the deal.

  Sri Lanka urges India to intensify their surveillances against gun-running by LTTE across the Palk Straits that divides the two countries.

• February 20: Three unidentified dead bodies are found at an unspecified place in the Vavuniya district. The defence ministry blamed the deaths on the LTTE.

  Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake rejects the allegations that the Government had a pact with the LTTE.

  BBC has reported that the main opposition party, the United National Party, has accepted 'full responsibility' of signing a CFA with the LTTE. Earlier, in an interview with BBC, President Mahinda Rajapakse had described the CFA as a "mistake".

  An exodus from Vavuniya district has begun following a rumour that the LTTE will launch a major offensive after February 22.

• February 19: Naval troops in their camp at Kalpitiya in the Puttalam district killed a suspected LTTE cadre who was reportedly trying to infiltrate their camp in spite of repeated warning shots of the troops.

  The Jaffna University had reopened. In August 2006, authorities had closed the University after clashes erupted between Military and the LTTE in Muhamalai. The authorities claimed the outfit was using the University to transport weapons and cadres and to ‘tax’ traders.

• February 18: LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Ariyamankerni area of Trincomalee district. However, they missed their intended target, injuring a woman.

  According to LTTE sources, a determined effort is being made by its campaigners to obtain signatures from British parliamentarians criticising the Sri Lankan Government handling the present crisis in the island.

  Rivira, a Sri Lankan Sinhala Sunday newspaper, accused the local office of the UNICEF of providing the LTTE with cyanide to be used in suicide operations.

  February 17-18: A civilian is killed and six other persons including five army personnel were wounded when suspected cadres of the LTTE set off a fragmentation mine in the Jaffna town. The death toll rises to three a day later.

• February 17: SLN personnel killed four LTTE cadres and destroyed two of the outfit’s boats hauling a large quantity of steel balls, which are normally used for bombs, off the coast of Kalpitiya in the Puttalam area. According to defence sources, the SLN recovered one million steel balls from the boats.

  One security force personnel was killed when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting troops on a foot patrol at Miravodai in the Batticaloa district.

  LTTE cadres hiding behind a wall of the Public Health Office in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa district opened fire towards troops. However, they missed their intended target and hit a passenger bus, killing a civilian and injuring another one.

  LTTE cadres fired mortars at troops at Ethawetunuwewa in the Welioya area of Moneragala district and injured three civilians and two SF personnel.

  An army commander was injured when suspected LTTE cadres fired at a police camp in the Batticaloa district.

  According to the official sources, a total of two 152 mm artillery guns, five 120mm mortars, eight 81mm mortars, 624 T 56 assault rifles, two anti-craft guns, RPG launchers and rockets, two suicide boats fitted with 22 and 24 Claymore mines each, seventy one claymore mines [some weighing 10-15 kilograms], 13 machine guns, 34 high tech communication sets, 62 I-Com radio sets, large quantities of ammunition of all types, and anti-personnel mines have been recovered up to February 16 from the Vaharai region of Batticaloa district. The army further claimed that it is the largest haul of heavy weapons and small arms, explosives, claymore mines and high tech equipment from the LTTE in the entire history of the 25-year-long armed conflict.

• February 14: Two security force personnel were killed when the LTTE attacked the Kohambagasthalawa Home Guards post on the Ampara-Mahaoya Road in the Ampara district. Three LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured when the Special Task Force personnel retaliated.

  Suspected LTTE cadres exploded a claymore mine targeting a passenger bus at Aranthalawa in the Ampara district and injured 12 in the bus.

  The Peace Secretariat of the LTTE, issuing a report claimed that the civil administration run by them was entitled as a "functioning de facto-state" to recruit those above the age of 17 for its cadres. Rejecting a demand made by the United Nations that it raise its minimum recruitment age from 17 to 18, the LTTE said they were prepared to observe the minimum age of 18 when this practice has been accepted as an international standard by all the states.

• February 13: Suspected LTTE cadres fired mortars at the Special Task Force camp in the eastern district of Batticaloa and injured at least four commandoes.

  LTTE cadres opened fire on an observation point of the Security Forces at Iruna in Iruppaikulam of the Vavuniya district and injured one soldier on duty.

  The Indian Coast Guard intercepted a LTTE ship carrying a suicide bomb jacket packed with explosive substances weighing seven kilograms, five detonators, and arrested five persons. The ship was seized by the Coast Guard in the Palk Bay, 20 nautical miles from Point Calimere in south Tamil Nadu.

  Four LTTE cadres surrendered at Valachchene in Batticaloa.

• February 12: The SLN successfully repulsed an LTTE attack on a naval patrol and killed over eight LTTE cadres in the South coast off Poduwakkattu at Trincomalee. The SLN also completely destroyed one LTTE boat and damaged another in the attack.

  Three soldiers are killed in an LTTE mortar attack at the Kilali Forward Defence Lines in the Jaffna district.

  A LTTE cadre was killed by the Sri Lankan Navy in a retaliatory attack in the seas off Poduwakattu in Trincomalee.

  The Navy destroyed a boat of the LTTE and captured another and recovered some weapons from the boat.

  The Indian Navy arrested two persons and seized components of around 2.9 tonnes used for making IEDs in a boat off the Rameswaram coast in Tamil Nadu. Preliminary enquiry revealed that the IED components were being smuggled to LTTE cadres in Sri Lanka. The seized consignment was reportedly meant for the LTTE in Sri Lanka, said Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer in Charge (Tamil Nadu).

  Mannar Police arrested a Tamil police constable who had allegedly helped in smuggling military uniforms to the LTTE in the Pallimuna area in Mannar.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse, in an interview with the BBC, said that the Government's peace pact with the LTTE was a mistake.

• February 11: An old man was critically injured when the LTTE fired mortar bombs towards Eravur from un-cleared areas in Batticaloa.

• February 8: A decomposed dead body of a LTTE cadre was recovered by troops engaged in search and clear operations in the Vakare areas.

  LTTE cadres opened fire targeting STF soldiers on duty at Vavunathivu in Batticaloa and injured two civilians.

• February 7: LTTE cadres killed the Head Priest of a Hindu temple at Sandiveli Pullair Kovil in Batticaloa.

  A cadre of the LTTE was killed as troops opened fire on a group of LTTE cadres attempting to throw hand grenades targeting troops on duty in the general area of Kiliveddy in Jaffna.

  A LTTE cadre attempting to lob a hand grenade was shot and killed by troops at Chiruppiddi in Jaffna.

• February 6: Three persons of Sinhalese origin were arrested from an unspecified area.

  A passenger bus, travelling from Colombo to Batticaloa was waylaid and robbed by LTTE cadres in the general area of Karuwankerni.

• February 5: At least two civilians were killed and another wounded in an encounter between the LTTE cadres and the Karuna faction in Kaluthavalai in the Batticaloa district.

  A soldier identified as Private S.N.Pradeep, was killed and three others sustained injuries when LTTE cadres attacked on an Army point at Uyilankulam in the Mannar district.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries when LTTE cadres fired at the Army foot patrol in the general area of Veppankulam in the Vavuniya.

  A sailor of the SLN was injured when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine, targeting naval troops on a route clearing patrol near the railway station road at Pesalai in the Mannar district

• February 4: LTTE cadres raided a security post, killing one soldier and injuring three others in the Vavuniya district.

  An Army foot patrol was attacked near Trincomalee. The Army personnel retaliated and killed a LTTE cadre.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres who were trying to cross Korongupanchan in the Trincomalee district and subsequently recovered dead body of a LTTE cadre.

  LTTE terrorists fired artillery towards Kodikamam in the Jaffna district, injuring two civilians.

  A civilian was injured when LTTE cadres, hurled a hand grenade at the Police Post in Thatchinathankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One Police personnel was wounded when LTTE cadres hurled a hand grenade at a police point in Thonikkal.

• February 3: Four LTTE cadres surrendered to troops at Polwatta in the Valaichchena area of Batticaloa district.

• February 2: LTTE cadres abducted a civilian, identified as Sandipan Vijyakumar, and subsequently shot him dead in Jaffna district as he had ignored the LTTE order to send goods to uncleared areas (areas not under Government control).

• Suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE assassinate President of the Jaffna Multi Purpose Co-Operative Society, S. T. Gananathan, in the Ariyalai area. He was a key activist in assisting the SFs to distribute essential supplies to the Jaffna civilians through cooperative societies.

  Suspected LTTE cadres detonate a roadside bomb in the Vavuniya district, killing one soldier.

• February 1: The STF personnel marching ahead in their operation Niyathai Jaya (Definite Victory) seizes LTTE ‘Jeewananda Base’ located inside the Kangikadaichi Aru jungle of Ampara district. STF sources said that this camp had been used by the LTTE to train child soldiers. Radio conversation among the terrorists has revealed that at least 16 LTTE cadres suffered injuries in the STF attack. January 31: Eleven security personnel and a civilian were killed and 13 others are injured when cadres of the LTTE detonate a claymore mine at Vandaramoolai in the Batticaloa district.

  One soldier is killed when the LTTE cadres fired 120-mm mortars, from the Thoppigala area, on the Vavunathivu Army camp in the Batticaloa district.

• January 30: A LTTE deserter is shot dead by ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the outfit in the Ganeshpuram area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier, identified as Private K.G.L. Palitha Kumara, who was engaged in de-mining work at Kadiraveli in the Batticaloa district died of injuries due to explosion of an improvised explosive device.

  A soldier is injured in an explosion of an anti-personnel mine in the Kadiraveli area of Batticaloa district.

  The Interpol Headquarters in France has issued a world wide arrest warrant LTTE Sea-Tiger leader, Thillayampalam Sivanesan alias Soosai, identifying him as a fugitive wanted for prosecution consequent to the facts forwarded by the Central Investigation Department to Court.

  Troops arrest one LTTE cadre from the Santhiweli area of Batticaloa district.

• January 29: Two Police Constables are injured in a LTTE grenade attack towards a Police post close to Vavuniya town centre on Horowpathana road.

  LTTE cadres direct artillery fire towards troops in the Nagarkovil area of the Jaffna district and injure one soldier.

  The STF captures two more LTTE camps in the Kandikudichchiaru jungle of Ampara district together with a large consignment of food and medicine.

  Two female LTTE cadres, identified as Somanathan Pillai Iruppe Letchchmi and Nadaraja Suredini, carrying a hand grenade are arrested at Kuburumule roadblock in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa district when they were trying to enter the cleared areas (area under Government control).

• January 28: LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres shot dead a Sinhalese businessman in the Kattarusinnakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The dead body of a Tamil civilian, identified as Muniady Selvanayagam, shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres, is recovered by Police from the Nelliady area of Jaffna district.

  Three civilians are injured when a LTTE mortar fire lands on their homes in the general area (area under Government control) of Batticaloa district.

• January 27: LTTE cadres open fire towards an Army and Police combined patrol at Pandarikulam in the Vavuniya district, injuring one soldier and a Police constable. Later, soldier Corporal W.A. Basnayake succumbed to his injuries.

  Troops kill a cadre of the LTTE at Pillayaradi in the Vavuniya district.

  Special Task Force personnel recover one LTTE cadre’s dead body, one T-56 weapon, four magazines, one pouch, one hand grenade and one dog tag from the Udaiaditulyankulam area of Mannar district.

  One soldier is injured when LTTE cadres launch an attack on the Black Bridge entry/exit point in the Batticaloa district.

  The Navy pursues and destroys a LTTE boat around 6 nautical miles off the coast that was attempting to enter the restricted zone. The two other boats were pursued and one is destroyed 11 nautical miles and the other 14 nautical miles in the deep sea.

• January 26: A civilian and two security personnel are killed when LTTE cadres attack a combined route clearing patrol in the general area of Murunkan in Mannar. Another police personnel and three civilians sustain injuries during the attack.

  A police sub-inspector is killed and two other police personnel sustain injuries in a LTTE RPG attack on a police bunker line at "sector five" in Vavuniya. Military officials said that another SLA soldier is killed during retaliation.

  One civilian is killed and two others are injured as a Colombo bound bus from Mannar, came under LTTE gunfire.

  Troops kill one LTTE cadre in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  A group of LTTE cadres fire at troops on foot patrol in the general area of Sittharu Buddhist temple in Trincomalee district. SFs successfully retaliate forcing the LTTE cadres to flee and subsequently recover the dead body of a LTTE cadre.

• January 25: Three LTTE cadres are killed and another injured in an encounter that followed an attack by the LTTE cadres on SFs at the Janakapura – Kokuthduwai FDL in the Welioya area of the Moneragala district.

  One LTTE cadre is killed and another is injured when they were trying to enter the FDL in the general area of Nagarkovil in Jaffna district.

  Sea-Tigers onboard two LTTE boats fired towards the Naval camp at Thalaupadu in the Mannar district, injuring one sailor.

  Sri Lanka vows to attack and destroy LTTE military assets, including those in the outfit’s northern stronghold.

  ‘Colonel’ Karuna has said that the LTTE chief Prabhakaran cannot win the war in Sri Lanka.

• January 24: Troops open fire at two LTTE cadres who attempted to infiltrate the SFs FDL at Kachchai in the Jaffna district, killing one of them. Later, another LTTE cadre committed suicide by detonating a hand grenade on seeing the arrival of troops.

  Troops at Kayankulam in the Vavuniya district fire at LTTE cadres and subsequently recovered the dead body of one outfit cadre.

  LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade towards the troops at Kokuvil in the Jaffna district. However, the grenade missed its intended target and explodes injuring one civilian.

• January 23: LTTE cadres trigger a claymore mine explosion targeting troops on route clearing at Sandilippai in the Jaffna district, killing one civilian. Seven civilians, including five school students, and one soldier sustain injuries in the incident.

  One civilian is shot dead and four others are injured when LTTE cadres open indiscriminate fire at a lorry belonging to the Road Development Authority at Kalaimagal in the Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres trigger a claymore mine explosion targeting an Army truck in the Thanankilappu area of Jaffna district, killing one soldier and injuring another.

  One soldier is killed in a LTTE fire at Komankulama in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops retaliate when LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade towards troops on foot patrol at Velvetithurai in the Jaffna district. During subsequent search operations, troops recover one dead body of an LTTE cadre.

  Troops on search and clear operations in the newly captured area of Sirimangalapura in the Trincomalee district recover one LTTE cadre’s dead body.

• January 22: A Manager of the Vavuniya Central Transport Board depot is shot by LTTE cadres in the Poonthottam area.

  Government promises to wipe out the LTTE from Thoppigala jungles in the Batticaloa district after capturing the outfit’s stronghold in Vakarai.

  Speaking to Daily News General Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Army 23 Division in Welikanda, Brigadier Daya Ratnayaka termed the defeat of the LTTE in Vakarai as the biggest defeat the LTTE have ever faced in the recent history.

  According to intelligence reports, elements associated with the LTTE have received directives from the Wanni leadership to cripple the education infrastructure in the Vadamaracghchi area and create a tensed situation.

  The SLAF Kfir fighter jets and MI-24 helicopters attack an identified LTTE gathering point at Kumburupiddi in the Trincomalee district. Air Force sources confirm that a large number of LTTE cadres were killed and wounded due to the air attack.

• January 21-22: Army hands over dead bodies of four LTTE cadres to the LTTE through the facilitation of International Committee of the Red Cross on January 22. These cadres were killed in the retaliatory fire by troops in the Punani area of Batticaloa district on January 21.

• January 21: One civilian, identified as P. Easwaran and a police personnel are killed as LTTE cadres open fire on a police post at Kalumadu Junction in the Vavuniya district. Two civilians and police personnel sustain injuries in the incident.

  LTTE cadres launch an artillery and mortar attack targeting troops on duty ahead of the Vavunathivu Army camp in the Batticaloa district, killing two soldiers on duty. Four soldiers sustain injuries in the incident.

  One civilian is shot dead and four others are injured when LTTE cadres open indiscriminate fire at a lorry belonging to the Road Development Authority at Kalaimagal in the Vavuniya district.

  One police personnel, identified as P.C. Nelson Hevavitharana, is abducted and subsequently shot dead by LTTE cadres at Nelumkulama in the Vavuniya district.

  The dead body of one senior LTTE cadre is recovered by troops in the Panichchankerni area of Batticaloa district.

  LTTE cadres shot at and injure three civilians in the Kambiliwewa area of Trincomalee district.

• January 20: At least four soldiers of the SLA are killed and three others injured at Eechalanpattu in a LTTE mortar in the Trincomalee district.

  One LTTE cadre is killed by troops at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district in a retaliatory fire.

  Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera stated in New Delhi that the LTTE is much more brutal than the al-Qaeda.

  The SLA claims to have gained Komathalamadu, Verugal, Kadiraveli and Batticaloa-Trincomalee road, a day after it captured Vaharai from the LTTE. Providing further details of the Vaharai battle, military sources claimed that since the beginning of October 2006, 331 LTTE cadres had been killed.

• January 19: Sri Lankan security forces capture the only LTTE stronghold in the eastern Sri Lanka - Vakarai - as thousands of civilians fled the area amidst heavy fighting between the two sides.

  An elite guerilla unit of the LTTE in Ampara district carried out an ambush on Sri Lankan Special Task Force convoy, killing at least 11 Sri Lankan commandos and wounding more than 11 at Bakmitiyawa, claims outfit’s military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan.

  At least nine LTTE cadres are killed and twelve others sustain injuries in confrontations with the SFs in the Batticaloa district.

  Three soldiers are killed and four others sustain injuries when LTTE cadres open fire towards troops in the Vakarai area of Batticaloa district.

  The bodies of three civilians are recovered near Gnanavairavar temple along Mathakuvaithakulam road in the Thavasikkulam area of Vavuniya district. All of them were strangled to death and there were gun shot injuries on two of them.

  LTTE cadres detonate a claymore mine targeting Police jeep in the Kancikudichchi Aru area of Ampara district, killing one Police personnel and injuring three others, including a home guard.

  A civilian is shot dead by LTTE in the Thekkawatta area of Vavuniya district.

  LTTE cadres abduct 47 children from areas surrounding Kokodicholai in the Batticaloa district.

  The dead a body of a LTTE cadre is recovered by the SF personnel following a confrontation with the outfit cadres in the Trincomalee district. A large number of cadres are believed to have been killed in this attack. Most of the dead bodies of the outfit cadres were transferred by their fellow cadres, the report added.

  The LTTE claims that it had "decided to pull back" from its Pannichchankerni position, which is on

  the access route to Vaharai.

• January 18: Four LTTE cadres are killed as troops advanced into the outfit-held territory in Batticaloa district.

  Troops at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district repulse a LTTE mortar fire directed from the un-cleared areas (area not under Government control. Technical sources later confirm that two outfit cadres are killed and 13 others sustain injury in the incident.

  Troops launch an attack against a LTTE movement in the Sirimangalapura area of Trincomalee district and subsequently recovered dead body of a LTTE cadre.

  Ten soldiers are injured in a LTTE artillery fire towards troops at Mahindapura in the Trincomalee district.

  Three soldiers are injured in a LTTE mortar fire at Kallar in the Trincomalee district.

  Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera stated in New Delhi that a political process is underway in the country to share power with ethnic Tamils but made it clear that the campaign against the LTTE will continue until the rebels stop bloodshed.

• January 17: LTTE cadres fire mortars towards troops at the forward defence line in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district, killing one soldier and injuring another.

  LTTE cadres detonate three claymore mines targeting Naval troops who were engaged in route clearing patrol in the Pesalai area of Mannar district, injuring two sailors.

  The LTTE is reported to have forcibly taken control of the Vakare hospital in the Batticaloa district.

  Military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said that 561 LTTE cadres have surrendered to the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in the East since July 25, 2006. "The majority of them are children," he added.

  Defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella stated that the LTTE is growing cannabis to make big money. The LTTE, however, denies the allegations and claimed that cannabis were grown in a Sinhala village called Bakkimiddiya and alleged that the Army video was taken in that village.

• January 16: In Panichchankerny, south of Ichchalanpatthu and its suburbs, in the Batticaloa district, troops after overrunning the 3rd defence line of the LTTE cleared the village areas, killing at least 30 of its cadres despite heavy LTTE resistance. However, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net said 40 Sri Lankan soldiers are killed and that the outfit lost only seven cadres.

  Troops confront a group of LTTE cadres in the Vakare area of Batticaloa district. During subsequent search operations, troops recover seven dead bodies of LTTE cadres from the incident site which was later handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  At least six civilians, including a woman, are shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Vavuniya town.

  Five soldiers are killed and two others sustain injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting the troops in the Puthukulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Eechchalanpatthu, north of Vakare in the Trincomalee district, fell into the control of the SFs. Intelligence sources said that a large number of LTTE cadres are believed to have died. Reports add that at least three LTTE gun positions are completely destroyed during those counter attacks and SFs captured the Verugal – Eechchalanpatthu borderline villages. During the incident, one soldier is killed and 15 others sustain injuries.

  At Kachcheri (Divisions Secretariat) premises in the Vavuniya district, LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine explosion using a remote controller, killing two Police Constables.

• January 15: Two civilians, Mohammed Kaninil Hameed and Hamindi Sriyam, died in an accidental explosion of the LTTE-planted pressure mine in the Allanagar of the Vavuniya district.

• The Military urges the deserting LTTE cadres in the East to surrender, as operations against the insurgents' camps intensified.

  Torture chambers allegedly used by the LTTE to punish escaping rebels and informers, including women fighters, have been found at guerrilla camps in eastern Sri Lanka

  A Chief Inspector of Police is arrested along with another suspect at Matara on charges of allegedly providing security information to the LTTE.

  January 14: Troops shot dead five cadres of the LTTE, including Dileep of Intelligence Wing and ‘Major’ Shankar of Military Wing, who confronted them while on a foot patrol in the Vandaramoolai area of Batticaloa district.

• Two LTTE deserters, who had escaped the outfit recently, identified as Sinnathambi Danapalasingham and Krishanapille Rajaram, are shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres at Kannagipuram in the Akkariapathtuwa area of Batticaloa district.

  One soldier is injured in a LTTE sniper attack in the Vavunathivu area of Batticaloa district.

  January 13: Four soldiers are killed and two others sustain injuries when the LTTE rebels fired artillery and mortar shells at the SLA detachment at Mankerni in the Batticaloa district.

• Troops shot dead a LTTE cadre who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards them at the Library junction roadblock in the Jaffna district.

  A LTTE cadre surrenders to the troops at the Kiran Army camp in the Batticaloa district.

• January 12: The LTTE cadres kill two police constables in Vavuniya while detonating a claymore mine targeting a security convoy carrying drinking water to a nearby police post along the Mannar-Vavuniya road, according to defence ministry sources. One police constable sustains injuries during the explosion.

  The STF took control of the LTTE’s eight bases, including Janak camp near Kanchkudichchiaru, in the Ampara district.

• January 11: STF personnel capture the ‘Janath’ Camp, stronghold for the LTTE artillery and mortar gun position, and seven other sub camps of the LTTE, which lies west of Kanchkudichchiaru in the Ampara district. During subsequent search operations, STF personnel recovered four dead bodies of the LTTE cadres, large number of warlike items and equipment. Four STF personnel and an unspecified number of LTTE cadres are injured in the incident.

  One Police Constable is killed and another sustains injuries when LTTE cadres fire small arms towards a Police post at Vairapuliyankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers are injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion on the Old Park Road in the Jaffna district.

  One soldier is injured when troops on foot patrol in the Marawankulam area of Vavuniya district are fired upon by the LTTE cadres.

  Defence spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella states that the Government has no intention to launch an offensive to capture areas under the LTTE.

  Sri Lanka is investigating a number of foreign and local aid groups it suspects may be helping the LTTE, and may banish a Dutch organisation from the island.

• January 10: Troops kill eight LTTE cadres in the Korakallimadu area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops kill a LTTE cadre who tried to infiltrate the FDL at Vempotukerni in the Jaffna district. Subsequently, troops retaliate when LTTE cadres directed mortar fire towards them, killing three of them and injuring three others. One soldier also sustained injuries in the incident.

  Four soldiers are wounded in a LTTE attack targeting troops in the Vavunativu area of Batticaloa district.

  LTTE cadres open fire towards troops at the FDL in the Muhamale area of Jaffna district, injuring two soldiers.

• January 10: Troops confront a concentration of the LTTE cadres in the Kondagalchena area of Batticaloa district and killed at least 10 cadres of the outfit after overpowering them.

• January 9: LTTE cadres storm the office of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) at Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district and completely destroyed it. Troops conducted an immediate search in the area where they confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed at least four of them.
  
  The armed men ambushes two camps belonging to the breakaway faction of the LTTE led by 'Colonel' Karuna at Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district, killing several cadres of the Karuna faction. The LTTE claimed that unidentified assailants killed at least 10 members of the breakaway Karuna faction and wounded four more in the ambush. Meanwhile, an official at the Defence Ministry in Colombo confirmed the attacks, but said only two Karuna factions members died and that two were wounded.
  
  The home guards and Army kill two LTTE cadres during retaliatory attack at Mahakachchikudi in the Vavuniya district.
  
  One civilian was injured when LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade on the Vavuniya-Mannar road targeting troops. A LTTE 'pistol gang' cadre shot at and injured one Police Constable on the Vavuniya-Mannar road.

• January 8: An attack launched by LTTE cadres towards the Forward Defence Line at Kalmadu in the Vavuniya district, kills one soldier and injure another one.
  
  A LTTE cadre is killed and two Sri Lanka Army soldiers are injured in an encounter near Sri Lanka Army's FDL at Omanthai in Vavuniya.
  
  One LTTE cadre is killed by troops at Alayady in the Polikandy area of Jaffna district.
  
  LTTE cadres using 81-mm mortars and machine guns fire upon troops and Police providing security to the Government's administrative wing, Assistant Government Agent's office at Vavunathivu in the Batticaloa district, injuring two soldiers.

• January 7: Four dead bodies, at least two of which appeared to have been executed, are recovered from Vavuniya town.
  
  One soldier is killed and another one wounded when troops on foot patrol at Vakare West in the Batticaloa district came under a LTTE attack. Intelligence sources reveal that the outfit has suffered heavy damages.
  
  The dead body of a LTTE cadre is recovered and an injured cadre of the outfit is arrested during a search operation conducted by troops after a claymore attack targeting them at Mamaduwa Maharambakulam in the Vavuniya district.
  
  Three soldiers are injured in the attack. Five civilians are injured in claymore mine attack in the Central Camp area of Ampara district.

• January 6: At least 16 persons are killed and 40 others wounded as a second explosion occurred in a bus in a span of less than 24 hours in the Galle district, over 80 km from the national capital Colombo. The Government blames the LTTE for the attack.
  
  At least three soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and a civilian are killed as suspected LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a truck at Pattamkulam in the Vavuniya district. LTTE cadres detonate a claymore mine targeting troops on route clearing patrol in the Uduvil are of Jaffna district, killing one soldier.
  
  Four Police personnel are injured when the Pandarikulam Police roadblock in the Vavuniya district came under a LTTE hand grenade attack.
  
  Three Police personnel are injured when LTTE cadres fire small arms at a Police vehicle in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.
  
  LTTE cadres detonate a claymore mine targeting an Army route clearing patrol in the Jaffna town, injuring two civilians. LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade at the Kurumankadu Police roadblock in the Vavuniya district, injuring one Police Constable.
  
  Another Police Constable is injured when LTTE cadres opened small arms fire at Police personnel on duty at the Internal Displace Persons camp at Poonthottam in the Vavuniya district. One home guard is injured when LTTE cadres open up small arms fire at home guard point in the Mangagalagama area of Ampara district.
  
  Two 16-year-old LTTE child soldiers surrender to the Army camp at Polwatta in the Valachchenai area of Batticaloa district.

• January 5: At least six passengers are killed and sixty-three other received injuries in a blast that was triggered inside a bus bound for Giriulla from Nittambuwa in the Gampaha district.
  
  The Government blames the LTTE for the attack.
  
  LTTE cadres fire artillery shells on Mavil Aru, Kallar, Mahindapura and Kadjuwatte Army camps in Trincomalee district from un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) of Vakarai, killing one soldier and injuring four others.
  
  LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade at Police point in the Vavuniya town, killing one Police personnel and injuring another. Two sailors are injured when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a Naval truck in the Alers Garden area of Trincomalee district.

• January 4: Troops kill one LTTE cadre in a retaliatory fire when the outfit cadres hidden in surrounding jungle areas near an Army point in the Kalyanapura area of Polonnaruwa district opened fire on the Army point. One soldier is also killed in the incident.
  
  LTTE cadres fire artillery shells on Mavil Aru, Kallar, Mahindapura and Kadjuwatte Army camps in Trincomalee district from un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) of Vakarai, killing one soldier and injuring four others.
  
  One army soldier is killed and another two sustained injuries when the LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine on an Army foot patrol in the Pirappanmaduwa area of Vavuniya district.
  
  LTTE cadres open fire at Police personnel who were on duty at Vavuniya Forward Defence Line, injuring two Police Constables.

• January 3: Unidentified assailants shot dead a young woman, identified as Kamalini Kanapathippillai, at Point Pedro in the Jaffna district.
  
  One soldier is injured when cadres of the LTTE fire mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at a Military camp in the Mannar district.
  
  Two home guards are arrested for alleged links with the LTTE at Katuvanwila in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa district.

• January 2: The SLAF destroys a Sea-Tiger base in Mannar. Similarly, SLAF launches an aerial attack on the Panichchankerni LTTE mortar positions in the Vakare region of Batticaloa district and destroyed several mortar and artillery gun positions. Meanwhile, the LTTE claims that due to the aerial bombing, at least 15 people died and several others are injured. However, the Sri Lankan Government denies the allegation.
  
  Three LTTE cadres who manage to escape from LTTE detention surrender to the SFs at Thrikonamadu in the Trincomalee district.
  
  A 16-year-old teenager who had been reportedly abducted earlier by LTTE cadres manages to escape from a LTTE training camp and sought protection from the Army camp at Kiran in the Batticaloa district.
  
  The Sri Lankan Government said that it would take legal action against any institution or organization that is issuing bogus identity cards.
  
  Three Sri Lankan Military officers have been taken into custody and will face a court-martial for helping the LTTE, the Defense Ministry said.

• January 1: A civilian, identified as M. Bandara and his wife P.J Mallika, are shot dead by cadres of the LTTE at Mantotta in the Ampara district. Similarly, LTTE cadres shot dead another civilian, Sudubanda Rathnayaka and his wife Somawathi Rathnayaka, along the 3rd canal road in the Bakmitiyawa area. Both the couples are Singhalese.
  
  Troops recover the dead bodies of three Tamil youths, believed to be supporters of the LTTE breakaway faction led by 'Colonel Karuna, from the Kiran area of Batticaloa district. Civilians informed the troops that three dead bodies were found lying close to a church in the area, apparently killed by the LTTE cadres on December 31. The victims re identified as Sivanesvaram Puwanesvaram, Senthurai and Yoganadan Mayuran.
  
  A Police jeep is caught up in an LTTE claymore mine explosion at Settikulam in the Vavuniya district. Two Police constables in the jeep are killed and one more sustains injuries in the incident.
  
  Four soldiers are injured when LTTE cadres fire artillery at the west of Vakare in the Batticaloa district. Two Police Constables sustain injuries when LTTE cadres hiding in wayside jungles activated a claymore mine targeting a Police team on foot patrol in the Thonikal area of Vavuniya district.
  
  LTTE cadres activate a claymore mine targeting troops at Navalady in the Jaffna district, killing one soldier and injuring two others.
  
  The LTTE has begun issuing ID cards to civilians living in territories under their control. The Commissioner of the Tamil Eelam Department of Registration of Persons, S. Jeyenthiran, issues the first high-tech identity card with a Social Security Number, by which a person is identified in a computer network, to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.