Incidents involving Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

2008

• December 31: More than 50 LTTE militants were killed and over 60 others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides when the Task Force-I troops on entered the strategically important Paranthan town after cutting off the A-9 road from the north of Paranthan junction, Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka. Paranthan is a strategically important four way junction town in the remaining areas held by the LTTE in Wanni and the North as it connects Pooneryn in the West, Mullaitivu in the East, Kilinochchi in the South, and Jaffna and Muhamalai in the North to one main hub through B-69, A-35 and A-9 roads.

  Troops of 59 Division confronted LTTE militants in west of Mulliyavalai in the Mullaitivu District and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of 15 militants along with one Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) launcher, 12 RPG rounds, nine T-56 weapons, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun, 40 hand grenades, four I-com sets, one Global Positioning System and one Night Vision Device from the area. 11 soldiers were injured during these clashes.

  Army troops advancing towards Kilinochchi town attacked more LTTE camps in the east and west of Iranamadu, north and south of Adampan and Paranthan areas inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit. In subsequent search and clear operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of seven militants along with three T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun, four T-56 magazines and two hand grenades from Adampan south and Paranthan areas. A few soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.

  Troops clashed with militants in the Mulliyavalai area of Mullaitivu District intermittently on several occasions and inflicted heavy damages upon the outfit. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons and one I-com set from the area.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna District, the troops killed an unspecified number of militants.

  While moving towards Paranthan, Task Force-I troops captured the entire earth bund in the Adampan village opening yet another gateway to Kilinochchi from the North. Separately, the 57 Division troops advanced towards the Kilinochchi build up area after passing the Iranamadu junction from the West of A-9 road.

  SLAF fighter jets neutralised LTTE camps in Paranthan assisting advancing infantry troops of the Task Force-I. While a LTTE camp east of Paranthan town was neutralised by the Kfir jets at around 12.45pm, another camp south of Paranthan was destroyed around 2.45pm, reports Sri Lanka Army.

• December 30: The Task Force-I troops captured Kamalakadukulam, about two kilometers west of Paranthan, and Thadduwankoddy, in the north west of Paranthan, in Kilinochchi District. "Intercepted radio transmissions confirmed that 20 Tiger cadres were killed and 30 wounded in the fierce battles that erupted from early hours of yesterday. The Task Force I troops managed to recover six Tiger bodies during search and clear operations," sources said.

  An unidentified assailant shot the chief priest of the Kali Kovil (Hindu Temple) at Negombo in the Colombo District. Negombo Police said the victim, identified as Muttiah Sivaprakashan, was shot inside his house at about 11:30pm (SLST).

  The troops observed a LTTE militant in the Inyokern area of Trincomalee District and as they moved towards him, he committed suicide swallowing cyanide. Later, troops recovered one T-56 weapon with two magazines and 50 rounds of ammunition from his possession.

  The SLAF, in assistance of the ground troops of the 59 Division and Task Force-I, conducted seven air attacks on identified LTTE camps in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts, according to Sri Lanka Army reports. Kfir jets shelled two LTTE camps south of Mullaitivu at around 8.40am (SLST) and 12.45pm. Another LTTE camp situated west of Mullaitivu was neutralised by the MI 24 fighter helicopters at around 10.45am. Three more LTTE camps in Paranthan were shelled by the jets at around 8.45am, 12.00 and 1.10pm.

  The troops recovered seven anti-personnel mines and one booby trap from the Poonagar area of Trincomalee District. Troops also recovered two hand grenades, one code sheet, one map, four batteries and some field dressings from the Arippu area. Separately, one improvised explosive device was recovered by the troops from Sinna Iynakerni area.

• December 29: The Army received dead bodies of 17 soldiers from the International Committee of the Red Cross officials at Omanthai in the Vavuniya District.

  The troops neutralised some more LTTE camps in the Adampan, east of Nivil, west of Iranamadu and Kulamurippu areas of Kilinochchi District inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the militants. A few soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF neutralised the LTTE camps in the Kilinochchi District assisting advancing infantry troops of the 57 Division and the Task Force-I. A LTTE bunker line west of Kilinochchi town was the first target of Kfir jets at around 9.30 am. The second air attack on LTTE camp was in the same area was conducted about one hour after the first attack. The same bunker line of the terrorists was shelled again at around 2.45pm by fighter jets which conducted a simultaneous aerial attack on a LTTE camp in the Kilinochchi town. Also, a LTTE bunker line east of Paranthan was neutralised by the SLAF fighter jets.

  A minor explosion targeted an electric transformer at Golumada Junction along the Galle Road in the Ratmalana area of Colombo District. Police said the explosion, which occurred around 8.45pm, did not damage the transformer though there was minor damage only to the two towers on which the transformer was fitted.

  Police at Gonapitiya in the Kandy District arrested a 21-year old Jaffna resident from a house in Walapone on suspicion. Subsequent interrogation revealed that his brother had worked as a ‘lieutenant’ in the Sea Wing of the outfit and had died in an attack on an unspecified date.

• December 28: LTTE claimed that at least 50 SLA soldiers were killed and 90 wounded in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu District on December 27. 15 SLA soldiers were also killed and more than 30 wounded in the nearby Uduppukkulam village.

  Eight persons were killed when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself after entering the premises of a Civil Defence Force (CDF) post at Wattala in the Colombo District. One Army officer, six CDF personnel and one civilian died while 17 others sustained injuries.

  Army troops at Black Bridge in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa District confronted a group of LTTE militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. During subsequent search and clear operations, the troops recovered dead bodies of four militants along with two T-56 weapons and two micro pistols.

  The troops operating in the area east of Nalanawakulam, east of Ampakamam and Periyamadu recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with two T-56 weapons, three magazines, four hand grenades, 250 ammunition, seven improvised explosive devices and one radio set.

  Special Task Force personnel repulsed a LTTE attack in the Nellikadu area and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant along with two hand grenades and one CDMA phone.

  Troops captured the whole stretch of land between Puliyankulam and Nedunkerni in the Mullaitivu District.

  The troops opened fire on a LTTE double cab moving in the area south of Adampan in the Kilinochchi District. The militants onboard the vehicle were either killed or injured as the vehicle was severely damaged in the attack. During subsequent search operation the troops recovered one T-56 weapon.

  Kfir jets of the SLAF neutralised two LTTE camps about five kilometres south of Mullaitivu town.

  The troops captured a huge LTTE-run timber mill in the Kolamurippu Forest Reserve area close to Oddusudan in the Mullaitivu District where illegally felled jungle trees appeared to have been sawn and used for LTTE constructions and for sale.

• December 27: The dead bodies of eight LTTE militants, including four female cadres, killed during clashes in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi District were taken to un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) by the ICRC.

  The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed a LTTE logistic boat, 12 nautical miles north east of Point Pedro, in the Jaffna District. Four Sea Tigers (cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE were also reported to have been killed, as the Navy engaged the fleeing vessel in the northern seas. The boat which was completely destroyed due to Navy fire is believed to have carried logistics for the LTTE, including weapons.

  Troops of the Task Force-I captured Nalanawakulam agricultural village, situated on the Pooneryn-Paranthan (B-69) road and about five kilometres west of Paranthan in the Kilinochchi District. Troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants and later recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with some weapons with ammunition.

  Heavy fighting erupted between the 59 Division troops and militants closer to the LTTE-made earth bund north of Alampil. An unspecified number of militants were killed and few soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting that continued until evening. A few more soldiers went missing.

  Fighter jets and MI-24 helicopters of the SLAF conducted four aerial attacks on identified LTTE targets in Mullaitivu.

• December 26: Troops operating in the Mutaliyarkulam area of Mullaitivu District clashed with a group of LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant along with two T-56 weapons.

  The military claimed to have captured Mulliyavalai Township located along the A-34 main road and killed several LTTE militants after hours of heavy fighting.

  Troops clashed with militants in the Adampan east, Adampan south, Iranamadu west and Sinna Paranthan east areas of Kilinochchi District and subsequently expanded their defence line south of Adampan.

  The militants stormed a children’s orphanage in Dharmapuram in Kilinochchi and took away more than 16 children for conscription, Catholic church- managed administration confirmed. Two Catholic priests running the orphanage were reportedly blindfolded and assaulted by the militants before the minors were forcibly removed from the orphanage which had earlier shifted to the present location from Kilinochchi because of continuing LTTE harassment and intimidation.

• December 25: The 59 division troops captured a communication tower used by the LTTE in the area north of Mulliyavalai in Mullaitivu District. There were three fortified overhead bunkers erected in defence of the tower with a height of about 40 feet. The dead body of one militant along with a communication set were also recovered by the troops.

  Troops captured an LTTE training base in the Kulamarippu area. The base surrounded by a trench line consisted of one lecture hall, 10 huts and a few other constructions required for LTTE training. Troops also found one T-56 weapon, three magazines, 90 rounds of ammunition and one pouch from the location.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised two LTTE camps in the Kilinochchi District. The first attack was carried out at around 10.30am (SLST) on a camp west of Kilinochchi in support of advancing troops of the 57 Division. The second attack was carried out at around 3.40pm on a camp west of Paranthan in support of the advancing troops of the Task Force-I.

  The SFs foiled a LTTE attempt to trigger a massive blast in the Periyamurippukulam area along Mannar-Madavachchiya main road by recovering a large cache of bombs weighing 101 kilograms. The bombs were found on information given by a LTTE suspect arrested on December 24.

  A claymore mine weighing approximately 1.5 kilograms was recovered by the Kokkadicholai Police near Mahalvitti bridge in the Batticaloa District.

  A LTTE militant surrendered to the troops in the Ponnar area of Jaffna District.

  The ICRC has said that about 800 dead bodies of combatants were transferred across the Army and LTTE frontlines in Wanni during 2008. It, however, did not identify the combatants separately. In November and December alone, the ICRC had facilitated the transfer of about 200 dead bodies.

  Reports from the North stated that over 16,000 people from Chawakachcheri area in Jaffna protested recently against the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran’s activities demanding that the outfit should give up terrorism and surrender.

• December 24: Troops conducted search and clear operations in the areas east and north of Adampan area of Kilinochchi District and recovered the dead bodies of three militants along with two T-56 weapons and one T-81 weapon.

  One soldier was killed and three others injured when the LTTE militants triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting an Army foot patrol in the Sangarapuram area of Vavuniya District. Two civilians travelling in the trailer of a tractor were also injured in the same incident.

  The dead body of a labourer attached to the Vavuniya Police station, Selvam Loganathan, was found on the road at Ukkulaikulam in the Vavuniya District.

  One more airstrip of the LTTE with a width of 25 meters and length of 350 meters was captured by the Army as the troops moved further towards north of Ampakamam in the Mullaitivu District.

  Army troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Akkarayankulam and east of Nivil in the Kilinochchi District killing an unspecified number of militants.

  The troops of Task Force-II inflicted heavy casualties upon the LTTE militants during clashes in the Periyamadu and Olumaduwai areas of Mullaitivu District.

  The troops of 59 Division attacked LTTE militants in the Mulliyaweli area of Mullaitivu District inflicting heavy casualties on the outfit.

  Troops operating in the Kilaly and Ponnar areas of Jaffna District attacked LTTE camps and killed an unspecified number of militants.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF conducted three air sorties on identified LTTE camps in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts. In the first incident, the SLAF neutralised a LTTE camp at Paranthan junction in the Kilinochchi District. Another LTTE camp northwest of Paranthan junction was shelled sometimes later. Simultaneously, the LTTE’s defence line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna District was shelled by the jets.

  Kfir jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a LTTE communication centre and administrative base in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi District.

  SFs launched a cordon and search operation in the Batticaloa district to trace explosives, hidden weapons and the LTTE militants who had reportedly sought refuge in the District. Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranjith Gunesekera, told Daily News that 860 houses and 124 vehicles were searched and 2,905 persons were questioned during the operation that lasted twelve hours. Six persons were arrested on suspicion.

  One LTTE militant along with one cyanide capsule was arrested by the Security Force personnel in the hospital square area of Vavuniya.

  The LTTE has called all students in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts who have completed the recent GCE Ordinary Level examination to join combat training, latest military intelligence reports said. Over 8,000 students sat for the GCE Ordinary Level Examinations in these two Districts, said Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

• December 23: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as the troops of the Task Force-I consolidating their positions about 300 meters further southward along the LTTE earth bund captured the Sinnaparanthan area of Kilinochchi District. Troops later recovered the dead body one LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon.

  The troops recovered dead bodies of the three LTTE cadres from Mankulam area in Kilinochchi District.

  The dead bodies of two LTTE militants killed during confrontations in the Mulliyavalai area of Mullaitivu District were handed over to ICRS officials by the Security Forces in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya District.

  A civilian was shot dead by an unidentified militant at Nallur in Jaffna. The victim was identified as Sivasundaralingam Gangadharan of south Karaveddy.

  Troops of the 59 Division expanded their defence line some metres ahead and consolidated positions in the area east of Mulliyavalai in the Mullaitivu District. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the subsequent intense fighting which erupted when the militants launched a counter attack on the troops.

  During a clash between the two sides in the areas southeast of Adampan and east of Nivil in the Kilinochchi District the troops killed several LTTE militants.

  The Gomarankadawala Police conducted a search operation in the Nochchikulam area and recovered two grenades and two CDMA phones.

  Troops recovered one claymore mine and one earth-digging tool during another search operation at Mullikulam in Vavuniya District.

• December 22: 56 LTTE militants and 10 soldiers were killed as the troops captured a two kilometre stretch of land west of Paranthan, Adampan and Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi District. More than 87 militants and 40 soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes. However, head of the LTTE’s peace secretariat, S. Puleedevan, quoting the outfit’s field commanders said more than 100 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 250 were wounded when the LTTE repulsed a fresh offensive push of the SLA. Heavy fighting erupted when the SLA attempted to advance from Uruththirapuram towards Kilinochchi and Iranamadu. Puleedevan claimed fighting was continuing on three fronts.

  The troops recovered the dead bodies of four LTTE militants along with three T-56 weapons and one I-com radio set subsequent to the clashes that led to the capture segments of the LTTE earth bund in the Nivil area of Kilinochchi District.

  Dead bodies of two militants who were killed in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi District were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  Troops of the 59 Division continued their advance amidst LTTE resistance in the area north of Kumulamunai in the Mullaitivu district and managed to extend their FDL further.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF attacked three camouflage Sea Tiger boats anchored in the sea about three kilometres north of Mullaitivu at around 1.30pm (SLST). The fighter jets launched another attack on the same location at around 6.00 pm. On the same day, between 2.50pm and 3.50pm, fighter jets of the SLAF launched three air raids on LTTE positions north of Iranamadu in support of the advancing troops of the 57 Division. Similarly, the MI-24 fighter helicopters shelled the LTTE camp east of Pudumurippukulam tank.

  A group of 60 civilians, including 36 women, arrived in Thanduwan Army controlled area, about four kilometres north east of Nedunkerni, from un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and sought protection from the SFs. They were handed over to civil authorities after preliminary inquiries.

  The dead bodies of two LTTE militants who were killed in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi District handed over to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF attacked three camouflage Sea Tiger boats anchored in the sea about three kilometres north of Mullaitivu at around 1.30pm (SLST). The fighter jets launched another attack on the same location at around 6.00 pm. On the same day, between 2.50pm and 3.50pm, fighter jets of the SLAF launched three air raids on LTTE positions north of Iranamadu in support of the advancing troops of the 57 Division. Similarly, the MI-24 fighter helicopters of SLAF shelled LTTE camp east of Pudumurippukulam tank.

  A group of sixty civilians, including 36 females, arrived in Thanduwan Army controlled area, about four kilometres north east of Nedunkerni, from un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and sought protection from the SFs. They were hand over to civil authorities after preliminary inquiries.

• December 21: Troops of Task Force IV captured the strategically important town of Nedunkerni, a LTTE stronghold in Mullaitivu District. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops have taken full control of the area which lies 19 kilometres, northeast of Puliyankulam, following an offensive launched in the morning of December 20. Nedunkerni was considered as a key administrative hub by the LTTE with three main roads leading to Puliyankulam, Oddusudan and Mullaitivu interlinking each other in the town of Nedunkerni. With the capture of Nedunkerni, the total area of operations including south of Mankulam, south west of Kumulamunai, west of Gajabapura and north of Padaviya and Omanthai has come under SFs control.

  Task Force-I, Task Force-III, 57 Division and 59 Division troops who were conducting search and clear operations in the Nivil, north of Akkarayankulam, Ampakamam and Kumulamunai areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts were attacked by the LTTE. In the ensuing clashes, an unspecified number of militants were killed while few soldiers sustained injuries. The troops also recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with one T-56 weapon, two hand grenades and several other LTTE items from these areas.

  During a clash between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna District, the troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants.

  The SFs rescued a group of 26 Tamil civilians, including two infants and two children, while they were crossing Kilaly lagoon to arrive at the SFs controlled area protection.

  The SFs repulsed a LTTE attack in the north of Iranamadu area in Kilinochchi District. During the day-long battle that lasted till 6 pm (SLST), 12 soldiers were killed, 34 sustained injuries and 16 went missing. The pro-LTTE website Tamil Net, however, claimed 60 soldiers were killed and the Army was pushed back. Rejecting the LTTE claim, the Defence Ministry said monitored LTTE radio transmission revealed that the outfit has suffered heavy damages.

  Task Force-I, Task Force-III, 57 Division and 59 Division troops who were conducting search and clear operations in the Nivil, north of Akkarayankulam, Ampakamam and Kumulamunai areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts were attacked by the LTTE militants. In the ensuing clashes an unspecified number of militants were killed while few soldiers also sustained injuries. The troops also recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with one T-56 weapon, two hand grenades and several other LTTE items from these areas.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna District the troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants.

  Task Force-I troops operating ahead of the FDL in the area east of Nivil in the Kilinochchi District opened fire at a speeding LTTE double cab forcing the militants to abandon the vehicle and escape. One senior LTTE leader onboard the vehicle may have been injured in the attack, sources said.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised two LTTE camps, west of Iranamadu Tank in the Kilinochchi District.

  The SF personnel rescued a group of 26 Tamil civilians, including two infants and two children, while they were crossing Kilaly lagoon to arrive at the SFs controlled area protection.

• December 20: The troops clashed with militants in the Kumulamunai and north of Ampakamam areas in Mullaitivu District and killed several of them. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three militants.

  The SFs continued their attacks on LTTE camps in the north of Akkarayankulam, west of Iranamadu and Nivil areas around Kilinochchi town inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  Army troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai and Kilali areas of Jaffna district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants.

  Troops repulsed LTTE attacks in the Adampan, Iranamadu north and Nivil areas of Kilinochchi district killing an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops confronted with the LTTE militants on several occasions in the Eilady, Olumaduwai north, Ampakamam and Kumulamunai areas of Mullaitivu district inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops also recovered two claymore mines, two anti-personnel mines, one anti air craft round, two T-56 weapons, one radio set, one military pack and a few packets of dry rations from these areas.

  Two soldiers were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine attack on an Army foot patrol at Sittandy in the Devapura area of Batticaloa district.

  The SLN destroyed a medium-size LTTE logistics vessel carrying a large quantity of war like materials 70 nautical miles north-east of Mullaitivu. The logistics vessel approximately 30–40 meters in length was detected by the SLN Offshore Patrol Vessels and subsequently destroyed by the SLN patrol craft.

  The SLN in a separate confrontation off Mullaitivu also intercepted a cluster of LTTE boats and destroyed four attack craft which were fleeing after having attempted to provide support to the vessel.

  A suspected LTTE militant who attempted to explode a bomb inside a bus was arrested in the evening of December 19 at Meegoda in the Padukka area of Colombo District, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. He said a policeman travelling in a packed CTB bus plying from Maharagama to Kurunegala observed the man carrying a suspicious looking parcel. "The policeman checked the bag and the suspect failed to explode the bomb", he added.

• December 19: The 57 Division troops captured the northern edge of the LTTE’s earth cum ditch bund from the western side of Iranamadu tank in the Kilinochchi District. Troops also destroyed a few more bunkers on the earth bund before they took control an area of about 200 metres in length, away from the pierced earth bund. With this the whole area east of the A-9 road up to the Iranamadu tank has been brought under troop’s control.

  Troops handed over 15 dead bodies of the LTTE militants to the International Committee of the Red Cross officials to be taken across the Omanthai Entry/Exit point in Vavuniya to be delivered to the outfit.

  MI-24 helicopters of the SLAF attacked a cluster of Sea Tiger boats in the Kilaly lagoon of Jaffna district. While two top women Sea Tiger leaders, Seran and Sugandani, reportedly went missing after the attack, one boat was completely destroyed in the lagoon itself. Daily News, however, reported that the two women Sea Tiger leaders were killed in action.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF thrice bombed a LTTE bunker line, about three kilometres east of Iranamadu junction, in the Kilinochchi District. Similarly, MI-24 helicopter gunship attacked the LTTE FDL (Forward Defence Line) in the west of Paranthan on the Pooneryn-Paranthan road. In addition, MI-24 helicopters targeted a LTTE camp, about two kilometres southwest of Mullaitivu.

• December 18: The troops expanded the existing Security Force’s defence line in the Karuppaddamurippu area of Mullaitivu District.

  The 59 Division troops clashed with the militants in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu district and killed an unspecified number of them.

  57 Division troops and Task Force–I troops clashed with militants in the north of Akkarayankulam, south of Iranamadu, north of Adampan and Nivil in the Kilinochchi district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. A few soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.

  Two militants surrendered to the Army in the Nagasivanthurai jetty area of Kilinochchi District.

  The CCD arrested three extortionists while they were attempting to extort SLR 500,000 from a businessman in Colombo in the guise of LTTE militants.

• December 17: The LTTE claimed that 130 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 300 wounded when the LTTE repulsed the multi-front offensive push by the SLA in Kilinochchi on December 16 which continued throughout the day on four main localities and along a wide stretch of the Kilinochchi frontiers. LTTE's director of peace secretariat, S. Puleedevan, said on December 16 the major push, which was foiled by the outfit, was the third debacle of the SLA in recent days in Kilinochchi.

  15 dead bodies of LTTE militants were recovered along with a cache of arms and ammunition from the Chorikenkulam area, about seven kilometres to the west of the A-9 highway, in Kilinochchi District.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas south of Adampan, south and west of Iranamadu, Nivil and Adampan in the Kilinochchi District and killed an unspecified number of militants. They also recovered the dead bodies of four militants, including one female cadre, along with three T-56 weapons, 2040 rounds of ammunition, one I-com set and two claymore mines from the area. Troops also captured a LTTE penetration point along the Army’s FDL and expanded their FDL in the Nivil area.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District, the troops expanded their FDL inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with one T-56 weapon, two tractor engines, one tractor tailor and one C-90 Honda motorcycle from the area.

  The militants opened mortar fire thrice towards troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna District injuring an unspecified number of soldiers. The troops, however, neutralized the LTTE attack.

  Two soldiers were injured when an Army bunker at Singhethattamunai in the Vakarai area of Batticaloa District was attacked by the LTTE militants who used hand grenades.

  The SLAF fighter jets and MI-24 helicopters neutralised LTTE camps in Kilinochchi town areas on the A-9 road, Iranamadu north, northwest of Kilinochchi and north of Kilinochchi town centre.

  Army troops in Trincomalee recovered a hand grenade from the 4th mile post area.

• December 16: 120 LTTE militants and 25 soldiers were killed during clashes between the two sides near the Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs) of Jaffna District and elsewhere in the Kilinochchi sector. 250 militants and 160 soldiers sustained injuries while 10 more soldiers went missing. The troops also destroyed a part of the outfit’s five kilometres long stretch of defensive earth bund in the Kilinochchi sector from many different places, the Army Headquarters stated. In addition, the troops captured Chorikenkulam village, about seven kilometres to the west of the A-9 highway pushing militants further into the jungle areas.

  The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net, however, claimed that more than 40 SLA soldiers were killed and at least 120 soldiers wounded in the morning of December 16 when the LTTE repulsed an offensive push by the SLA along the Kilali area of Jaffna District.

  The 59 Division troops now operating in the southern perimeter of the Mullaitivu centre totally cut off LTTE movement along the Mullaitivu-Oddusudan (A-34) road as they captured a few kilometre-long swathe of land parallel to the road which lies about 6.5 kilometres southwest of Mullaitivu. As reported earlier, the troops on December 15 had taken control of a three kilometre stretch of the A-34 road from the south west of Mulliyavali village totally cutting off links between Mullaitivu and Oddusudan which was a vital supply route connecting the coastal town with the southern part of Mullaitivu District.

  Troops clashed with militants in the Ampakamam area of Mullaitivu District and later recovered dead bodies of five militants, including three women cadres, along with one Multi Purpose Machine Gun and three T-56 weapons.

  The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District, killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants.

  A flotilla of LTTE boats taking reinforcements to the Kilaly front where the LTTE suffered heavy losses were targeted by MI 24 fighter helicopters of the Sri Lank Air Force while they were sailing across the Kilaly lagoon. The shelling sunk one LTTE boat and damaged a few more before militants completed their mission. The militants who were onboard the remaining boats turned back and withdrew amidst the shelling.

• December 15: The troops of the 57 Division and the Task Force I attacked LTTE camps in the Adampan, Iranamadu and Nivil areas of Kilinochchi District and the 59 Division troops operating in Mullaitivu expanded their Kumulamunai defence line killing an unspecified number of militants. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons, with magazines, and one hand-held communication set.

  Two claymore mines of 6.75 kilogram each were recovered by Police from Ragama in Colombo District. Similarly, the Security Forces recovered one T-56 weapon, two magazines, 56 rounds of T-56 ammunition and one hand grenade at Sitthandy and Iyankerny in the Eravur area of Batticaloa District.

  After hours of heavy fighting with the LTTE, troops of Task Force III captured the strategic Ampakamam village in Mullaitivu District. The town, located approximately seven kilometers north of Olumaduwai, is a main administrative hub of the outfit.

  The 59 Division troops took control of a three kilometer stretch of the A-34 road from the South West of Mulliyavali village totally cutting off links between Mullaitivu and Oddusudan which was a vital supply route connecting the coastal town with the southern part of Mullaitivu district.

  Two wards of the Mullaitivu Government hospital were damaged after heavy shell attacks. Medical Officer Dr. S. Shanmugarajah told BBC Sandeshaya that resident patients were removed from the hospital as a precautionary measure. Shells also fell on few other places in Mullaitivu, Dr. Shanmugarajah said, adding, there were no reports of any casualties.

  SLAF fighter jets launched air strikes on the LTTE earth bund in the areas west of Kilinochchi and a LTTE camp to the south of Mullaitivu inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit and supported advancing troops at both fronts. The SLAF fighter jets within a span of one hour conducted three air sorties targeting LTTE militants in the west of Kilinochchi who were resisting the onward march of the 57 Division troops. Similarly, the jets bombed one more cluster of militants resisting the troops south of Mullaitivu and completely neutralized their fire-power enabling the troops to clear their forward-march.

• December 14: Troops of 59 Division advancing in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District clashed with the LTTE militants killing an unspecified number of militants. During the subsequent search operation in the area the SFs recovered the dead bodies of four militants, including one female cadre, along with four T-56 weapons and six hand grenades.

  Troops of 59 Division advancing in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District clashed with the LTTE militants killing an unspecified number of militants. During the subsequent search operation in the area the SFs recovered the dead bodies of four militants, including one female cadre, along with four T-56 weapons and six hand grenades.

  SFs killed two LTTE militants during an encounter in the Kanchkudichchiaru jungles of Ampara District. During a subsequent search operation, SFs recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants, two T-56 weapons, three magazines, two grenade launchers, two 60-mm mortar launchers, twenty-four 60-mm mortar shells, five detonator boxes, 381 anti-personnel mines, one detonator code, 14 boxes of ammunition, two RPG shells and one pouch.

  Troops of the 59 Division had captured a section of the Mullaitivu-Nedunkerni road and were operating close to the A-34 road that linked Mullaitivu to the A-9 road. Troops are now poised to capture Mulliyavali village located South West of Mullaitivu town soon.

  Soldiers of Task Force II clashed with the LTTE militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants in the Mankulam area of Mullaitivu District.

  During a clash between the two sides in the areas south of Kilinochchi town and Adampan the SFs killed an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops operating in the Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna District attacked a few LTTE camps inflicting damages to them. Troops also sustained an unspecified number of casualties in explosions of booby traps and LTTE’s artillery and small arms fire.

  Naval troops in the Irrakkandi area recovered 1.25 kilogram of gelignite, five electric detonators and 18 inches long safety fuse.

  A Police Officer In Charge, an Inspector and a Constable was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division for their alleged involvement in abductions, extortions and aiding and abetting the LTTE, Police spokesman Ranjith Gunesekera said on December 14. Investigations are continuing to ascertain their involvement in a major vehicle smuggling racket which supplied a variety of vehicles to the LTTE, Gunasekera added.

  18 civilians, including five women and a four-year old boy, fled the LTTE-controlled areas and reached Palampai, which is controlled by the 59th Division of the Army.

  A senior Government official in Mullaitivu said that over 163,000 people have been displaced in Mullaitivu due to the fighting. Mullaitivu Government Agent, Emilda Sukumar, said that nearly 8000 people are fleeing towards LTTE-held Puthukkudiyiruppu as shell attacks have recommenced in and around Mullaitivu town from December 13. Meanwhile, the Government has advised civilians not to travel on the road leading to Mulliyaweli from Nedunkerni from December 15.

  Military sources said that 21 LTTE militants led by Nagulan, a former LTTE leader in the East, has infiltrated the East with the objective of destabilising the security situation and four militants who had been killed by the troops in Bakmitiyawa in Ampara on December 8 belonged to that group. "We suspect that the two Tiger cadres killed in Kanchkudichchiaru yesterday were also from the same group," added unnamed sources.

• December 13: Unidentified assailants riding on a motorcycle opened fire at civilians in the Ariampathi area of Batticaloa District killing a woman and injuring two persons, including a woman.

  Troops advancing in the Adampan area of Kilinochchi District confronted with the LTTE militants inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants. Several soldiers were wounded during these clashes.

  Troops attacked LTTE camps in the Olumaduwai east, Mallavarayankaddumurippu, Ampakamam and Kumulamunai in Mullaitivu District and killed an unspecified number of militants. Several soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes. The SFs later recovered a LTTE suicide boat, one T-56 weapon, one trap gun and one combat kit from the Kumulamunai area.

  SFs attacked groups of LTTE militants in the Ponnar and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna District killing several militants.

  Two farmers working on their fields in the Samagipura area of Trincomalee District were shot at and injured by an unidentified gunman.

  MI-24 helicopter gunship of the SLAF neutralised a LTTE camp about one kilometre north east of Pudumurippukulam tank bund in the Kilinochchi District.

  Another LTTE camp in the Mulliyaweli area of Mullaitivu District was neutralised by the MI-24 helicopter gunship’s of the SLAF.

• December 12 -13: Troops operating in the Ponnar area of Jaffna District attacked LTTE positions and inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

• December 12: The SFs handed over 13 more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including two female cadres, killed in Wanni to officials of the ICRC in Vavuniya. The ICRC also brought the dead bodies of 11 soldiers handed over to them by the LTTE.

  Troops advancing towards Kilinochchi town confronted the LTTE militants in the north of Akkarayankulam, Adampan and Nivil areas killing an unspecified number of militants. A few soldiers also sustained injuries in LTTE mortar and small arms fire.

  Soldiers advancing towards Mullaitivu area continued their attacks on LTTE positions in the Olumaduwai west, Kumulamunai, Koddalikulam, Kunukkerni and Gajabapura west areas. An unspecified number of militants were killed while few soldiers also got injured during these confrontations.

• December 11: 27 LTTE militants and 20 soldiers were killed as the troops advancing northwards from Kokavil and eastwards from Akkarayankulam captured the strategically vital Terumurikandi junction in Kilinochchi District. Troops also captured the Murikkandy Hindu temple area. "With the capture of Terumurikandi, troops have almost entered the build-up area of the Kilinochchi town that extends more than seven kilometers on the A-9 road," an unnamed official said. Citing monitored LTTE communication, the MCNS said more than 27 militants were killed while 20 soldiers also died during the fighting in the last two days.

  Troops attacked several groups of LTTE militants in the Adampan, Akkarayankulam, Iranamadu and Mankulam north areas of Kilinochchi District, causing heavy casualties upon the militants. Two area leaders of the outfit, identified as Kabeithovan and Mohiran, were among the militants killed in Mankulam. Several soldiers were also injured in these battles.

  An unspecified number of militants were killed as the troops clashed with them in the Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna District.

  SFs continued their attacks on LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu District inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the outfit.

  Heavy fighting was reported in Mullaitivu and in the areas west of Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi District. The troops destroyed two LTTE bunds in the Kilinochchi west area, the MCNS added. An unspecified number of soldiers were killed and few went missing during the battles.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF neutralised two LTTE camps about two kilometres southwest of Iranamadu junction in the Kilinochchi District. Similarly, the SLAF fighter jets conducted three air raids on an underground bunker line of the LTTE in the east of Iranamadu tank bund between 11.30am (SLST) and 1.30 pm.

• December 10-11: More than 60 SLA soldiers were killed during fighting with the LTTE militants at a location five kilometres west of Kilinochchi on December 10. At the same time, heavy fighting broke out at Ariviyal Nakar, south of Kilinochchi, where 29 SLA soldiers were killed in the clashes. More than 180 SLA soldiers were wounded in both these clashes, the Website added. The Website on December 11, however, claimed that 120 soldiers were killed more than 280 wounded in these clashes.

• December 10: The troops attacked the LTTE-built earth bund in the west of Kilinochchi, west and south of Iranamadu and Nivil inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  The SFs attacked LTTE defence lines in the Kilaly, Muhamalai, Ponnal and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna District and killed an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops conducted search and clear operations in the Mantuvil, Chunnalai and Karaweddi areas of Jaffna District and recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons with magazines, 27 rounds used in anti-aircraft guns, four remote control units, one claymore mine, one battery pack, two receivers, five detonators, one 9V battery, field dressings and some food items.

  59 Division troops expanded their defence line in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya District further and recovered the dead body of one female cadre along with one T-56 weapon.

  The MI-24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF, in support of advancing ground troops of the 57 Division, conducted two air attacks on LTTE camps in the Iranamadu area of Kilinochchi District.

  SFs at the Omanthai roadblock in the Vavuniya District recovered 700 grams of C-4 explosives concealed in the soles of two pairs of slippers in possession of an elderly civilian seeking entrance to Vavuniya. The suspect, according to information he has submitted to the soldiers at the roadblock, was on his way to Vavuniya hospital to get medical treatment. Two detonators and one timer were also recovered from his possession.

• December 9: 11 more dead bodies, including that of seven female cadres, of the LTTE militants killed in clashes with troops at Mankulam in the Olumaduwai area of Mullaitivu District were handed over to representatives of the ICRC.

  Troops operating ahead of the Veddakadu and Muhamalai FDLs of Jaffna District clashed with the LTTE militants inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  Troops killed an unspecified number of LTTE militants during separate clashes in Adampan and west of Iranamadu areas in Kilinochchi District.

  Following two separate clashes with the militants in the Puthukulam and Kumulamunai areas of Vavuniya District, the Security Forces recovered two T-56 weapons and one I-com set.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Adampan area inflicting an unspecified number of casualties upon the outfit.

  During another clash between the two sides at Kumulamunai in the Vavuniya District, the SFs killed an unspecified number of militants. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident.

  One soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Adampan area of Kilinochchi District.

  Troops repulsed a LTTE mortar attack in the Mulliyaweli area of Mullaitivu District.

• December 8: Troops commenced their eastward march from the north of captured Kanakarayankulam on the A-9 road immediately and took control of Katkidanku junction which links all surrounding important towns like Nedunkerni, Nainamadu, Olumaduwai and Kanakarayankulam areas, the Army Headquarters officially declared.

  Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Otiyamale sector of Vavuniya district.

  Army Commando troops in the morning of attacked an isolated group of LTTE militants in the Bakmitiyawa jungles of Ampara district and killed four of them.

  Task Force-II troops operating in the Olumaduwai area of Mullaitivu district clashed with the LTTE militants killing or injuring an unspecified number of militants.

  Defence Ministry said the "strategic focus" of the counter operations in Wanni shifted from Kilinochchi to Mullaitivu battlefront since last week as the troops started sweeping down the A-34 road that leads to the last bastion of the LTTE. It said troops confronted the militants at least in six locations in the east of Olumaduwai town and claimed that the outfit had suffered heavy casualties.

  The Sri Lankan military claimed that three "senior LTTE cadres" who fought for the outfit for more than a decade have surrendered to Army. The Defence Ministry said here the three LTTE cadre aged between 25-30 years surrendered to soldiers operating in the Pooneryn area of Kilinochchi district and laid down their weapons.

  Army personnel now in control of a considerable swathe of land, particularly to the western side of the A-9 highway, called upon remaining cadres of the LTTE to immediately renounce violence and surrender to the nearest troops in respective areas, as arrangements are in place to take care of them once surrendered, the Army said.
  
  Troops commenced their eastward march from the north of captured Kanakarayankulam on the A-9 road and took control of Katkidanku junction which links all surrounding important towns like Nedunkerni, Nainamadu, Olumaduwai and Kanakarayankulam areas, the Army Headquarters officially declared.

  Five LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Otiyamale sector of Vavuniya district.

  SFs attacked a group of LTTE militants in the Bakmitiyawa jungles of Ampara district and killed four of them. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of the four militants along with four of their T-56 weapons.

  Task Force-II troops operating in the Olumaduwai area of Mullaitivu district clashed with the LTTE militants killing or injuring an unspecified number of them.

• December 7: Heavy fighting erupted near the LTTE’s FDL in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district between troops of the 53rd Division and militants. Troops moved forward removing booby traps and fired at the militant’s FDL. An unspecified number of militants were either killed or injured in the incident.

  Troops recovered one decomposed dead body of an LTTE militant along with three T-56 weapons and one radio set from the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district.

  The military claimed that three "senior LTTE cadres" who fought for the outfit for more than a decade have surrendered to the Army. The three, aged between 25-30 years, surrendered before troops operating in the Pooneryn area of Kilinochchi district and laid down their weapons. "The surrendered have told the Army that thousands more LTTE cadres are waiting for an opportunity to abandon the terrorist outfit," the ministry claimed.

  A soldier serving at the Ondachchimadam roadblock in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district was injured when the roadblock was fired upon by a suspected LTTE militant.

  Troops recovered one decomposed dead body of LTTE militant along with three T-56 weapons and one radio set from the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district.

  Heavy fighting erupted near the LTTE’s FDL in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district between the troops of the 53rd Division and the LTTE militants. Troops moved forward removing booby traps and fired at the militant’s FDL. An unspecified number of militants were either killed or injured in the incident.

  One soldier serving at the Ondachchimadam roadblock in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district was injured when the roadblock was fired upon by a suspected LTTE militant.

  The military claimed to be advancing on multi-fronts into parts under LTTE control in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

• December 6: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the north of Olumaduwai in the Kilinochchi district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of 10 militants, including seven were female cadres, along with 13 T-56 weapons.

  At least a dozen LTTE militants were killed and a similar number of them injured as clashes erupted between the two sides near the Olumaduwai town centre. Subsequently the recovered the dead body a militant along with four T-56 weapons, 40 APMs and two radio sets.

  Six dead bodies of militants killed during clashes in the Kumulamunai, Akkarayankulam, Thunukkai and Thanthirimale areas were handed over to the ICRC by the security forces at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops captured the bridge over Kanakaryan Aru on the Puliyankulam-Nedunkerni road, about 5.5-km northeast of Puliyankulam, in the Kilinochchi district.

  Troops foiled an LTTE attack in the Adampan area, about seven-km west of A-9 road, and inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of one militant along with one T-56 weapon.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai, Nagancholai and Konakkarankulam areas of Vavuniya district. During the subsequent search operations, they recovered dead bodies of two militants along with one T-56 weapon, one I-com radio set, seven 81-mm mortar bombs, five 60-mm mortar bombs, one Rocket Propeller Gun round, 73 anti-personnel mines, safety fuses and a length of wire from these areas.

  Troops of the 57 Division advanced further towards the A-9 road in the east destroying LTTE camps in the north of Adampan killing an unspecified number of militants. The ground troops were assisted by fighter jets and MI 24 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

  Similar fighting was reported from the Nivil and Iranamadu areas in Kilinochchi district. An unspecified number of militants were killed during these clashes.

  The Task Force-II troops operating in Mankulam and the Task Force-III troops operating in the Olumaduwai and Pannichchankulam areas of Mullaitivu district confronted with the LTTE militants killing or injuring several of them.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized a LTTE strong point and a mortar position west of Paranthan.

  The Keselwatta Police conducted a search on St. Sebastian flats at Gunasinghe Pura in capital Colombo and recovered one T-56 weapon, one T-56 magazine and 55 rounds of ammunition. One suspect was detained in this connection.

  Two explosive chargers, each containing three-kg of C-4 high explosives, were recovered from the South Bar area of Mannar district.

• December 5: Troops of Task Force 2 moving eastwards across the main A-9 highway captured Kanakarayankulam located about 10-km north of Puliyankulam, in the Kilinochchi district. With the capture of Kanakarayankulam, Puliyankulam, Mankulam and Kokavil towns, troops have now cleared a 21-km segment of the A-9 highway between Omanthai to the south and Kokavil to the north facilitating the civilian movement into Government controlled areas.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district killing an unspecified number of militants.

  An unspecified number of LTTE militants were injured and their bunkers captured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Adampan, west of Iranamadu, north of Murikkandy and west of Paranthan in the Kilinochchi district.

  Troops operating in the north of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district expanded their defence line further north.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF conducted three aerial attacks targeting identified LTEE camps west of Paranthan.

  Two LTTE camps were neutralized by the SLAF jets in the east of Adampan and west of Paranthan. Further, MI-24 fighter helicopters shelled an identified LTTE camp east of Adampan while fighter jets bombed another LTTE camp west of Paranthan.

  Following the capture of the coastal town of Alampil on December 4, the military said it had seized 100 fibreglass boats used by the LTTE along with 560 live ammunitions. Most of the boats were without the engines, the military said. Troops engaged in search and clear operations found the boatyard of Sea Tigers, inside a thick coconut grove, about 600 metre away from the sea border.

• December 4: The 59 Division troops captured the strategically important Alampil area, 10-kilometres south of Mullaitivu, while Task Force II troops captured the key junction town of Puliyankulam on the A-9 highway, military officials said. With the capture of these two areas, the entire A-9 Highway stretch of about 8.5-kilometres from the northern end of Omanthai Entry/Exit point has now been freed from LTTE. The Defence Ministry said, "LTTE terrorists highly utilised the Nayaru lagoon located immediate south of Alampil as the major Sea Tiger operational base for logistic transportation from Mullaitivu via sea routs. It was also utilised by the Sea Tigers as a boat launching pad," adding, with the fall of Alampil, Mullaitivu has become vulnerable.

  Nine more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including five females, killed during clashes in the Kumulamunai and Otiyamale areas of Vavuniya district were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  The STF clashed with the LTTE militants at Unnachchiya in the Iththamale area of Batticaloa district and killed an unspecified number of militants. The STF later recovered the dead body of a LTTE militant. One STF trooper was also killed during the incident.

  Troops conducting operations in the Andankulam area confronted with the LTTE militants and killed an unspecified number of their. Troops also recovered dead bodies of three militants along with seven T-56 weapons and 50 APMs from the incident site.

  Troops of Task Force 1 moving along B-69 road towards Kilinochchi town from northwest attacked LTTE positions in the north of Adampan and the west of Paranthan areas, the Defence Ministry said. The soldiers attacked a LTTE bunker line located six-km west of Paranthan, along the B-69 road inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Murikkandy and Nivil areas, inflicting heavy casualties upon the militants.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, the security forces killed an unspecified number of militants.

  The SFs recovered 30 more fibreglass boats, one motorbike and one out board motor from the Alampil area of Kilinochchi district.

  A suspect, charged in connection with a North American network that police alleged provides weapons to LTTE, is to be extradited to the US. However, 31-year old Ramanan Mylvaganam will remain in Canada while he appeals the extradition order by a Federal Court judge, according to Justice Canada. Mylvaganam, a computer engineering student at University of Waterloo who came to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1992, was arrested on August 22, 2006 at his Derry Rd. E. apartment by the Royal Canadian Mountain Police. He was detained on a provisional warrant at the request of American authorities. One month later, Mylvaganam was granted bail and returned to university, where he continued to pursue a master's degree until being returned into custody last week. Mylvaganam served as a vice-president of the university's Tamil Students Association in 2004. He and four other Ontario men have been charged with one count each of conspiring to provide material support and resources to the LTTE.

  Defence spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Mahinda Rajapakse had come to a mutual agreement that the Government would declare a cease-fire only if the LTTE disarmed themselves. He added that President Rajapakse had also informed the Indian Prime Minister that the Government would not give up its military operations in the north, especially at a time when Wanni is about to be liberated. He added, "We know that Prabhakaran is on the run. We know he is not in the Wanni any more as we are about to recapture the area. Several LTTE cadres, including Prabhakaran have fled the Wanni, to escape from the security forces."

• December 3: Troops advancing in the areas north and east of Olumaduwai captured one LTTE bunker and killed an unspecified number of militants. Subsequently, the troops recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with five T-56 weapons, one I-com radio set and one battery pack.

  Troops recovered the dead body of a LTTE militant from the Sinnasippukulam area of Vavuniya district. The militant was killed during a clash with the troops on December 2.

  The STF troops in Ampara district shot dead a LTTE militant at Rugama in the Pillumale area and recovered two hand grenades from his possession.

  Another dead body of a LTTE militant was recovered by the SFs from the area east of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The troops recovered the dead body of a LTTE militant along with two T-56 weapons from the Olumaduwai area of Mullaitivu district.

  The SFs clashed with LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Adampan and Nivil areas of Kilinochchi district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  The SFs captured one LTTE camp in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops observed a LTTE boat with militants aboard near the southern edge of the Iranamadu tank in the Kilinochchi district. The troops opened fire towards the boat destroying it completely killing the militants.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised two LTTE camps in the Adampan and Udimuruppukulam tank areas of Kilinochchi district.

  The security forces along the western and southern boundaries of Kilinochchi started pushing further into the LTTE-held town on December 2 after their march was disrupted by the torrential rains and floods that lashed the area during the last two weeks, officials said.

• December 2: Troops captured Periyakulam village, about 1-km west of the newly-captured Otiyamale, in the Mullaitivu district. Periyakulam lies near Vavuniya and Mullaitivu district borders.

  The dead bodies of four people, including three children, were recovered at Maithreepura village in the Padaviya area of Anuradhapura district. According to sources, the victims were mother and her own two children and another child from their neighbours. All the victims were found hacked to death. Meanwhile, Padaviya police found a bag packed with arms and ammunition in thick jungle at Kuda Athimale. According to the Police, the bag contained 10 hand grenades, seven side charge bombs, nine pressure mines, 46 T-56 cartridges, three LTTE uniforms and medical and food items.

  The ICRC in Vavuniya delivered five more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including three females, who were killed during recent clashes in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops attacked groups of LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Adampan, Nivil and Murikkandy areas of Kilinochchi district inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit. The SFs later recovered the dead body of a LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon from the Akkarayankulam area.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, the SFs captured six of the outfit’s trench lines in the area. Subsequently, the troops recovered the dead body of a LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon, one T-81 weapon, one Rocket Propeller Grenade, one 40-mm Grenade Launcher and 65 anti-personnel mines.

  The SFs attacked a LTTE group in the Bogoda area of Thanthirimale bordering the Wilpattu forest reserve. During subsequent search operations, the troops recovered the dead body of a militant, along with a T-56 riffle, four magazines and a belt order.

  The number of civilians fleeing the LTTE-held areas is increasing as the resistance of LTTE waning day by day. According to the defence sources, 15 more civilians have arrived in Vavuniya on December 2-morning at the Omanthai Entry-Exit point Vavuniya, seeking refuge. The officials have taken measures to settle them at a refugee camp in Vavuniya.

  Negombo Police arrested three youths allegedly running a high powered communication centre in the area, suspected to be linked to the LTTE According to police, the suspects who were from Jaffna have been operating this communication centre from a Canal Road residence in Negombo for some time. All three youths, in the age group of 23 to 28 years, are believed to have had connections with a group in Germany, police said. The police also seized some of the equipment used for the operations of the high powered communication centre.

• December 1: Troops completed the capture of Kokavil town area about 15-km north of Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Kokavil, a key town on the Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road in the south of Kilinochchi was captured by the troops after advancing three kilometers southwards from Murikkandy. "It was after 18 years that troops regained control of Kokavil town on the A-9 road," an unnamed senior military official said. Earlier, troops launched their operation from the north east of Mankulam, cleared the A-9 road up to the strategic junction town of Mankulam after capturing the Mankulam town. Following the capture of the Kokavil town the troops also took control of the areas in the East of A-9 road after advancing their defence line towards the Eastern edge of the Iranamadu tank area, sources added.

  The SFs captured one LTTE bunker in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit. Troops also recovered one T-56 weapon and one I-com set from the incident site.

  At Adampan in the Kilinochchi district, the troops attacked a group of LTTE militants and killed or injured an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district clashed with the LTTE militants killing or injuring an unspecified number of militants. One soldier was also injured in the same area in an anti-personnel mine explosion.

  A provincial LTTE leader, Thangawel Krishnapillei alias Chuti, was shot dead by the Police at Eravur in the Batticaloa district. According to the Police, Chuti who was arrested by the Eravur Police few days ago and he was shot dead when tried to shoot the officers when they were searching for the weapons he had hidden in the Eravur area.

  The fighter jets of the SLAF neutralised three fortified LTTE camps in the northeast of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

• November 30: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai east area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered dead bodies of three militants along with three T-56 weapons and one I-com set.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Murikkandy and Adampan areas of Kilinochchi district attacked and killed and injured an unspecified number of militants. The SFs also captured two bunkers of the outfit in the north of Akkarayankulam.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in Andankulam and north of Kumulamunai areas the troops neutralised two more LTTE bunkers and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunitions. An unspecified number of militants were killed in these clashes

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai and Ponnar areas of Jaffna district inflicting heavy casualties upon them. One soldier sustained injuries in explosion of an anti-personnel mine during the clashes.

  The SLAF MI-24 Helicopter gun ships neutralised a LTTE camp, constructed along the LTTE earth bund near Murikkandy junction in the Kilinochchi district.

  Italy recognised the dangerous potential of terrorists by arresting those with alleged links to the LTTE, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Italy, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya told Adnkronos International (AKI). In an interview with AKI in Rome, Warnakulasuriya said the Italian government had taken the lead in Europe in clamping down on anyone who tried to extort money from the Sri Lankan community to support the outfit. Italian authorities in June arrested 28 suspected LTTE sympathisers in nine Italian cities, including Rome and Naples. Warnakulasuriya said others had been arrested elsewhere in Italy. "The Italian Government supports Sri Lanka in its fight against terror agents. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is a terror organisation whose tentacles spread all over the world," he told AKI, adding, "It is an organisation against civilisation and democracy. The Italians realised this and prosecuted those involved."

• November 29: The troops advancing in the northeast entered Otiyamale town located southwest of Tannimurippukulam in the Mullaitivu district, the military said. An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and injured in the operation. During subsequent search operation the troops recovered dead bodies of four militants and a cache of weapons.

  Dead bodies of five LTTE militants, including a female cadre, who were killed during confrontations in the Padaviya and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

  Clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district in which troops killed and injured an unspecified number of militants.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed an unspecified number of militants. Troops also sustained injuries in these clashes.

  Troops deployed in the Nivil area of Kilinochchi district monitored LTTE transmissions and confirmed that the outfit has suffered heavy losses due to aerial attacks of the SLAF’s fighter jets and helicopter gun ships.

  One civilian, identified as Illayathambi Kurukulasingham, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his residence in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.

  The fighter jets of the SLAF neutralized an LTTE training camp in the Piramanthalkulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Another air raid was carried out by the MI–24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF on a LTTE camp south of Adampan in the Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs cordoned several areas in Batticaloa and conducted a combined search operation throughout the day time. Following intelligence information about presence of a few LTTE infiltrators, these combined cordon and search operations were conducted in Batticaloa, Eravur, Valaichchenai, Karadiyankadu, Vakarai, Aithiyamalai, Vavuvathivu, Kokkadicholai, Kaththankudy and Kalawanchikudi. Police questioned 11963 persons out of which 123 were detained for further inquiries. Three more suspects believed to have connections to the LTTE were also arrested during the search. The SFs conducted this special cordon and search operation in the wake of a series of murders and criminal acts including the most recent killing of the medical officer. At least 15 civilians have been killed in the last few days.

  Kandy and its suburbs have been identified as the second most LTTE-threatened area after Colombo, according to intelligence reports. The Deputy Inspector General (Central Province), Pujith Jayasundara, said police recently arrested 115 persons during raids in the Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya areas and information gathered from three of the arrested persons led to the recovery of 500-kilograms of C4 explosives and four claymore mines. In another case, a person caught transporting a large quantity of explosives by lorry admitted to previously transporting some 1,000-kilograms of explosives to Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya. Suicide squads of 11 LTTE cadres were reportedly living in the Kandy area, Jayasundara said.

• November 28: At least 75 SLA soldiers were confirmed dead and more than 160 injured during fighting with the LTTE in the Kunchankulam area of Kilinochchi district, sources revealed on November 28, according to pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net. Several decomposed bodies of SLA soldiers were still lying within the no-man area.

  Clashes erupted between the two sides at Otiyamale in the Vavuniya district in which the LTTE suffered an unspecified number of casualties. Subsequently, the SFs recovered dead bodies of five militants along with four T-56 weapons and one I-com set.

  Troops operating in the Kumulamunai area of Mullaitivu district clashed with the LTTE militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon them.

  The STF personnel observed a group of LTTE militants moving along the Shanthimale-Unnachchi road in the Batticaloa district and opened fire towards them. While the militants managed to escape the troops during subsequent search operation recovered one claymore mine weighing about 5-kilograms, one hand grenade, four APMs, one wire role, one large pack, one belt order, one communication set and one exploder.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF shelled a LTTE heavy gun positions in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs on search and clear operations in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district recovered two I-com sets, two claymore mines, 14 detonators, one improvise explosive device, seven APMs and 1.5-kilograms of C-4 explosives.

  The SFs recovered a pair of footwear laden with C-4 explosives lying by the side of Kapuwatta by-road in the Gampaha district.

  The STF personnel observed a group of LTTE militants moving along the Shanthimale-Unnachchi road in the Batticaloa district and opened fire towards them. While the militants managed to escape the troops during subsequent search operation recovered one claymore mine weighing about 5-kilograms, one hand grenade, four APMs, one wire role, one large pack, one belt order, one communication set and one exploder.

  The SFs on search and clear operations in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district recovered two I-com sets, two claymore mines, 14 detonators, one improvise explosive device, seven APMs and 1.5-kilograms of C-4 explosives.

• November 27: Troops clashed with militants in the Kilali and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district, Akkarayankulam and Nivil in the Kilinochchi district and Andankulam and Kumulamunai in the Vavuniya district.

  A Non Governmental Organization employee was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Batticaloa. Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara said that the victim, identified as A. Vigneswaran, worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Batticaloa.

  Suspected LTTE militants shot dead a Hindu priest, Subramanium Kamalaraj, the chief priest of the Sri Sivamuttu Kali Amman Kovil (Temple), at Mamangama in Batticaloa.

  One trooper was killed when troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the area south of Inguruhinna in the Thoppigala region of Batticaloa district. The militants, however, managed to escape.

  Troops in Trincomalee recovered three hand grenades during a search conducted in the Pokurani area. Similarly, one claymore mine, weighing about seven kilograms, and a remote controller was recovered by the troops from the Palacholi area.

  Troops in the Amman Nagar area of Muttur in the Trincomalee district recovered one Rocket Propeller Gun bomb, one T-56 weapon, three magazines, two hand grenades, six anti-personnel mines, six fuses, five 60-mm mortar bombs and six detonators.

  Mangala Samaraweera, leader of the SLFP-M, said on November 27 that the fate of one officer and three soldiers allegedly captured by the militants in Kungchupparanthan was not known. 700 critically injured soldiers were admitted to Anuradhapura Military hospital, another 700 in SLA Hospital Colombo, 250 in Colombo National Hospital, 160 in Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, 90 in Ragama Hospital and 65 in Kalubowila Hospital, according to Samaraweera.

  The LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, while vowing to fight on and evict Government forces from their 'land', said his organization wants to stop the war and seek a peaceful resolution to the national question of the Tamil people. In his "Hero’s Day" speech, an annual ritual followed since 1989, delivered from an undisclosed location in the jungles of Wanni on November 27, he said, "We are waging a defensive war for the freedom of our people." He urged the Tamil people living outside the country to contribute to his movement to "strengthen the hands of our freedom movement and continue to extend their contributions and help."

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed a key radio communication centre of the LTTE located in the Paranthan area of Kilinochchi district, minutes before Prabhakaran was to make his speech. According to Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, jets neutralised the target around 5:00pm (SLST). Prabhakaran reportedly delivered his speech by 5:40pm over his clandestine radio transmission Voice of Tigers from in an undisclosed location.

  Reports indicated that the ‘Hero’s Week’ of the LTTE in northern part of Sri Lanka failed to evoke much response. According to sources in Wanni, the celebrations were held only in Mullaitivu district as people of the other key areas in the North have rejected the celebrations. The LTTE had urged the people in those areas to close down all the shops and offices even in Vavuniya and Jaffna, but the order was disregarded, sources added. Sri Lanka Police said that they have tightened the security in those areas where the celebrations were held in past years but no such incidents were reported this time.

• November 26: Police said a family of mother, father, son and daughter were killed at Pillaiar Road in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.

  An unspecified number of LTTE militants were killed and several others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kumulamunai area of Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of five militants, including three female cadres. One female militant was also arrested with gunshot injuries. Four T-56 weapons, one hand-held radio set, one Global Positioning System, one pouch, one harness, one belt order and five hand grenades were also recovered from the incident site. During another clash in the same area, the SFs captured one LTTE camp.

  The troops are now advancing towards Mullaitivu, the military said on November 26. Troops of 59 Division now consolidating positions north of Kumulamunai in the Mullaitivu battlefront fought fierce battles with the LTTE militants that lasted for few hours inflicting heavy casualties on the outfit, defence officials said. In a subsequent search operation conducted in the area troops reportedly recovered dead bodies of five militants. Another battle formation under 59 Division marching towards Alampil on the north-eastern coast captured over one square kilometre, defence sources added. In addition, Task Force 3 troops are advancing towards Mullaitivu along the A-34 Mankulam-Mullaitivu road, defence sources added further.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs clashed with the militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  Troops continued their advance further towards Kilinochchi attacking LTTE camps in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The fall of Kilinochchi, the LTTE’s strategic bastion in the Wanni and its core administrative capital is imminent as troops had established positions in the outskirts of Kilinochchi district, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. Briefing the media at the Media Centre for National Security on the security situation, Minister Rambukwella said, "Our troops are marching forward to liberate Kilinochchi and are poised to capture it despite heavy LTTE resistance." He said that the security forces were moving from the south, southwest and west of Kilinochchi, adding, "Security Forces are marching forward inflicting heavy casualties among Tiger cadres despite bad weather."

• November 25: Troops captured Olumaduwai, a major base of the LTTE four kilometres northeast of Mankulam along the Mankulam-Mullaitivu (A-34) road in the Mullaitivu district. The Task Force-3 entered the Olumaduwai area after a fierce battle that lasted several days, military sources said. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the operation.

  A group of LTTE militants moving in the Ambagaswewa area, about 10-kilometre northeast of Horowpathana, in the Anuradhapura district were observed and attacked by the troops. Later, troops with the assistance of Civil Defence Force personnel conducted a search operation in the area and recovered the dead bodies of four militants.

  The STF personnel attacked a three-member LTTE group on in the Karaweddi area of Batticaloa district. The STF later recovered the dead bodies of all three militants along with two T-56 weapons, three anti-personnel mines, three fuses, eight magazines, 124 rounds ammunition and two packs from the incident site.

  Three LTTE cadres were shot dead by the security forces at Vavuvathivu in the same district.

  The LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting two soldiers on a motorbike patrolling on the Kurumanveli jetty road in the Kalavanchchikudy area of Batticaloa district, about 19-kilometre south of Batticaloa town, killing them on the spot.

  The STF killed two militants in an encounter at a location 329 and 330-km posts on the Urani-Komari road in the Ampara district. The STF later recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons, six magazines, two hand grenades and a few dry ration packets.

  A retired Grama Sevaka (local village official), his mother and son were killed by unidentified assailants in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district. Meanwhile, another unidentified dead body was handed over to Kalawanchikudi hospital.

  Another suspect who did not obey an order to stop near a STF checkpoint was also shot dead in the Eastern Province, police sources said.

  Two dead bodies of militants recovered during search operations conducted by the troops following recent clashes in Wanni were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross officials at Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district.

  Monitored LTTE transmission revealed that a senior militant, identified as Lieutenant Colonel Stanley, was killed recently in Wanni.

  Troops attacked a group of LTTE militants moving closer to the present defence line of the outfit in the Kilali area of Jaffna district forcing the militants to withdraw to further south of the Jaffna- Kandy (A-9) road leaving their weapons behind. Troops confirmed that militants suffered heavy casualties in the attack.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam and Kumulamunai areas of Vavuniya district killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Kumulamunai area and later recovered the dead body of one female cadre along with two hand grenades and one magazine.

  BBC Sinhala reports that the campaign group, Human Rights Watch, has accused the TMVP of carrying out a wave of killings and abductions in the east of the country. The group said TMVP had been involved in about 30 murders and an equal number of kidnappings during September and October. Most of those abducted are reported to be children. Meanwhile, Health Minister of the eastern provincial council, M.L.A.M. Hisbullah, told BBC Sandeshaya that abductions and killings had decreased in the region.

  The Colombo Magistrate Court issued a notice to eight members of the TRO, frontal organisation of the LTTE, to appear in courts regarding allegations over its finances. The Magistrate Court made this order following an application made by the CID. According to sources of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the TRO had used its funds to finance LTTE activity. The CID had conducted investigations on this issue following a complaint made by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The eight TRO members are required to appear in courts on February 9, 2009.

  The final report of the EU delegation which visited Sri Lanka in July 2008 is to be presented to the EU parliament later this week, a top EU official said. The report calls upon the LTTE to lay down arms and enter the negotiating process and immediately stop its forcible recruitment of local NGO workers and children to its terrorist organization.

• November 24: Three dead bodies of LTTE militants, including one female cadre, killed in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district were handed over to officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

  One soldier was injured when he accidentally trod an LTTE laid anti-personnel mine during a search operation conducted in the jungles, north of Galge area on the Kumbukkanoya road in the Moneragala district.

• November 23: Army troops overran the LTTE’s Entry/Exit point at Omanthai in the Vavuniya after clearing the defence lines of the outfit in the area, the military said. The Defence Ministry said that troops of the Task Force 2 are now consolidating defences at Omanthai. "The domination over Omanthai will enable the Army to further extend the defence lines linking Mankulam - Oddusudan- Kumulamunai," the Ministry said. More than 40 LTTE cadres were killed in the incident.

  The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that at least 43 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 70 wounded in the latest fighting that broke out at Nallur on Poonakari-Paranthan road in the Kilinochchi district.

  The Army intensified its thrust on Kilinochchi, marching towards the city from three frontiers and neutralising many defences, including several points of an earth bund (embankment) constructed by the LTTE, the Defence Ministry said.

  Troops of the 59 Division operating on the Mullaitivu battlefront continued their forward dominations into the LTTE held areas.

  A few LTTE supporters who tried to disrupt a peaceful demonstration held by the Sri Lankans in Paris had to make a hasty retreat under police protection. The LTTE supporters started to shout pro-LTTE slogans when the demonstration began at 3.00pm and some of the LTTE supporters made threatening gestures to the demonstrators, but when the young girls and boys started to shout slogans denouncing the outfit, the LTTE supporters had to retreat.

  A Sri Lanka Defence Ministry statement claimed that 41 civilians in two groups broke out of the LTTE-held areas and arrived at the Omanthai roadblock in the Vavuniya district.

• November 22-23: 120 LTTE militants and 27 soldiers were killed during clashes between the two sides as fighting intensifies for Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka army said. "Pitched battled in Muhamalai, north of Adampan to the south of Paranthan-Pooneryn road in Kilinochchi, north of Kumulamunai in Welioya during the weekend have caused loss of 120 Tiger terrorists and injury to over 80 more," Defence Ministry said. 70 soldiers were injured while a few others went missing. Troops of the Task Force 1 and 57 Division deployed in the Adampan and Pudumurippukulam had come under a massive LTTE counter attack since November 23-evening. Troops of the two units have come in three fronts towards the center of the town. The 57th Division fighting in the Terumurikandi area have captured about 1.2-km stretch on the earth bund (embankment) built across the Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road establishing their position just a few hundred meters short of the A-9 road, immediately south of the Kilinochchi built up, defence authorities said.

• November 22: Troops operating in the areas north of Akkarayankulam and Nivil in the Kilinochchi and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district respectively clashed with the militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit. A few soldiers were also injured in these clashes.

  Two Police officers were shot dead by unidentified militants at two different locations - at Eravur and Kalawanchikudi – in the Batticaloa district.

  Police recovered two unidentified dead bodies of youths at Kalawanchikudi in the Batticaloa district.

  One more dead body of a militant killed during confrontations in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district was handed over to the ICRC by the SFs.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized a LTTE camp, about 7-km northeast of Akkarayankulam tank bund in the Kilinochchi district.

  Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said that the LTTE now have around 3,000 fighters with 2,000 of them forcibly recruited, and would die as the SFs close in on Vishvamadu close to Kilinochchi. He said that at this juncture Velupillai Prabhakaran would decide to flee from the country as some others would surrender. The Army Commander said that there would be a chance for the LTTE leader to flee in a dinghy boat or in a low lying fast aircraft. He added that the Navy and the Air Force should take measures to prevent him fleeing the country. The Army Commander also said that Prabhakaran is now injured according to verified evidence and he is a patient running from bunker to bunker without medicine. However, a recently released report by the University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) quoting sources from the Wanni says since early September the LTTE has conscripted 9,000 ‘very young’ persons who are now under training.

• November 21: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Adampan area of Kilinochchi district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with five T-56 weapons.

  In the area north of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district, the SFs launched an attack on the LTTE earth bund and inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, the SFs captured an LTTE camp with four bunkers and eight huts. An unspecified number of militants were also killed in the incident.

  In pre-dawn clashes with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district the troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit. A few soldiers also sustained injuries following explosion of anti-personnel mines in the area.

  Troops advanced further towards Kilinochchi amid heavy resistance from the outfit and captured more defences of the outfit after intense fighting, the military said. According to the defence sources, troops of Task Force 1 and 57 Division launched three frontal assaults at the central Kilinochchi battlefront in the North of Kokavil, Murikkandy and North of Akkarayankulam on November 20 and inflicted heavy casualties upon the LTTE. Troops of 57 Division also captured three LTTE bunkers in the Murikkandy area. Also, Task Force 1 troops now advancing along the B-69 Pooneryn-Paranthan road reportedly gained control over a stretch of the main road and is positioned approximately 14-km from Paranthan. Further, Task Force 3 troops operating in the Mankulam area repulsed LTTE small arms fire on November 21 and recovered dead bodies of two militants along with three T-56 assault rifles during the subsequent search operations.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Adampan area of Kilinochchi district and killed an unspecified number of militants.

  Troops recovered the dead body of a militant along with one T-56 weapon and four hand grenades from the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  The MI-24 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a LTTE camp, about 6.5-km northeast of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  Troops recovered a huge arms cache following extensive search and clear operations conducted in the Pooneryn, Kalmunai point and other surrounding areas. The recoveries included suicide boats and jackets, a few hundreds of T-56 weapons and LTTE I-com radio sets, several mortars, 12.7-mm weapons, claymore mines, thousands of ammunition rounds, detonator cords, wire rolls, remote control devices, fuses, oxygen cylinders, hand grenades, pistols, pistol rounds and a large stock of other LTTE warlike items.

• November 20: At least 130 SLA soldiers lost their lives and more than 450 were wounded in the offensive push within the last three days on Kilali and Muhamalai fronts in the Jaffna district, according to a Sri Lankan military source, claimed the pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. 29 SLA soldiers died sustaining sniper fire and several others were killed while they were trapped in the LTTE minefield. The LTTE, however, is yet to release details on the fighting in Northern Front.

  In addition, Mangala Samaraweera, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana wing), said on November 20 that 200 SLA soldiers were killed on November 18 alone and more than 700 had sustained injuries in the recent fighting in Wanni, the Website added. "I know that by last Tuesday, 235 injured soldiers were brought to Colombo National Hospital. It was reported that 85 were brought to Kalubowila, 90 to Jayewardenepura and more than 300 to the military hospital. Also, the bodies of more than 200 brave sons of this country were brought to Jayaratne Funeral Directors."

  More than 50 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as troops in Jaffna overran the first FDL of the outfit in the strategic bottleneck and the lagoon to the north and south of the A-9 Jaffna-Kandy Highway. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed in the fighting that lasted for a few days.

  Troops attacked LTTE camps in the Akkarayankulam and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district and killed unspecified number of militants. The troops later recovered de-composed dead bodies of two militants along with five hand grenades and one T-56 weapon from the Andankulam area.

  The SFs also recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with three T-56 weapons, one I-com set and one compass after a confrontation in the eastern Mankulam area.

  Air Force troops in the Kirichchikuddan area of Vavuniya district recovered the dead body of another militant along with two claymores, two hand grenades, three magazines, 60 ammunition rounds, 12 APMs and eight fuses.

  Troops captured one of the LTTE airstrips located in the Nivil area in Pooneryn on November 20-afternoon. The airstrip is about 200m in length and made by demarcating a strip of the B-69 Pooneryn-Paranthan main road. The strip is believed to be used as an emergency landing strip by the LTTE. Meanwhile, troops have established their forward boundaries about 14-km west from Paranthan and engaged in clearing operations currently, defence sources said.

  Refuting certain media reports and allegations, Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa reiterated that the LTTE has been completely defeated and driven out of Pooneryn and Mankulam with absolutely no hopes of a return. Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Parliament he said, "This is in no way a ‘tactical pull-out’ as some critics strive to portray. They used all means at their disposal such as the construction of bunds and various other obstacles on our path to prevent us from reaching there. Losing the A-32 route has been a major blow to them. We are in a very strong position now, with LTTE’s hopes and aspirations of re-gaining their lost territory a myth."

  The LTTE decides who works for the NGOs, and these aid organisations are persuaded, or coerced, to do what the LTTE wants, military Website Strategy Page said. The families of those who get NGO jobs via the LTTE, are obliged to provide one or more teenage or adult men or women for the LTTE combat units, and these "volunteers" are expected to be diligent soldiers, or else their families will suffer, the Website added.

• November 19: Troops advancing towards Kokavil, south of Kilinochchi, by November 19-afternoon closed in on the Kokavil town centre perimeter where the Kokavil Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC) transmission tower stands. The LTTE had captured the area in November 1990 after the militants launched an attack on the Army detachment at the SLRC tower which spread transmission to the entire northern part of the island.

  18 dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including seven female cadres, who were killed in the clashes in Mannar and Vavuniya areas, were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Vavuniya.

  Clashes continued between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district in which an unspecified number of militants were killed and injured. Several soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the deep north of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Similarly, clashes erupted between the two sides in the in Nivil area. An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured in these clashes.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district the SFs killed several LTTE militants. A few soldiers were also killed.

  The SFs have decided to limit the distance of the Madavachchiya bound train with immediate effect in preparation of LTTE's Heroes Day commemoration event. Additionally, the SFs have commenced special search operations in railway stations to safeguard the passengers.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse has again urged Velupillai Prabhakaran and the LTTE to give up violence in the interest of the Tamils of the country and enter into negotiations with the Government.

  Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the capture of Pooneryn has dealt a severe blow to the LTTE arms smuggling capability across Palk Strait, as the latest achievement by the security forces have denied the outfit access to the North Western Coastal belt.

  The ICRC is holding discussions with both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to find suitable arrangements for a crossing point in northern Sri Lanka. Paul Castella, the ICRC's head of delegation in Sri Lanka, said that finding an arrangement for movement between Government and LTTE-controlled territory is essential for the safe passage of civilians, ambulances and food convoys, and for the return of bodies of fallen fighters. "All arrangements concerning crossing-point procedures, including location and opening hours, must be agreed to by both the government and the LTTE," Castella said, adding, "Until a clear arrangement is found, the ICRC will continue to approach both parties to the conflict on a case-by-case basis to facilitate the movement of ambulances and the transfer of dead bodies of security-force and LTTE fighters."

• November 18: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kottakkarankulam, Akkarayankulam, Kovil Point and adjoining areas of Kilinochchi district and later recovered the dead body of a militant from Kottakkarankulam. A few soldiers also sustained injuries following clashes in the east of Akkarayankulam. Separately, militants triggered mine explosions targeting troops moving further north.

  Troops of 59 Division operating on the Mullaitivu battlefront clashed with LTTE militants in the Andankulam area since early November 17-morning. Intercepted LTTE radio communication confirmed that several militants were killed.

  Two LTTE area leaders sustained injuries in SF’s tacks on two LTTE vehicles in the Andankulam and Mankulam areas. The SFs also recovered these armour-plated vehicles, the driver of one of which was killed in the attack.

  MI-24 helicopter gun ships of the Sri Lanka Air Force shelled a LTTE camp, about 10-km east of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a LTTE training base, about 6-km south of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu district.

  Four civilians who were abducted by suspected LTTE cadres at Rathmale in the Horowpathana area of Anuradhapura district were released on November 18-evening while a special search operation was undergoing. Police said the abductors on November 17 had detained a group of nine civilians, sand miners in the Rathmale area, first and then released five of them on the same night demanding them to bring back food and other essential items in exchange for the release of others. The suspected group has handed the abductees SLR 40,000 to purchase their needs.

  There is the possibility of the Government proscribing the LTTE, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. The Government continued the humanitarian operation launched from Mavil Aru because the people requested it and now the Government may even proscribe the LTTE before the people requested it, he said. The Prime Minister also said that despite a continuous setback in the battlefield, the LTTE leadership was not working in a responsible manner, adding, "If he continues to act in this manner, the Government may proscribe this group as a terrorist outfit in the country according to the 6th paragraph of the constitution," adds Daily Mirror.

  The Central Bank announced that it has forfeited a sum of SLR 71 million of TRO, a LTTE front organization, to the State. The Government had confiscated the assets of TRO in August 2006 under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act and the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act. The Government charged that the money received by TRO from various donors for humanitarian projects were, according to intelligence reports, mainly used to finance terrorist activity.

  The Sri Lankan Navy confronted a Sea Tiger flotilla off the coast of Nayaru in the Mullaitivu district killing six Sea Tigers and destroying two boats in the pre-dawn hours, the military said. The SLAF MI-24 helicopter gun ships also provided close air support to the Navy causing the other four other LTTE craft to flee while damaging another.

• November 17-18: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs area on November 17-18 and inflicted heavy casualties on the outfit. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed and the operation is reportedly still continuing. Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that the LTTE in Jaffna put up stiff resistance against the SLA that attempted to advance across the outfit’s FDL four times between November 17-noon and 10:00am (SLST) on November 18. At least 36 SLA soldiers were killed and 90 others wounded, the LTTE said.

• November 17: Troops attacked more LTTE camps in the areas east of Akkarayankulam and Nivil in the Kilinochchi and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district inflicting heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  The SFs captured the strategically important Kumulamunai village south of Mullaitivu and the key junction town of Mankulam on the A-9 road. Troops also recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE militants and an armour plated cab. Troops now reportedly control the Mulliyavali village west of Kumulamunai and next to the Nagacholai forest reserve.

  Troops captured the strategically important key junction town of Mankulam on the A-9 road. It is key junction on the A-9 road with roads leading to Mullaitivu to the West, Vellankulam to the East, Kilinochchi to the North and Omanthai to the South.

  Troops clashed with militants at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district and recovered dead bodies of three militants, including a Sea Tiger cadre and one from LTTE’s ‘Sodiya’ Group.

  Unidentified assailants shot dead two TELO members and injured four others in their office at Kurumankadu in Vavuniya.

  The LTTE militants shot dead a Medical Officer and a civilian at about 10.00pm in the Vavuvathivu area of Batticaloa district.

  The SLAF neutralized a LTTE camp in the deep jungles, about 10-km east of Akkarayankulam, in the Kilinochchi district.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs seized a TATA four-wheel drive armour-plated double cab and recovered one LMG, two T-56 weapons, one RPG, two RPG bombs, one mattress, one radio set and a battery charger from inside the double cab.

  Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has said that the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran can continue his strategic withdrawals from Paranthan, Elephant Pass, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu as well. He denied the LTTE's statement that the withdrawal from Pooneryn was a strategic one and reminded that the outfit had told the same when they lost other bastions of theirs. Rajapakse said that Prabhakaran’s dream State would soon collapse as the security forces would soon capture Kilinochchi.

  Informed sources say that around 70 cadres of the TMVP have defected the organization to rejoin the LTTE during the past few months. Some of these cadres have killed their colleagues prior to their fleeing to join the outfit, sources say. There are around 1,200 armed cadres of the TMVP in the Eastern Province. Plans are afoot to recruit 300 of them to Civil Defense Force and to send another number for foreign employment.

• November 16: Troops neutralized a LTTE bunker killing at least four militants ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Akkarayankulam and Nivil areas of Kilinochchi district, the SFs inflicted heavy casualties upon the LTTE. The troops later recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons.

  Troops confronted with a group of LTTE militants in the Kovilankulam area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties to the militants. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons and three hand grenades.

  The fighting jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized two LTTE camps ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The SLAF fighter jets twice bombed a LTTE camp, about 1-km northeast of Palali junction in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• November 15: Pooneryn, the LTTE bastion in Northern Province, fell to the troops advancing amid heavy resistance, the military said. Defence sources said the troops are still fighting pitch battles in the area.

  Troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Nallur and south of Nevil areas of Kilinochchi district. An unspecified number of militants were reportedly killed and injured in these clashes. Troops also found the dead body one militant along with three T-56 weapons and one radio set from the Nallur area.

  Troops neutralised 16 well-fortified bunkers of the outfit in the north of Andankulam in Vavuniya district killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants. Troops also recovered one decomposed dead body of a LTTE cadre along with his dog tag (2604), 5500 T-56 ammunitions, eight hundred MPMG ammunitions, nine hand grenades and 192 APMs.

  An unspecified number of LTTE cadres were killed and injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kilaly, Muhamalai, Kattiaratan and Vembadukeri FDL areas of the Jaffna district.

  The SFs destroyed LTTE defences in the deep north of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The security forces on search and clear operations in Naval Headwork area of the Trincomalee district recovered one T-56 magazine, 30 ammunitions, one AMP, one I-com communication set, one CDMA phone and one poncho Cape.

  The Janes’s Defence Weekly said it was in a position to confirm that the LTTE made at least one attempt to transport a consignment of artillery rounds by air to the outfit-controlled areas in the Wanni. It said commercial satellite imagery obtained by Jane's confirmed that between 2004 and 2007, the outfit constructed two airstrips that could handle aircraft capable of transporting weapons’ cargo from Central or Southeast Asia.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the nation following the military victory over Pooneryn reiterated his commitment to a political solution to the conflict and called on the LTTE leader to lay down arms and come to negotiations.

  Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan aka Pillayan said that he has no reason to believe that LTTE was behind the assassination of the TMVP Secretary Kumarasamy Nandagopan aka Ragu. The Chief Minister said that incidents like this will negatively influence those who are moving from militancy to democracy.

• November 14: The Personal Secretary to the Eastern Province Chief Minister and TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan aka Pillayan and his driver were assassinated by suspected the LTTE militants at Oruwela in the Athurugiriya area of Colombo district. Pillayan’s Co-ordinating Secretary Kumara-swamy Nandagopan aka Ragu had contested at the Eastern Provincial election as the main TMVP candidate for the Trincomalee district.

  Troops moved further northward and eastward into the interiors of the LTTE held areas in Wanni and the SFs are now positioned just a few kilometers away from Pooneryn and the Kilinochchi town centre. Citing monitored LTTE communication defence officials said troops inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit. A senior LTTE leader, identified as "Lieutenant Colonel Kali Arasan", was killed in clashes on November 12, defence Ministry said.

  Three Muslim school students were abducted by an unknown group of four persons in a van. The abducted students of Henamulla Muslim School are residents of Henamulla in Panadura.

  An LTTE suspect alleged to have disbursed funds to strengthen terrorist activities in the hill country including Kandy and Matara was taken into custody at Ukuwela by the Kandy Anti-terrorist Unit. Police intelligence have revealed that the suspect had undergone special training at Kilinochchi and was behind a number of terrorist acts committed in the hill country. He has been identified as a close accomplice of the hardcore LTTE militant, Kannan.

  November 13: Troops captured the entire triangular Devil’s Point to the west of A-32 Mannar–Pooneryn road in the Kilinochchi district.

  Troops recovered and handed over the dead bodies of 14 LTTE militants, killed during confrontations in the Akkarayankulam area of Mannar and north of Padaviya areas in the past few days, to the ICRC official at Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district.

  Two TMVP members were shot dead at their TMVP office in the Pangudaweli area of Batticaloa district. The victims were identified as A. Arumugam and S. Gunasekaran. Around seven LTTE cadres carried out the attack and fled the area.

  Troops clashed with the militants in the deep north of Akkarayankulam, Mankulam, Pallavi, Nallur and Putuwaddumoddai areas of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi district and recovered an unspecified number of militant’s dead bodies.

  Troops repulsed a LTTE mortar attack and captured one more bunker in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops recovered a LTTE suicide jacket, filled with 1-kg of C-4 explosives kept hidden under the staircase of an abandoned commercial complex at Bangalawatte in the Wattala area, a suburb along the Colombo- Negombo road in the Colombo district.

• November 12: Troops repulsed a LTTE mortar fire towards security force’s Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district. The outfit’s mortar attack and the simultaneous explosion of a booby trap in the same area inflicted a few casualties on the troops.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Thirakkurankulam, Pallikkulam and Nallikulam areas of Kilinochchi district killing and wounding an unspecified number of militants.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district the troops captured three LTTE bunkers. An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured in the incident.

  At Navatkadu in the Batticaloa district the troops recovered one T-56 weapon, three magazines and 78 rounds of ammunition.

  The Omanthai entry/exit point in the Vavuniya district was kept closed by the military in the absence of the ICRC officials at the site. Sarasi Wijeratna, Media coordinator for the ICRC in Sri Lanka said due to some unreasonable incident that took place on November 11, members of ICRC have decided to withdraw from the Omanthai entry/exit point.

  Sri Lankans in the UK are going to launch a hunger strike urging British authorities to stop events organized by the LTTE front organizations that are scheduled to take place in London.

• November 11: Troops of the 58 Division moved further towards Pooneryn after capturing the Valayakudiyurippumoddai defence line in the Kilinochchi district held by the LTTE for the past few days, killing over 30 militants and capturing five dead bodies of the militants. This came hours after the SFs captured the Palavi fishing village in the west of Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road, military sources said.

  Troops of the 59 Division captured a part of Kumulamunai town in the Mullaitivu district. A section of the Kumulamunai-Tannimurippukulam main road was also captured by the troops on the same day. Troops of the 57 Division recovered dead bodies of four female LTTE militants along with four T-56 weapons and one I-com following clashes in the Perimurikandai area of Mullaitivu district.

  The troops entered the strategically important Kumulamunai village, located 12-km south of Mullaitivu, after capturing 21 LTTE bunkers located between Tannimurippukulam and Kumulamunai. According to military officials, Kumulamunai is the first build up area after passing the Andankulam forest reserve in the south of Mullaitivu.

  Six more dead bodies of the LTTE militants killed in clashes with the Army in Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district were delivered to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Vavuniya hospital.

  The SFs captured four trench lines of the LTTE at Valayakudiyurippumoddai in the Kilinochchi district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of five militants along with eight T-56 weapons, according to Sri Lanka Army.

  Troops also recovered the dead body of an unidentified person from the Wannarikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops operating south of Kilinochchi clashed with the LTTE militants killing over seven militants after capturing a few of the bunkers in the southern edge of Kilinochchi.

  Troops killed and injured an unspecified number of militants during clashes in the Kilaly and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the Akkarayankulam and Terumurikandi areas of Kilinochchi district the SFs inflicted unspecified number of casualties upon the LTTE.

  A woman, Ranjidamaller Kethishwaran, carrying a bag with nearly 3.5-kgs of C-4 explosives was arrested at the Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district.

  Police have found two high frequency transmission receivers inside a nine-storey building at Nawam Mawatha in Colombo.

  Sri Lanka Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure announced that 156,203 land mines have been defused since 2002.

  In the wake of security forces advancing further into the LTTE held territory the Government urged civilians to be more vigilant as the outfit might resort to targeting civilians in the South.

  The Government was hoping to build a monument to commemorate the 55 Tamil civilians and crew members of the Lion air craft which went missing on September 29, 1998. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down by the LTTE killing all on board.

  Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said in Parliament that the Government's aim is to create a democratic environment where people of all communities could live in peace, by defeating terrorism.

  The Government said the current military action was not meant to undermine any community in the country. Speaking to the state-run radio, Secretary of the Defence Ministry, Gotabhaya Rajapakse said the present military action was not meant to target the Tamil minority community.

• November 10: Troops attached to the 58 Division took control of Kiranchi, one of the Sea Tiger bases on the North Western coast, military officials said. Kiranchi, located northwest of Nachchakuda, which fell to the hands of the SFs two weeks back, was captured by the 58 Division troops as they completely cut off the land area from north of Nachchakuda to south of Chempankundu on the A-32 road up to the seventh Mile post.

  The SFs in Vavuniya handed over seven more dead bodies of the LTTE militants, including five females, to the ICRC officials across the Omanthe Entry/Exit point.

  Troops of the Task Force-I moved further towards Pooneryn as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Pallavi, Navaladi and Chempankundu areas. An unspecified number of militants and soldiers were killed and injured in these incidents. Meanwhile, during a search operation conducted in the Pallavi area after fighting troops recovered dead bodies of two militants.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district the SFs killed and injured several LTTE militants. A few soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs clashed with the LTTE militants killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants. A few soldiers sustained injuries during the incident. No one was injured

  Two more cadres of the TMVP, identified as Palan Yogarasa from Nawakkadu and Jerad Rosaira from Iridiyapuram, were shot dead inside their party office in the Vavuvathivu area of Batticaloa district. Eight members had been present at the time of the incident. With this killing 15 TMVP cadres have so far been killed in the past two months.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE mortar fire in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. The troops repulsed the attack later.

  Two LTTE anti-personnel mines exploded in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya. However, troops escaped unhurt in the explosion.

• November 9: At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops clashed with the LTTE militants killing and injuring several militants. Troops later recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon, one I-com radio set and 40 anti-personnel mines.

  The SFs on search and clear operations in the Pandarikulam area recovered the dead body of one militant along with 600g of explosives and one 9V battery.

  Clashes erupted between the troops and the LTTE militants in the north of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured in the fighting.

  During separate confrontations in the Palali, Mullaikoduttavil, Navaladi and Chempankundu areas the SFs inflicted heavy casualties upon the LTTE. Troops also sustained minor casualties.

  Troops operating ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district clashed with the LTTE militants. An unspecified number of militants and troops were killed and injured in the incident.

  An attack launched by the troops on LTTE militants in the Vilakkavettikulam area of Vavuniya district completely destroyed one LTTE bunker. An unspecified number of LTTE militants were reported killed and injured in the attack.

  Government troops were close to capturing a key road to Jaffna after months of heavy fighting, the defence ministry said. Heavily armed units have pushed along the coastal road to Jaffna, which had been cut off from the rest of the island by the LTTE in control of the area to the peninsula's south, the ministry said.

  The fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force simultaneously neutralised two LTTE targets in the Kilinochchi district. In the first incident a Sea Tiger Command Centre about 1-km west of Paranthan junction was bombed. The jets also shelled a LTTE artillery gun position located 6-km southeast of Pooneryn.

  Members of the Civil Defence Force recovered one T-56 weapon and a magazine from the Killiveddi area of Trincomalee district.

  The security forces recovered one claymore mine, one hand grenade, 1.5kg of C4 explosives, five electric detonators and 7m of detonator code from the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district.

  TMVP leader Karuna Amman concerned by the infiltration and attacks by the LTTE on the TMVP cadres seek Army assistance to screen members of his party.

  Reports indicate of increased LTTE presence in the east.

  The LTTE said that the organisation is ready for a cease-fire with the Sri Lankan government.

• November 8: Two soldiers and a LTTE cadre were killed in a series of confrontations in the general areas of Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Five LTTE cadres and a soldier were also wounded. During the confrontations, troops destroyed at least three LTTE bunkers in Kilaly and the earth bund built by the LTTE in Muhamalai.

  One more cadre of the TMVP was shot dead bringing the total killed during the last two months to 13. Unidentified assailants shot dead the TMVP cadre, identified as Jeevaraj, and injured another person at their office at Vakarai in the Kadiraweli area of Batticaloa district. Almost all the cases remain unresolved, though the LTTE is accused for the killings. Yet the internal conflicts in the TMVP are also under investigation.

  Troops operating ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district attacked a LTTE position, inflicting heavy casualties to the outfit. Troops also suffered an unspecified number of casualties.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Pallai, Pandarikulam and Mankulam areas of Kilinochchi district and killed and injured an unspecified number of militants. Troops also destroyed three LTTE bunkers.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops inflicted heavy casualties upon the outfit.

  Naval troops conducting a special a search operation in the Kumburupiddy area of Trincomalee district recovered one T-56 weapon, three magazines, 31 round of ammunition, two anti-personnel mines, one claymore mine, five hand grenades, two hand held communication sets, one communication set cover, 8 meter antenna cable, 12 meter antenna wire, one phone charger, 29 pen torch batteries and three cyanide capsules.

• November 7: The Soldiers attached to 59 Division killed at least four LTTE cadres and wounded nine others in Andankulam. A soldier was killed and seven others sustained injuries in the operation.

  Two Civil Defence Force (CDF) officers and a police constable were killed and another CDF officer injured when the LTTE cadres opened fire on them at Kohilaela in Tampitiya. They were attacked while providing security to farmers working in their paddy fields.

  Troops attacked LTTE positions in Mullarkudduvil using mortar fire killing at least three of its cadres and injuring two more. One soldier also sustained injuries during the attack.

  Troops of Task Force I carried out attacks on LTTE positions in the general areas of Mulikuchchan, Palali, Pallavi, Kunchankulam, Chempankundu and Navaladi inflicting heavy damages on LTTE cadres.

  Troops of 57 Division continued their forward march while attacking the LTTE positions in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district causing damages to the LTTE cadres.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopters carried out an aerial strike on an LTTE gathering point in the Palaitivu island off the Pooneryn coast. The Air Force confirmed heavy damages to LTTE terrorists according to the latest reports.

  Troops recovered 147 anti personnel mines during a search operation in Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops of 56 Division operating in Omanthe area arrested a suspected LTTE cadre when he was trying to smuggle explosives into cleared areas hiding in a wooden mortar (wangediya). The explosives include two claymore mines, weighing 5 kg each, two electric detonators, two claymore tripods, one firing device and seven meter detonator code.

• November 6: The SFs handed over the dead bodies of six militants, including two females, to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross at Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district. These militants were reportedly killed in the recent clashes at Akkarayankulam and Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the area south of Kokavil in the Mullaitivu district and inflicted heavy casualties to the militants. During the weapons, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun and one T-81 weapon from the incident site.

  Troops destroyed a few LTTE bunkers and trench lines in the general areas of Wembatukerny and Nagarkovil using heavy weapons inflicting more damages to LTTE. Troops also destroyed about 15-20 m of the LTTE earth bund constructed in Nagarkovil area.

  The clashes continued in the general areas of Akkarayankulam, Kotkallvilly and Villanthavittakulam in Kilinochchi and Andankulam in Welioya. Troops confirmed that LTTE cadres suffered heavy casualties in the confrontations. Troops also recovered 120 anti personnel mines from Andankulam area.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade targeting the STF in the Pothuvil area of Ampara district. However no casualty was reported.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised an LTTE camp, about 1-km northeast of Paranthan in the Kilinochchi district. The target was a location where senior LTTE cadres assemble regularly, according to intelligence information.

  The SFs recovered one camouflage T-shirt with a cap, one poncho cape, one Army cap badge and one civil kit from inside a house in the Kumburumulla area of Trincomalee district.

  During another search operation conducted by the troops in the Kovilkudirippu area of Trincomalee district, the SFs recovered 27 anti-personnel mines, 26 fuses, one Rocket Propeller Grenade bomb and one 60-mm mortar bomb.

  Three top LTTE cadres deployed to spy on road blocks and security arrangements in military camps were arrested at Poronuwa in the Kahawatta area of Ratnapura district.

  The STF troops recovered 11 hand grenades, 5-kg of C-4 explosive, five electric detonators, one improvised explosive device fixed to a motorcycle battery with 1kg of explosive, 20 fuses and 20 anti-personnel mines at Touch Bar in the Kalladi area of Batticaloa district.

  Police Intelligence warned the public that LTTE suicide bombers in the guise of pregnant women, beggars, women carrying children, old men and women etc. have been deployed to carry explosions in the Colombo city.

• November 5: Troops overrun the Akkarayankulam built-up area in the Kilinochchi district. Troops entered the area from two flanks and the operation is still continued in the eastern edge of Akkarayankulam. During subsequent search operations troops recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants along with two T-56 assault riffles and an I-com set, military sources said.

  Unidentified assailants shot dead two TMVP cadres, including the head of the TMVP office of Eravur near the Murugan Kovil in the Sithandy area of Batticaloa district. The victims were identified as Padmanathan Balakrishnan alias Thangapandiyan, head of the TMVP office in Eravur and Sinnapulle Yogaraja. Police spokesman, Ranjith Gunasekera, said, "Two TMVP members including Chief of the TMVP office Eravur on a motorcycle were shot dead by unidentified suspects."

  At Mukkamvillu in the Kilinochchi district, troops clashed with the LTTE militants and inflicted heavy casualties upon them. "The confrontation took place at 3.30 pm and body of a slain LTTE cadre was found along with a motorbike left away by the fleeing outfit cadres," sources said.

  During confrontations with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Akkarayankulam and Kottakkarankulam in the Kilinochchi district the SFs inflicted an unspecified number of casualties upon the outfit.

  The troops attacked LTTE camps in the Kovikadduvittal area of Kilinochchi district inflicting heavy casualties to the LTTE.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district the SFs killed and injured an unspecified number of militants.

  Two soldiers serving at the St. Sebastian SFs check point in Mannar town sustained injuries when the LTTE militants fired at them.

  Five Tamil people were arrested along with explosives and war materials in their possession by the Mannar police at Parayanakulam in Mannar. Police found 118 gelatine sticks, 128 detonators and few other war materials during the search.

  The TMVP will be disarmed within months and integrated into the security forces, said Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan aka ‘Colonel’ Karuna Amman. He informed that the rehabilitation of former cadres under his command had already begun. He said that a thorough screening process would be put in place to prevent the LTTE infiltrating the security forces and stressed that there are no plans at present to recruit former LTTE cadres to the armed forces. If the rehabilitation process is fully implemented, it will be the first time in Sri Lanka that a group which took up arms against the State is integrated into the State security establishment.

• November 4: The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Kovilkadu, Vannerikkulam, Viththar and Pallikkulam areas of Kilinochchi district inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit. At least three dead bodies of the militants along with six T-56 weapons and three I-com radio sets were later recovered from the Pallikkulam and Kovilkadu areas.

  The troops expanded their base lines after a couple of hour fighting with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured on the fighting.

  Troops neutralised more than eight LTTE bunkers in the areas around Kilaly and Nagarkovil FDLs of Jaffna district. Elsewhere in Ponnar, troops attacked one LTTE camp.

  A senior LTTE Tiger leader, Ilakoon, a self styled ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ of the outfit and a member of the ground fighters of the Sea Tigers (cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE), was killed during a confrontation in the Navaladi area of Kilinochchi on November 2, the military said. Defence sources said the intercepted LTTE radio transmissions have revealed the death of their senior leader. A large number of senior leaders of the outfit had been reported killed in recent fighting with the military in the northern battle theatre.

  Kanthankudi Police recovered one T-56 weapon, two magazines and 59 rounds of T-56 ammunition from the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.

  The SFs recovered one camouflage uniform, one anti personnel mine, 33 rounds of 9-mm ammunition, one pistol, one hand-held radio set, one electric detonator, some clothes and food items from the Nagathkulam area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops in the Thanganagar area of Trincomalee district recovered 665-g of C-4 explosives, two detonators, 564 ball bearings, 2-ft detonator code and a 9-V battery.

  The Government confirmed there would be no ban imposed on the LTTE as Sri Lanka was not at war despite several other countries proscribing the outfit and their proxies. Constitutional Affairs Minister Dew Gunasekara said that a LTTE ban was not discussed or considered as the country was not officially at war.

• November 3: Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kovilkadu, Adampil, Pallikkulam and Andankulam areas Vavuniya district, killing or injuring an unspecified number of militants. Troops later recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon during a search operation in the Kovilkadu area.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam areas of Vavuniya district inflicting heavy casualties to the outfit. Nine LTTE bunkers were also captured by the SFs at Matavi Aru area in Andankulam.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the northeast and eastern areas of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district the troops killed or injured an unspecified number if militants.

  A woman carrying an infant was arrested with explosives and detonators at Irattaperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district, police said.

  The SFs attacked LTTE militants in the Wannivilankulam, west of A-9 road and closer to Mankulam, area of Mullaitivu district killing an unspecified number of militants. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 weapons from the incident site.

  Two more Sea Tiger bases in the Vettalaikerny area of Kilinochchi district were neutralised by the by Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts.

  The LTTE paid SLR 25,000 to the parents who reportedly permitted one of their children to join the organization, a female suspect revealed to the police. The suspect, from the north and currently under detention by the Terrorist Investigation Division had told the police that her parents handed her to the LTTE for money. Inquiries revealed that she had undergone one year’s training in Kilinochchi as a suicide cadre and come down to Colombo to carry out a mission on a VIP.

  A fugitive Sri Lankan has been given the maximum sentence of 45 months for his role in the theft of 80 assault rifles from a Swiss Army depot two years ago. The district court in canton Berne handed a sentence of 42 months to one of the three Swiss defendants, and gave suspended sentences of 14 and 24 months to two accomplices. One of the thieves was said to have been inspired by the conflict between the Forces and the LTTE. His Tamil acquaintance apparently had the right connections to smuggle weapons into Sri Lanka. But the Swiss were caught out by an undercover agent and eventually arrested. Most of their booty stolen from a depot in canton Fribourg was recovered. The court ruled in favour of the harsh sentences because, it said, the thieves were unconcerned by the suffering the weapons could cause. The theft provided ammunition of army critics at the time who were calling for a ban on military weapons being stored at home. The Defence Ministry said that more than 4,300 army guns had been lost or stolen over the past 10 years.

  President Rajapakse has reportedly invited the LTTE proxy party, TNA for a meeting this week to discuss the way forward on the political solution the Government intends to propose.

  Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka declared that over 80 per cent of the war against the LTTE has been completed after regaining 80 per cent of the areas under them and killing over 12,000 of their cadres. The Army Commander also said that he is confident that he can complete the task of defeating the LTTE during his tenure as he promised earlier.

• November 2-3: Four Tamil youths were shot dead and another seriously injured by motor bike riding LTTE militants at Kurunchchiady, a coastal locality in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district on November 2. While two died on the spot the other two succumbed to injuries later. The death toll in the shooting incident increased to five as one youth who was severely injured in the shooting succumbed to his injuries on November 3-morning at the Kalmunai hospital. Four of the victims were identified as Jayasekar Nisanthan, Kadiravadively Rajakurendran, Somasundaram Kartik, and Muttupillai Sri Sudaharan.

• November 2: The troops opened fire on a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Maniarkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Details of the incident are awaited.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district and killed and inured an unspecified number of militants.

  At Sangarapuram in the Vavuniya district, the SFs fired small arms at the LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant.

  During separate confrontations in Tannimurippukulam and Mankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE.

  Troops neutralised an LTTE camp at Pallikkulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna destroying at least one of them.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force destroyed a LTTE logistic and training base, about 2.5 kilometers north of Iranamadu forest.

  At least 93 people were arrested for suspicious terrorist connections in the village of Kalpitiya, about 165-km from the capital Colombo, in the Puttalam district. All arrested were people who had arrived in Kalpitiya from Northern and Eastern provinces and living in temporary locations in the village, police added. They were arrested during a house to house search for suspicious terrorist connections.

  The Government will declare a cease-fire only if the LTTE lay down weapons and surrender, President Mahinda Rajapakse told India Today in an interview.

  A Defence Ministry statement said, "Fighting was reported between troops and LTTE at Kovilkoduttavil, Podimuruppukulama and Urutirapurankulama. This phase of the military surge has forced the LTTE to retreat with heavy casualties. The LTTE is on the verge of losing its ‘supply line’ along the western coast."

  Responding to the request made to the international community, Russia and Czech Republic have come forward to help the government of Sri Lanka to destroy the small aircraft of the LTTE air wing.

• November 1-2: The SLN foiled an attack by a flotilla of Sea boats in the seas between Nagarkovil and Point Pedro in the Jaffna district destroying at least four boats and killing more than 14 militants aboard the boast on November 1- morning. Later on November 2, reports confirmed that 16 militants were killed.

  On November 1, troops breached a stretch of 2-km LTTE defence line at Paddaruyal Villu, about 3-km east of A-32 road, in the Kilinochchi district destroying their bunkers along the. Although troops claimed to have killed a large number of militants they could recover a total of 17 dead bodies of the militants including 10 females have been recovered according to the formation available on November 2. Intelligence reports confirmed that all female cadres killed in confrontations belonged to LTTE’s Malathi group.

• November 1: Troops when tried to question two suspicious young men at Ariyalai in the Jaffna district, one of them suddenly swallowed a cyanide capsule while the other managed to flee opening fire towards the troops. Troops later chased and killed him. While the cyanide victim, identified as Sellthurai Purusothaman of Kaithady North Kaithady, now confirmed to be an LTTE militant, has had a student identity card (Reg. No. 2003 A / 85) of the University of Jaffna (Art Faculty) in his possession, though its authenticity still remains to be checked, the other militant, Sivagnanalingam Varnaathithan of Aliyavalai in Thalladi had a 9-mm micro pistol with ammunition. Troops found a student identity card issued by Faculty of Medial University of Jaffna in his possession too.

  At Muhamalai in the Jaffna district, the SFs captured one LTTE bunker injuring an unspecified number of militants.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force destroyed two boats of the Sea Tiger in the seas off Champion Pattu in the Jaffna district.

• October 31: Confrontations between the troops and the militants continued in the Akkarayankulam east, Kokavil, Nochchimunai and Madam areas of Kilinochchi and Andankulam in the Vavuniya districts. An unspecified number of militants were killed and inured in these incidents.

  The SFs retaliated when the LTTE militants fired artillery towards the troops at Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a hideout of the Sea Tiger leader, Soosai in the Jayanthinagar area of Kilinochchi district.

  Police found a suspicious parcel abandoned near the Bank of Ceylon building in the Nuwara Eliya town area. The parcel contained 66 rounds of T-56 ammunition in the parcel.

  Batticaloa Police recovered five claymore mines with remote control devices and 9 V batteries and 30-m long wire from the Navaladi area.

• October 30: The troops completely captured Nachchakuda, the last stronghold of the LTTE on the Western coast before Pooneryn by October 30-evening.

  Troops confronted the LTTE militants in the Panniwedikulam and deep north of Nachchakuda areas in the Kilinochchi district and inflicted heavy casualties.

  Clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. An unspecified number of militants were killed or injured in the incident.

  Troops operating ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Eluttumadduwal, Vempathukerni and Kanthirathan areas of Jaffna district clashed with LTTE militants killing or injuring several LTTE cadres.

  LTTE Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman’s discreet training centre for Black Tigers, about 6-km northwest of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu district was neutralised by the Sri Lanka Air Force jets.

  Six LTTE militants, including a female cadre, were arrested in the Asikkulam area of Vavuniya district along with explosives and war materials.

  A Singaporean arms dealer who was charged for conspiracy to provide material support to the LTTE has been sentenced to 37 months in prison by a US federal judge. The US District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced 57-year-old Haniffa Bin Osman of Singapore to 37 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and money laundering, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced. A media statement released by the US Department of Justice said that from April to September 29, 2006 the accused conspired to supply the LTTE with state-of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface-to-air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to be used to fight against Sri Lankan government forces. In 2006, Osman has told the undercover agents in Baltimore that the weapons were for the LTTE and the outfit had wired a deposit of $250,000 as a down payment for the purchase of the weapons. The other conspirators, Indonesian nationals Haji Subandi and Erick Wotulo and Sri Lankan Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa have pleaded guilty and been sentenced earlier.

• October 29: The troops captured Nachchakuda, Jayapuram and Akkarayankulam tank bund in Kilinochchi district.

  Troops of the Task Force 1 on October 29-morning gained full control of Jayapuram, the last main village, with an area of about four square km, on the A-32 road to the extreme west of the Kilinochchi town.

  On the same evening, troops completed the capture of the entire Akkarayankulam tank bund, to the north of Akkarayankulam under Thunukkai division. The two km-long bund stretches across the northern side of Akkarayankulam tank with an area of about 4.5 square km in total.

  Late in the evening, Nachchakuda’s complete length of the well-fortified LTTE FDL, about eight km north of Vellankulam was brought under the troops control. Nachchakuda area lies about 1.5 km to the west of A-32 strategic Mannar-Pooneryn highway which runs parallel to the north-western sea coast. The fishing bastion, Nachchakuda, a town with a large concentration of people and business ventures has remained a strategic point for the LTTE for several months. It is believed that the outfit has suffered heavy casualties following the encounters throughout the day.

  Troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit.

• October 28: At least four TMVP members were killed when its political office was attacked by the suspected LTTE cadres at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district.

  An LTTE aircraft dropped two bombs targeting the Kelanitissa power station in Colombo. However, no casualties were reported. According to military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara the blast caused a minor fire at the power station which was doused by the fire-fighters. Later, the air defence system in Colombo and suburbs was activated and the electricity supply to the city was suspended as a precautionary measure.

  Prior to this incident, an LTTE light aircraft dropped three bombs on the Mannar Army headquarters in Thalladi. Brigadier Nanayakkara said no damage was caused to the camp or any other military logistics facility in the area due to this attack.

  The troops attached to the 58th Division in the north of Nachchakuda captured two strategically important junctions on the 12th and 16th mile posts on the Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road, cutting off the LTTE links with the now isolated Nachchakuda with the Sea Tiger base in Valaipadu.

  Five people, including three Special Task Force personnel, were injured in a hand grenade attack at Kalladi Bridge in the Batticaloa district.

  A minor explosion occurred in the Katudeniya area of Matale district. However, no casualty was reported.

  The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net in an item posted on its website said, "Close to 55,000 school children from 190 schools have been displaced in Wanni since 2006. Most of the displaced schools have combined with the schools that have not displaced and are functioning."

• October 27: Troops recovered dead bodies of two LTTE cadres from the Kunchankulam area of Kilinochchi district. Three T-56 weapons were also recovered from the incident site.

  At Kottakkarankulam in the Kilinochchi district, the troops attacked a group of LTTE militants and inflicted unspecified number of casualties. Troops later recovered the dead body of an LTTE militant along with two T-56 weapons, 15 rounds of ammunition, two radio sets, one mobile phone, one SIM card and four maps.

  Troops operating ahead of the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district clashed with the LTTE militants and inflicted casualties to the LTTE.

  An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured as the SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Clashes erupted between the two sides in the Akkarayankulam, Kokavil, Kunchankulam and Pillawarayankadu areas of Kilinochchi district. An unspecified number of militants were killed and injured in these clashes.

  Troops recovered 130 anti personnel mines and four booby traps during a search operation at Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

• October 26: The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the Akkarayankulam, Kokavil and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district and destroyed several bunkers inflicting heavy casualties to the outfit.

  The SFs confronted the militants on several occasions in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and caused heavy damages to the outfit. The troops also captured three bunkers and three trenches and recovered 30 APMs and five IEDs from the area.

  A suspected LTTE woman cadre, Sivalingum Thiruweli, who was taken into custody two months ago at Kalpitiya and now identified as a suicide cadre, had come to launch an attack on a VIP.

• October 25: Troops directed small arms and mortar fire targeting the LTTE militants on several occasions in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district, inflicting heavy casualties the outfit.

  At Kalmadu in the Kilinochchi district, the SFs destroyed several LTTE bunkers and captured the area killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants.

  In the north of Kunchankulam in the Kilinochchi district, the troops clashes with the LTTE militants and inflicted casualties upon them.

  At least five LTTE bunkers were destroyed by the SFs in Mullaitivu. Troops also claimed to have inflicted heavy damages to the outfit.

  Troops observed an LTTE vehicle convoy and some militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and inflicted casualties to the outfit.

  A suspected LTTE militant lobbed a hand grenade at Al-Husiniya Mosque in the Kaththankudy area of Batticaloa district. The explosion injured five civilians.

  Troops recovered one T-56 weapon, a magazine and 30 T-56 rounds of ammunition from the Chippihidal area of Trincomalee district.

• October 24: The troops confronted with the LTTE militants at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, inflicting casualties to the outfit.

  The SFs killed and injured an unspecified number of militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  During separate confrontations in the Iranamadu, Kokuvil, Vannerikkulam, Kalmadu and Tannimurippukulam areas of Kilinochchi district, the troops inflicted large number of casualties to the LTTE.

  The troops recovered 10-kg explosive chargers with eight detonators, 5-kg claymore mines with one detonator, 2.5-kg suicide kit with one detonator, 3-kg explosive chargers with two detonators, two claymore stands and two hand grenades at Madhu in the Kandasaminagar area of Mannar district.

• October 23: The troops clashed with the LTTE militants at Mundipurippu in the Vavuniya district, Vannerikkulam north and Pillawarayankadu in the Kilinochchi district, Mankulam and Tannimurippukulam in the Mullaitivu district and Andankulam and Otiyamale in the Vavuniya district and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit.

  Troops during a search and clear operation in the Bakmitiyawa area of Batticaloa district recovered one 81-mm mortar bomb.

  One hand grenade was recovered by the troops on duty in the Maradana area of Colombo district.

• October 22: Troops on clearing operation in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district recovered two decomposed dead bodies of LTTE militants along with three T-56 weapons.

  During another clearing operation in the Nochchimunai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon and one belt order

  Troops neutralised an LTTE bunker ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the incident.

  The troops repulsed an LTTE attack towards the SF’s FDL in the Kariyalanmodai area of Vavuniya district inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit.

  Troops in Mullaitivu observed an LTTE movement and opened fire killing an unspecified number of militants.

  At Navakkulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked one LTTE bunker and inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE. The details are awaited.

  The STF personnel repulsed an LTTE attack in the Pothuvil area of Ampara district and recovered four mobile phones, one military-type uniform, 80 T-56 ammunition, four T-56 magazines, one water bottle and three field dressings.

  Troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Also the troops attacked several LTTE camps destroying one bunker in the Andankulam and Gajabapura areas of Vavuniya district.

  At Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district, the SFs destroyed seven trench lines of the LTTE.

  The troops also neutralised an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam, Tannimurippukulam and Gajabapura areas of Vavuniya district.

  Five people were injured in a hand grenade attack at Kalladi in the Batticaloa town, the Police said. Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranjith Gunasekara, said an unidentified assailant lobbed a grenade at the people while they were bathing. All the victims were Sinhalese, from Southern Sri Lanka who worked on the National Water Board project in Kanthankudi.

• October 20: The Sri Lankan military claimed to have established complete domination over the western Kilinochchi battlefront. The Military said 33 soldiers were killed, 48 injured and three others went missing in the pitched battles with the LTTE, which is resisting the Army’s thrust. The military also said that in the mop-up operations, dead bodies of 11 militants were recovered along with large quantities of ammunition.

  Troops recovered one claymore mine with a remote control device from a location near the Valaichchenai bus stand in the Batticaloa district.

  Sri Lankan Government has said that the de-mining process of the Eastern Province is almost finished.

• October 19: One soldier sustained injuries when an LTTE militant fired towards the troops in the Block 2 area of Yala in the Hambantota district.

  Task Force I moving towards Nachchakuda by October 19-afternoon captured the earth bund from west of Panniwedikulam to Akkarayan west, capturing one kilometers stretch of earth bund in the east of Vannerikkulam, bringing the 10-km stretch of earth bund between the west of Panniwedikulam and towards the east of Vannerikkulam under its complete control. The Task Force I troops continued their march towards the north of the earth bund capturing Adampamodai village which is located 10-km north east of Nachchakuda.

  Fierce fighting erupted in the Akkarayankulam west area of Kilinochchi district as the LTTE continued to launch counter attacks on the troops in the area.

  Troops attacked an unspecified number of LTTE bunker lines in the Vilappattikulam area of Vavuniya district. The details of the operation are awaited.

  A minor explosion occurred in the CBS. The explosion took place under a Sri Lanka Transport Board bus belonging to the CBS damaging three buses.

  Defence Ministry sources said the LTTE used poisonous gas on Government troops. According to military sources, advancing forces at Akkarayankulam tank south of Kilinochchi were attacked by the LTTE with chemical gas believed to be CS.

  Deputy Inspector General of the Central Province, Pujith Jayasundara, recently said that Police has recovered only 1,400 kg of the stock of explosives allegedly sent to the central hill country from the North by the LTTE to be used for their devastating terror attacks and that 600-kg are yet to be located. He urged the civilians to be vigilant and look for suspicious persons or activities for possible attacks in the Central Province where the missing high powered explosives had ended up and would be used. "We have already taken 74 members of the Tiger terrorists into custody from the Central Province. They are trained terrorists to carryout the attacks and disguised in the form of teachers, barbers, hotel workers, drivers, estate workers, students, health workers, masons," DIG Jayasundara explained.

• October 18: Troops attached to the 57 Division and Task Force I captured over 1.5-km stretch of earth bund in the areas West and East of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district killing at least 75 LTTE militants while injuring more than 125 cadres, Military sources said. An unspecified number of soldiers were also killed and injured. 14 fortified bunkers built along the bund were also captured by the troops.

  Intense fighting between erupted between the troops and the militants, resisting the advance of the troops north of Nachchakuda and west of Akkarayankulam, in the Kilinochchi district. The details of the fighting are yet to be ascertained.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised an LTTE camp, about 1.5-km north of Akkarayankulam tank in the Kilinochchi district.

• October 17: Troops clashed with groups of LTTE militants in the Nedunkandal, areas around Akkarayankulam, Pillawarayankadu and Vannerikuma areas of Kilinochchi district. Troops later recovered dead bodies of two militants. One soldier was killed in LTTE mortar fire in the Vannerikuma area while four others wounded in confrontations and explosions of APM in other areas.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards soldiers on duty at Block 2 in the Yala area of Hambantota district injuring a soldier who died later. Troops opened retaliatory fire and repulsed the attack.

  The troops captured three trenches of the LTTE in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing an unspecified number of militants. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  An LTTE armour-plated tractor carrying armed cadres was attacked by the troops in the area south of Pannichchankulam in the Mullaitivu district. An unspecified number of militants were killed in the incident.

  The Army Task Force 1 captured an area, 7-km north of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district, along the Mannar-Pooneryn A32 road in the Mullaitivu district. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Troops captured an area 7km north of Nachchakuda along A32 road."

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  Two factions of the TMVP clashed over the party's printing press as the party leader in the Batticaloa town. According to the police, Karuna faction of the TMVP raided the printing office run by the Pillayan faction and took the control of the office called "Thenagama" and detained 13 members of the Pillayan group. However, no one was reported injured in the incident.

  Troops recovered one hand grenade from the Saliyawewa area of Puttalam district.

• October 16: Troops after few days of gun battle captured Maniarkulam intersection, about 13.5-km northeast of Nachchakuda, in the Kilinochchi district. Though ground troops confirmed that a number of LTTE militants were killed and many others injured, troops have so far recovered the dead bodies of six LTTE militants, including three decomposed ones.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district killing an unspecified number of militants, including two leaders identified as Kanyan and Isaiman. Though exact details of LTTE casualties are yet to be ascertained, the outfit’s communication intercepted revealed more than 40 militants were wounded. Three soldiers were also killed while nine others sustained injuries in LTTE fire.

  Police recovered four dead bodies of the farmers in the Kanchkudichchiaru area of Ampara district. According to the sources the farmers were shot dead by unidentified assailants.

  One Policeman, identified as Jayaweera, was killed by a militant of the ‘pistol gang’ of the LTTE at the Chenkaladi Police Post in the Batticaloa district.

  Troops attacked some LTTE bunkers in the Ponnar area, ahead of the Forward Defence Lines, in the Jaffna district and claimed to have killed an unspecified number of militants.

  The SFs destroyed an LTTE bunker in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district. One more bunker and a camp in the Vedamakilam area was neutralised by the troops. Further, troops captured two bunkers in the Andankulam area.

  Another LTTE bunker was destroyed in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a storage facility of the LTTE, about 3 km southwest of Puthukudirippu in the Mullaitivu district.

  The fighter jets shelled an LTTE command centre, about 4-km south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  50 World Food Programme Lorries carrying essential food items, medicine and other dry rations for Wanni civilians were forced to return to Vavuniya due to LTTE artillery fire and claymore mine attacks.

  The SFs recovered two claymore mines of 7.5-kg each, 551 rounds of T-56 ammunition, 18 hand grenades, one 5-m long detonator code, seven field dressings, packets of dry ration, fifteen 81-mm mortar bombs, one 120-mm mortar bomb, two LTTE uniforms, medical equipments, four packs, two detonators and one Icom radio set from the Madhu, Karanvilathivu and Palampiddi areas of Mannar district.

• October 15: Troops attacked an LTTE camp in the Vilaththavittakulam area of Vavuniya district and later recovered the dead body of one militant along with two T-56 weapons, two magazines, 10 rounds of ammunition and seven hand grenades.

  The SFs confronted groups of LTTE militants and neutralised one bunker in the Akkarayankulam, Kokavil, Vannavikulam and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district. Two bunkers were also captured by the troops in the Kokavil area.

  The SFs claimed to have killed a large number of militants during clashes at Ponnar and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

  The fighter jets of the SLAF bombed LTTE targets twice. In the first incident an LTTE camp, about 2-km southeast of Puthukudirippu in the Mullaitivu district was shelled. Separately, the jets bombed targeting militants who were trying to take away some earth-moving heavy machinery for clandestine operations in the same area. Intelligence reports indicate that the militants were trying to move that heavy machinery into the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district where militants have dug earth bunds to prevent troops from entering Kilinochchi area.

• October 14: At least 37 LTTE militants were killed and 36 others injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the Akkarayankulam north, west and east, Wannarikulam, Madamodei and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Seven soldiers were also killed in these confrontations while 26 others sustained injuries, including two in explosions of APM and improvised explosive devices.

  The troops observed the movement of an LTTE tractor with several militants aboard in the Mankulam area of Vavuniya district and opened fire on the tractor killing four of the militants.

  Two more militants were killed and six others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Nayaru, Alampil south, Tannimurippukulam, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another wounded during these confrontations.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards the SFs engaged in search operation in the Illuppukadavai area of Mannar district. The troops retaliated and later recovered the dead bodies of two militants.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops also neutralised four LTTE bunkers in the Vedamakilam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE militants surrendered to the troops at the Welioya FDL in the Vavuniya district.

• October 13: 16 LTTE militants were killed and three others injured as clashes erupted between the militants and the SFs in the Mankulam, Nallikulam, Akkarayankulam, Vannavikulam and Paraikandamadu areas of Kilinochchi district. While two soldiers were also killed and seven others sustained injuries in LTTE small arms and mortar fire and APM explosions, the troops also neutralised two camps in the Paraikandamadu area.

  The troops eliminated two militants and injured 14 others during clashes at Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier also sustained injuries in these confrontations while another was injured in an APM explosion.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed two militants.

  The dead body of a person was recovered by the Police from the Pandarikulam area.

  Two Army personnel riding on a motorbike along the Thoppigala road in the Veragodella area of Batticaloa district were injured in an LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion.

  Troops reportedly detected a bag with 1.5-kg of C-4 explosives, 3-m length detonator code and four electric detonators, said to have been delivered to someone working in the UN International Organization for Migrants sponsored construction project for temporary shelters at Kurumankadu in the Virawapuliyankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The Sri Lankan Government is reportedly shouldering an increased defence budget to continue the fight against terrorism. According to sources, the government has spent 6,840 rupees per minute in the fight against the war during the last few months and expects an increase of 11,160 rupees to reach 18,000 rupees from next week. Increased expenses were allocated by the Parliament recently as the government troops have stationed at outskirts of the Kilinochchi town following the capture of several nearby rebel controlled areas.

  Australia is considering formally declaring the LTTE a terrorist group, said Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
  
  In the wake of the US announcement on October 11 that it has decided to remove North Korea from the list of "state sponsors of terrorism" a Counter Terrorism Foundation (CTF) in US has revealed there was ample evidence to prove North Korea had armed the LTTE. The CTF further revealed that a Congressional Research Service Brief submitted to the US Congress in January 2008 had detailed possible links between North Korea and the LTTE.

• October 12: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and 12 others injured as the SFs neutralized eight bunkers and a camp in the areas west of Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed while 14 others sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered APM explosions and simultaneous firing of small arms.

  During separate clashes in the Periyakulam, Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed nine militants while injuring three more others. One soldier was also injured in explosion of an APM at Tannimurippukulam.

  Troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed at least six militants. Six militants also sustained injuries, while a soldier was wounded in an APM explosion.

  The SFs captured one LTTE bunker in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing two militants while injuring 12 others.

  Six soldiers engaged in a search operation were inured in explosions in the same area. The SFs, however, recovered 115 anti-personnel mines and nine improvised explosive devises from the area.

  Sri Lankan media reported that 10 LTTE suicide cadres are in Colombo city waiting to hit more strategically important targets when ordered by their leaders. A recently arrested LTTE intelligence cadre from Wellawatta has reportedly revealed this information. Media reports also claimed that 30 intelligence cadres have entered the Colombo city gathering tactical and strategic information for their next terror act. They are suspected to be using uniforms similar to what is being used by the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Police Department.

• October 11: 14 militants were killed and 10 others injured by the troops in the Maniarkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed and six others wounded in the incident.

  Six LTTE militants were killed and 37 others injured as the troops captured four more well fortified bunkers of the outfit in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while four others sustained injuries in these incidents.

  Five more LTTE cadres were killed during a clash with the SFs at an unspecified place in the Kilinochchi district.

  Three militants were killed by the troops at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  At Kokuvil in the Jaffna district, three militants were killed in confrontations with the SFs.

  The troops eliminated three more LTTE cadres at Pillawarayankadu in the Kilinochchi district.

  The MI-24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF neutralised LTTE bunker construction positions ahead of the Akkarayankulam Tank bund in the Kilinochchi district. Intercepted LTTE communication later confirmed that three militants were killed and six others injured in the air strike.

  The SFs foiled an LTTE attempt to enter into the cleared areas (area under Government control) at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district killing three militants. Three soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed as a similar attempt by the militants was foiled by the SFs at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district.

  At least two activists of the TMVP were killed by an unidentified assailant in Batticaloa. The report said that the assailant fired at the activists in a social club run by the TMVP.

  The SFs neutralized an LTTE bunker at Vedamakilam in the Vavuniya district killing one militant.

  Another militant was killed in a clash with the troops at Tannimurippukulam in the Jaffna district.

• October 10-11 At least 40 LTTE militants were killed as the troops operating north east of Nachchakuda in the west of Kilinochchi district made steady progress within the last two days reaching the outskirts of Jayapuram in the north of Nachchakuda foiling LTTE efforts to bring in reinforcements to the front on several occasions. Jayapuram is located some seven kilometers north of Nachchakuda where the LTTE is having one of their main Sea Tiger bases in the North Western coast.

  October 10: The troops eliminated four more militants while injuring six others during clashes at Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were killed and four others injured in the confrontation.

  Two more LTTE cadres were shot dead at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  A senior leader was also feared killed as the troops operating south of Pooneryn hit one of the double cabs which were escorted by a few cadres of the outfit.

  At Thanankilappu in the Jaffna district, the SFs eliminated another militant and recovered one T-56 weapon, ammunition rounds, hand grenades, detonators and magazines from his possession.

  Another militant was killed by the SFs, while three soldiers were injured in LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosion in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The troops killed one LTTE cadre at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district.

  One more LTTE cadre was eliminated by the troops in the Thanankilappu area of Jaffna district. One T-56 weapon, ammunition rounds, hand grenades, detonators and magazines were recovered from his possession.

  In a separate incident, the troops killed another militant at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district.

  One militant was injured when the troops opened fire on a suspected hideout in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  A reinforcement of LTTE, about 12-km northeast of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district was shelled by the SLAF fighter jets.

  The Panniwedikulam tank area also fell under the control of the 58 Division.

  Troops in the Pallaimadu area of Batticaloa district recovered a claymore mine weighing 7-kg, two APM, a detonating device and a length of 150-m wire.

  Troops also recovered six hand grandees from the Navadi area of Batticaloa district.

• October 9: At least 22 LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralised five outfit’s bunkers in the Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed during the clash at Vannavikulam while three others received injuries in these incidents.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the Pannichchankulam, Vedamakilam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed seven militants.

  At Andankulam in Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were also killed while eight soldiers received injuries.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants while injuring five others.

  The dead body of a militant was recovered from the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in explosion of an APM and confrontation in the Monarawewa and Kambiliwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Mundumrippu area of Vavuniya district.

  In another attack in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, the troops killed two more militants and subsequently recovered two T-56 weapons, one micro pistol, one Global Positioning System, one map, one compass, one note book, some pocketed food items and a few other items.

  The MI-24 helicopter gunship of the SLAF shelled LTTE camp ahead of the Tannimurippukulam tank bund in the Kilinochchi district.

  Two more LTTE camps in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu district was neutralized by the fighter jets of the SLAF.

  Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena escaped an LTTE carried out suicide attack at Pirivena junction in the Boralesgamuwa area of Colombo district. A female suicide cadre blew herself targeting Minister Sirisena’s motorcade at Pirivena junction around 1.15 pm (SLST) when the Minister was returning after a Government function in the Bandaragama area. The Minister escaped unhurt. A civilian was killed and five others including Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath and newly appointed Ministry Secretary Ranjith Wijethilaka were injured. The minister’s convoy vehicle was badly damaged and several other vehicles in the vicinity were also damaged. Minister Sirisena has earlier escaped an LTTE suicide attack in Modera on March 1, 2008.

  The LTTE has alleged that the Sri Lanka Air Force had destroyed a large number of civilian homes in Wanni on the pretext of attacking the outfit’s military bases over the last one year.

• October 8: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and 26 others injured as the troops captured a line of LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Eight soldiers were also killed while 45 others sustained injuries during these clashes.

  At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes with the SFs at Wanniyarkulam in the area north of Panniwedikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One radio set, 17 hand grenades and several other LTTE items were also recovered from the incident site.

  Eight more LTTE cadres were killed and four others injured as the SFs captured two more bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area, south of Iranamadu, in the Kilinochchi district.

  During two separate clashes with the militants in the Vellankulam and Mullikulam areas of Vavuniya district, the troops eliminated two militants while injuring another.

  At Sangupiddy in the Jaffna district, the SFs killed one militant and recovered one T-56 weapon, two claymore mines, six hand grenades, 90 ammunition rounds, three T-56 magazines, field dressings, one pack, a 9-V battery and a few more items from his possession.

  One more LTTE cadre was shot dead by the troops at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  An LTTE bunker in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district was attacked by the SFs injuring at least two militants.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralized three LTTE gathering points in the Kamalmunai area, west of Nayaru lagoon, in the Mullaitivu district.

  During a search operation at Neelaparikkeurodai in the Kuchchaveli area of Trincomalee district, the troops recovered one suicide jacket, two claymore mines, three APMs and three fuses.

• October 7: Eight LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the security forces in the Vilakkavettikulam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The dead bodies of four civilians, suspected to have been chopped to death by the LTTE militants, were recovered from the deep jungle areas off Dekethipothana at Horowpathana in the Anuradhapura district. Those four civilians, according to a Police complaint, have entered jungle areas on 27th September but failed to return home.

  The SFs shot dead four militants in the Murikkandy and west of Akkarayankulam areas in the Kilinochchi district. A soldier was also injured during these confrontations.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops eliminated at least two militants and wounded 13 others. The SFs also neutralised two bunkers.

  Five soldiers were injured during another clash with the militants in the Vannerikuma area of Kilinochchi district. The SFs, however, destroyed a well-fortified bunker in the area and recovered two T-56 weapons.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE mortar fire at Gajabapura.

  MI 24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF an LTTE mortar launching pad, around 500-m northeast of Vannavikulam tank bund in the in the Kilinochchi district.

  An LTTE camp, about 6-km northeast of Akkarayankulam tank in the Kilinochchi district was neutralized by the MI 24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF.

• October 6: At least nine militants were killed and 27 others injured as the SFs neutralized four bunkers during their confrontations with the LTTE militants in the Adampankula, Madam, Kidippidikulam, Terankandal, Alankulam, Odrattakulam, Andankulam and Gajabapura areas Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed during confrontations. Six more soldiers received injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines and confrontations in the Terankandal and Waddakattu areas.

  The SFs destroyed three LTTE bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district killing nine militants while injuring five others.

  Two more militants were eliminated and four others wounded by the troops in the Navakkulam, Poovarasankulam and Uyilankulam areas in the north of Vavuniya district. A camp with eight overhead bunkers and one 120-mm mortar point was neutralized during the clashes.

  Another militant was killed by the SFs in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  The troops who captured the first bunker line on Nachchakuda – Akkarayankulam road in the Kilinochchi district during the weekend marched, about 1-km further eastward and dominated a three-way intersection.

  28 persons, including UNP NCPC Member, Maj. General Janaka Perera and his wife; UNP Anuradhapura district Manager Dr. John Pulle who was also the former Chairman of the Rajarata Bus Company and his wife Dr. Mrs. John Pulle; UNP Legal Advisor Attorney-at-law A.C.S. Hameed; NCPC UNP Member Shantha Dissanayake and UNP Provincial Council candidate Subashi Charles were killed in a LTTE carried out suicide bomb attack inside the UNP office near the Old Bus Stand in Anuradhapura. More than 86 persons sustained injuries in the blast that occurred around 8:45am (SLST) during a function held to declare open the new UNP office, military sources said. According to eyewitnesses a suicide cadre a dark and short man had reached the function and unbuttoned his shirt facing Major General Perera and the crowd instantaneously killing himself and the victims. According to investigators only the legs of the suicide cadre’s has been left after the blast. "He had used a relatively large quantity of explosives for this blast as his head was also blown off without leaving a trace about his appearance."

  The Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized an LTTE gun point, about 14-km north of Nachchakuda, in the Kilinochchi district.

• October 5: The SFs killed eight LTTE militants and inured at least nine others during clashes in the Iranamadu and southwest of Iranamadu areas in the Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while five others received injuries in these incidents.

  During two separate clashes in the Vannerikuma and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi district, the SFs eliminated four militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the explosions of APM during the fighting.

  The troops neutralized two LTTE bunkers in the area west of Mankulam in the Kilinochchi district killing four militants. Four more militants and a soldier were also injured in the incident.

  The troops neutralized another LTTE bunker in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district and killed three militants.

  Three more militants were killed and at least 19 others injured in clashes with the SFs at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting a van that was carrying fish from Padaviya to Kebithigollewa area while it was in the Mahanatiyava area of Abimanpura. Two civilians inside the van were killed in the explosion while another sustained injuries.

  The troops killed one militant and injured three others during separate clashes between the two sides in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

  Another militant was shot dead while four others injured by the troops in the Vedamakilam, Chanakakulam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was also injured in an APM explosion in the Chanakakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs reportedly seized six more lorries along with their drivers, trying to smuggle various items for the LTTE in secret compartments on the pretext of carrying food stocks into un-cleared areas (area not under Government control). Firstly, the SFs seized two Lorries, along with their drivers, carrying 2900 pen torch batteries, 28 motor cycle batteries and a large quantity of vehicle spare parts. Similar, the troops seized four more vehicles, remained parked at the Thirunavakulam vehicle park. According to initial investigations, while three of them belonged to LTTE’s finance wing another one was being hired by the LTTE.

  The Serunuwara Police recovered 5000-g of C-4 explosives and one T-56 cleaning rod near the Poonagar School in the Trincomalee district.

  Army chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka urged LTTE cadre and its leaders, barring Velupillai Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman, to surrender and hinted at the possibility of the LTTE chief fleeing the country. The LTTE is left with only 4,000 cadres, he said, adding he was not sure how long they can maintain its fighting capabilities.

• October 4: At least 20 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed while 27 militants and six soldiers wounded as the troops captured a section of the bunker line constructed along the Nachchakuda - Akkarayankulam road at Panniwedikulam in the West of Vannerikuma area in the Kilinochchi district. The SLAF MI-24 gunship helicopters also assisted the troops capturing 10 bunkers, constructed on the massive earth bund, and advanced further northward, military sources added. The 58 Division now operating in the Kilinochchi district has captured a four kilometer stretch of a massive ditch cum earth bund constructed by the LTTE from Nachchakuda to Akkarayankulam tank area. Troops have also advanced nearly two kilometers from this earth bund and in control of the Nachchakuda - Akkarayankulam road depriving the LTTE of a vital supply route to Nachchakuda.

  Two more militants were killed and another two injured during confrontations in the Panniwedikulam and Chanakakulam areas of Kilinochchi district.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs neutralized four LTTE bunkers killing two militants while injuring 25 others in two separate incidents. Three soldiers were also in LTTE mortar fire and explosion of a grenade.

  One soldier was killed while another injured in an improvised explosive device explosion in the area north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district. Separately, the SFs neutralized two LTTE bunkers injuring four others.

  One soldier was injured in the explosion of an anti-personnel mine in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was injured in a confrontation at Vannerikuma in the Kilinochchi district.

  The LTTE exploded an electricity transformer located along Ferguson Road in Grandpass, a residential area within the Colombo city limits using 400–500 grams of explosives.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised an LTTE bunker line, about 3.5-km northeast of Akkarayankulam tank bund, in the Kilinochchi district.

  The Sri Lankan army chief said that his forces are on the verge of capturing the key LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi. "We are two kms away from the Kilinochchi town limits," the army chief said, adding, government proposed to declare Vishvamadu and Oddusudan in Kilinochchi a no war zone after the army consolidated its position there.

• October 3: Eight more militants were killed and 10 others injured when the SFs captured three more camps in the in the Panniwedikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also killed and 12 others received injuries in these incidents.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and eliminated four militants while injuring at least 19 others. While nine soldiers were also injured in LTTE fire and anti-personnel mines explosions, the troops captured three bunkers of the outfit.

  Three LTTE militants were killed after a confrontation with a combined Army-Air Force foot patrol in the eastern village of Kattikulam in the Trincomalee district.

  Two more militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in thy incidents.

  During two separate confrontations in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district the troops killed two LTTE cadres. Two more militants and a soldier sustained injuries in these confrontations.

  The troops captured a LTTE bunker killing two militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Another militant was killed by the SFs at Navakkulam in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants in the Thuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district. However, the militants managed to escape leaving behind four magazines, 64 ammunition, one compass, one Global Positioning System, one pack, one SIM card, three hand grenades and 17 packets of dry ration.

  The troops captured an LTTE bunker in the Ranabapura area and recovered 20 anti personnel mines, one helmet trapped to an 81-mm mortar and two trunk boxes from the area.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed the LTTE’s Intelligence Headquarters, about 4-km west of Kilinochchi town precisely. It is yet to be ascertained that whether Pottu Amman, the outfit’s wing intelligence leader, who has his secret administrative hub in this building complex, protected by his sleuths was present there or not at the time of the attack.

  The SLAF fighter jets had bombed LTTE’s political wing leader B. Nadesan’s "Police Headquarters" and another camp in the Draiarukulam area of Kilinochchi district.

• October 2: The troops killed at least 18 militants while injuring 14 others as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion.

  Six more LTTE cadres were killed and more than 20 others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Paraikandamadu, Madam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were killed and three others sustained injuries during the fighting.

  During another clash between the two sides in the areas south of Mankulam and south of Kokavil in the Mullaitivu district, the SFs killed eight militants while wounding 11 others.

  Eight more LTTE militants were killed and five others wounded during separate clashes with the troops in the Pannichchankulam, Navakkulam, Panikkaniravikulam, Villattikulam and Nallikulam areas of Vavuniya district. Four bunkers of the militants were also neutralized in these incidents.

  The troops in an encounter killed seven more militants while wounding an unspecified number of them at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also injured in the LTTE gun fire.

  Two more militants were killed during another exchange of fire between the two sides in the areas south of Iranamadu in the Mullaitivu district. Two soldiers were also killed while another received injuries in the incident. Separate clashes in the same area injured one militant and three soldiers.

  At Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, the troops in an encounter killed two militants.

  The SFs eliminated two LTTE cadres in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One TMVP member was shot dead and another injured by suspected LTTE militants in the Thannamunei area of Batticaloa district.

  At least one person was injured in a land mine explosion near the TMVP office in the Vandaramulla area of Batticaloa district.

  One person was injured when unidentified assailants fired upon a car traveling in the Mailambaveli area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a power transformer in the Kokuvil area of Jaffna district. The grenade, however, missed its intended target injuring three soldiers providing security to it.

  The SFs recovered three 80-mm mortar shells, two 40-mm cartridges and two hand grenades from the Kannagipira area of Ampara district. Separately, the troops recovered one hand grenade from the Achchibokkuwa area.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized LTTE’s Central Administrative Headquarters, about 2-km northeast of Kilinochchi.

  The United Nations officials in Sri Lanka deplored the placing of explosives by an unknown group on a Government truck that was due to join a UN food convoy delivering food and other essential items to the displaced in the North. The troops in Vavuniya on September 29 had found C-4 explosives and batteries hidden in two trucks carrying food items for the displaced people in Wanni.

  The SLA has reportedly recruited 10,136 Sri Lankans to various ranks to fight against the LTTE.

  As its September 21 directive to the citizens of five districts of Northern Province living in and around Colombo (Western Province) to "re-register" themselves with the police, Sri Lanka Government announced that a similar census would be carried out on October 5 for such citizens of Eastern Province.

• October 1: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured as the troops captured three more bunkers of the outfit after the clashes in the Akkarayankulam, west and south of Iranamadu tank, Vannavikulam and Maniarkulam areas in the Kilinochchi district. Eight soldiers also sustained injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines and IEDs.

  14 more militants were killed and 28 others wounded as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the Andankulam, Palamoddai, Nauve east, Thandiyankulam and Podunkanpila areas of Vavuniya district. While one soldier was also killed, four others sustained injuries during these clashes. The troops also neutralized seven bunkers in the Palamoddai north and Pandiyankulam areas.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed four cadres destroying two bunkers. Five more militants and two soldiers suffered injuries in the fighting.

  The fighter jets of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE camp belonging to "Charles Anthony" group located south of Kilinochchi hospital. Similarly, the jets bombed a training camp of the woman cadres of the LTTE south of Kilinochchi hospital. Separately, another LTTE camp, about 3-km north east of Piramanthalkulam area was shelled by the SLAF jets. Further, the SLAF neutralised three LTTE admin and logistic facilities, about 3.5-km south of Kilinochchi.

• September 30: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and four others injured as clashes erupted between the SFs and the militants in the areas of north of Maniarkulam, Palamoddai, Podunkanpila, Wemankallu and Pandiyankulam in the Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The troops eliminated seven militants and injured 10 others during confrontations in the Wannarikulam area. Two soldiers were also killed while seven others, including an officer, received.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted the LTTE militants and killed six of its cadres while injuring 31 others. While, seven soldiers were also injured in the incident, the troops neutralised two bunkers.

  The SFs killed three more militants during an encounter in the area west of Kokavil, closer to captured Murikkandy Railway Station, in the Kilinochchi district.

  A soldier was killed during a clash with the militants in the Ranabapura area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs captured a 50-m wide LTTE airstrip in the Pannichchankulam area, about 7-km north-west of Mankulam and about 500-m to the west of A-9 road in the Mullaitivu district. "The location of this 500 m long airstrip, believed to have been perhaps used by terrorists for landing of their light aircraft in any emergency, struck a major blow to their escalation of terrorist acts," the Army said. It is also believed that the airstrip could have been used as an open parking space or hangar.

  The troops seized one of the lorries hired by the Vavuniya District Secretary for transport of essentials to Internally Displaced Persons at the Omanthai cross-loading point and recovered 2.5-kg of C-4 explosives in its driver’s possession.

• September 29: Six LTTE militants were killed during a clash with the SFs in the Mulankavil and Karampaikkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralized an LTTE camp and killed two militants in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  20 civilians were injured in an LTTE-triggered hand grenade explosion in the Kaththankudy area of Batticaloa district.

  Two persons were injured in a bomb explosion which also damaged several vehicles at the parking lot at Front Street in the Pettah area of Colombo district. The time bomb was placed in a parcel under a van. "Three vans, two cars, three trishaws, a lorry and two motorcycles were damaged in the explosion," Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade at the troops who were on a search operation at the Makiapiddy Hindu Kovil (temple) behind its Vel Cart in the Kandaroddai village area of Jaffna district. While no casualty was reported, the militants managed to escape. Troops later recovered one micro pistol, two magazines, one pistol hoister, one grenade launcher, ten 40-mm grenades, three night vision devices, four combat kits, two hand grenades, one unusable hand grenade, two ground sheets, one Global Positioning System equipment, one compass, thee belt orders, one combat T- shirt, three pairs of Army-type boots, two packs, six water bottles, one Nokia mobile phone, one video camera, one charger, 18 batteries, five sarongs, one bag, three T-shirts, SLR 20,000 in cash, three saline bottles and eight nourishment biscuit packets from the incident site.

  At least 39 LTTE militants were killed and 52 others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Palamoddai, Akkarayankulam, Andankulam, Vannavikulam and Kariyalanmodai areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts. Five soldiers were also killed while 19 others sustained injuries during these clashes. Troops also neutralised six bunkers.

  At least eight militants aboard two Sea Tiger boats moving in the seas off Kalmunai point in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district were killed when the Special Boat Squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy spotted them and directed fire attack towards the boats.

  An LTTE tractor bringing reinforcements was fired upon by the troops at Akkarayankulam in an area about 6-km to the south of Kokavil in the Mullaitivu district. Though Initial reports said at least two militants were killed and more than 15 others injured following the attack, the exact casualty figures of the militants are is yet to be ascertained.

  The troops recovered one T-56 weapon from the St. Lurdu church graveyard in the Palauttu area of Trincomalee district.

  The MI-24 gun ships of the SLAF neutralized an LTTE bunker line, about 3-km northwest of Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. Similarly, the SLAF fighter jets neutralized an LTTE camp, about 2-km north of Vannavikulam tank.

• September 28: The troops after fierce gun battle captured a section of the Akkarayankulam – Nachchakuda road in the Kilinochchi district by September 28-afternoon killing at least 10 LTTE militants. Two soldiers were also killed while eight others sustained injuries in the fighting.

  The troops moving towards the A-9 road captured a 4-km area along the Akkarayankulam–Murikkandy road in the Kilinochchi district killing seven militants. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries.

  Six more militants were killed and 13 others injured as the troops neutralized three LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier also sustained injuries in the fighting.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Navathkulama and north of Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district killing four militants. Two soldiers were also injured in the encounter while another soldier was injured in the explosion of an anti-personnel mine.

  An LTTE suicide cadre on a bicycle struck his bike against a three-wheeler and blew himself up killing one civilian and injuring nine others in the Vavuniya town. Four police personnel, including three women, were about to leave the place in the three-wheeler after their duty when it was targeted by the suicide cadre injuring all inside the three-wheeler, including the driver. Two soldiers, including a female, at the nearby roadblock on the 2nd Cross Street and two civilians were also injured in the explosion. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  The STF commandos foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of LTTE militants killing two of the cadres in the Ampara district. According to the MCNS, a STF patrol observed suspicious movement of a boat in the Kodamadu lagoon around 5:00 am (SLST) and confronted the occupants who opened fire at the commandos. The STF troops retaliated and destroyed the boat. During subsequent search operations troops found bodies of two LTTE cadres, along with their weapons including a T-56 gun.

  The LTTE militants attacked a TMVP camp in the Batticaloa district killing one person while injuring at least four others.

  One militant was killed in an encounter with the SFs in the Koliyankulam area of Batticaloa district.

  One more militant was killed in an encounter with the SFs in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralized an LTTE camp about 5-km northeast of Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Similarly, the MI-24 gun ships of the SLAF attacked several LTTE positions on the Thannimarurripukulam tank bund in Vavuniya district.

• September 27: Eight militants were killed by SFs during clashes in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the clash.

  Seven more LTTE cadres were killed during separate clashes with the troops in the Vannavikulam and north of Karamaddakulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Nine soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire directed from their gun positions in the Vannavikulam area while seven other soldiers received injuries during separate confrontations and APM explosions in the same area.

  Three soldiers and two militants were killed during a clash at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also wounded in explosions of IEDs and APMs.

  Two more soldiers were killed during another clash between the two sides in the Vannavikulam area of the Kilinochchi district.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs eliminated two LTTE cadres while injuring 23 others. The troops also captured one bunker.

  The troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district killing two militants.

  A soldier was killed in a shootout between the troops and the militants in the Yala National Park of Hambantota district.

  The troops destroyed seven LTTE bunkers killing one militant while injuring three others during two separate clashes at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  The SFs launched an attack on LTTE bunkers in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district destroying four of them. Two soldiers and an equal number of militants were injured during this incident.

  One soldier and a militant were injured during a clash in the Ranabapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was injured in a booby trap explosion in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF fighter craft neutralized a female Black Tiger training base east of A-9 and north of Iranamadu tank, 1.5-km east of Dryarukulam in the Mullaitivu district. The troops recovered one T-56 weapon, 329 rounds of ammunition and 25 T-56 magazines from the Ilukkaveddi area of Batticaloa district.

• September 26: At least 18 militants were killed as the troops repulsed a LTTE attack on the SFs FDL in the Maniarkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Eight soldiers were also injured in the fighting.

  17 militants were killed and one more injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Eight more LTTE cadres were killed while more than 30 others sustained injuries during three separate incidents in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed during these clashes. In the first incident, the SFs attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area and captured one bunker and one trench line. Also, six more bunkers in the same area were destroyed by the troops. Similarly, the troops attacked a line of five bunkers in the Rumulamunai area.

  The troops attacked an LTTE bunker line at Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district and destroyed one bunker killing seven militants while injuring three others. One soldier also sustained injury in an improvised explosive device explosion.

  During two separate clashes between the two sides at Navathkulama and north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district the troops killed six militants while the SFs also captured one LTTE bunker and three trench lines north of Palamoddai area.

  The SFs eliminated four militants during an encounter in the Kalayaparu area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also injured in LTTE fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

  Two solders were killed while three others sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire towards the troops at Ariyalai and Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Two militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the eastern part of Navakkulam in the north of Vavuniya district.

  The troops eliminated two more militants while wounding three others in the Ranabapura area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire at a flotilla of fishing boats that went to sea from the Gurunagar jetty in the Jaffna district injuring a fisherman, A. Sathyapille, while others managed to escape unhurt.

  One soldier was injured during another clash between the two sides in the Ethawatunuwewa area of the same district.

  One soldier was injured in the explosion of an IED at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  The Army captured the Kokkali railway station in the Kilinochchi district, further getting closer to the A-9 main highway, the military said. Military sources said following fierce fighting throughout the past few days troops gained control of the railway station while consolidating the area. "Troops are just 400 meters away from the A-9 road," an unnamed senior military official said.

  The SLAF carried out three separate air attacks targeting three LTTE positions in Wanni. One of the targets was an LTTE camp, 2-km north of Akkarayankulam, while the other two were a vehicle and supply base 2-km south of Piramanthalkulam and a supply base 1-km south east of Pullekyarkulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed an LTTE camp in the area north of the Akkarayankulam Tank bund on the Kilinochchi-Mullaitivu district borders. Also, a Sea Tiger gathering point in the Pooneryn area was neutralized by the MI 24 Helicopters of the SLAF.

  The SFs recovered an LTTE suicide jacket weighing 3.6 kg, 152 kg of C-4 explosives in eighteen packages, two 9V batteries, two 17 m double detonator codes, a 32 m detonator code, a stock of detonators and a night vision device from Rosary road at Kudapaduwa in the Negombo area of Colombo district and also arrested two suspects in connection with the recovery.

• September 25: 13 LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralized eight bunkers of the outfit at Vannappulikulam, an area between Nachchakuda and Akkarayankulam, in the Kilinochchi district after four-hour long battle. Two soldiers were also killed while 14 others sustained injuries during the encounters.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the security forces in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Andankulam and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district the troops killed at least six militants while injuring 14 others.

  Four more militants were killed as the SFs captured two LTTE trench lines in the Kokavil area of Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs confronted with LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam, Koliyankulam and the north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district killing four of them while injuring another.

  The MI 24 helicopters of the SLAF neutralized a Sea Tiger (base in the Pooneryn area of Kilinochchi district.

  The troops recovered 12300 ammunition rounds, one motorbike, two antennas, one VCD player with a remote controller, one video camera, 25 video cassettes, 40 CDs and 42 anti- personnel mines from the Upparu area of Trincomalee district.

  The security forces have advanced to the outskirts of Kilinochchi, the Head Quarter of the LTTE, the Army Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said. "Our forces are around four kilometers (2.5 miles) from Kilinochchi town. In fact we can see some of the buildings," Fonseka said. He also said the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, was "now a caged animal", adding, "Our military campaign won’t stop until we liberate our motherland from the LTTE." Suggesting that a fresh offensive would begin in the coming days, he said, "We will fire the first shots towards Kilinochchi town next week." Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry reported the LTTE have lost some 6,898 fighters since January. Also, the Military authorities said that 673 soldiers have also died during the same period.

  Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said at the UN that Sri Lanka government troops are wary of any "collateral" damage as they move closer to dismantling the Tamil Tigers' de facto state. "We are trying to defeat terrorism and to that extent, whatever engagement is confined. That’s why we are very conscious of the collateral and the humanitarian aspect. And we are confident that we will succeed in defeating terrorism."

• September 24: The troops confronted with the LTTE cadres in the Akkarayankulam, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Andankulam areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts killing nine militants while injuring at least 31 others. Eight soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The SFs foiled two simultaneous infiltration attempts of the LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil and Kilaly FDLs areas of Jaffna district killing eight militants, including the LTTE’s Muhamalai South leader, ‘Vardan’.

  Seven more militants were killed during confrontations with the troops in the Navakkulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed in an explosion of a booby trap in the Muhamalai area. Another soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion triggered by the militants in the same area.

  The troops captured two more LTTE bunkers in the Vannavikulam and Andankulam areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts and recovered one T-56 weapon, one radio set and 300 rounds of T-56 ammunition.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralized an LTTE radar point located along the coast of Nagavanthurai in the Pooneryn area of Kilinochchi district.

  The MI-24 helicopter gun ships of the SLAF neutralized an LTTE camp at Nagasivanthurai in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district.

  Commandos of the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force recovered one T-56 and two T-56 magazines, 125 T-56 ammunitions, 565-g explosives and a map at Wattala in the Hekiththa area of Colombo district.

  The troops recovered a claymore mine weighing eight kilograms, one suicide jacket, two APMs, two T-56 weapons, six T-56 magazines, 100 T-56 ammunition rounds, four LTTE combat kits, two pouches and one electric detonator from the Pallechchenakulam area of Trincomalee district.

  The LTTE has refused to permit hundreds of local humanitarian workers to leave the Wanni by not issuing them ‘travel passes’. The UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss told Daily Mirror that the trapped workers included a few dozen from the UN who wanted to leave the area but could not do so as they were awaiting a ‘travel pass’ from the Tigers. According to the IASC Country Team, over 500 national staff working for NGOs has stayed back in Wanni as a result of LTTE’s move.

  Addressing the 63rd session of the United Nation General Assembly in New York the President Mahinda Rajapakse asserted that Government will only be ready to talk to the LTTE when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capability, and return to the democratic fold.

• September 23: Nine LTTE militants were killed and five others injured as clashes erupted between the militants and the troops in the Navakkulam, Palamoddai and Wannivilankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Four more militants were killed and an equal number of them injured during separate clashes with the SFs in the Akkarayankulam, Vandarimodai and Teyankulam areas of Kilinochchi district. While three soldiers were also killed, two other soldiers sustained injuries in these incidents.

  Six militants were killed and 13 others injured in clashes in the Andankulam and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of APMs. Troops also captured one LTTE trench line.

  The SFs neutralized an LTTE bunker in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district killing one militant.

  Two soldiers were injured in clashes with the LTTE militants near the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district.

  One soldier sustained injuries in an encounter with the militants along the Menik ganga (river) in the Block 2 area of Yala in the Hambantota district.

  The SLAF fighter crafts neutralized an LTTE camp in the Piramanthalkulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF fighter jets carried out three separate air attacks on LTTE camps in the Kilinochchi area. While one of the camps is located 2.5-km north of Vannavikulam the other two are about 2-km and 5-km north of Akkarayankulam.

  The SLAF troops recovered 652 MPMG ammunitions from the Trincomalee oil tank farm area.

  The government troops are capable of capturing alive Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said. Addressing a public gathering at the Colombo suburb of Peliyagoda, Wickremanayake said, "We are making progress and we will knock on his door soon."

• September 22: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured as clashes erupted between the militants and the troops in the Akkarayankulam, Wannivilankulam, Pannaikandamdu and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. After the confrontation at Akkarayankulam, troops neutralized an LTTE bunker. An LTTE mortar fire attack in the Wannivilankulam area injured one soldier.

  The SFs stormed the "Pasarai" base of the Sea Tiger in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing seven cadres of the outfit while injuring 14 others. The SFs later captured the entire complex which had two separate huts which served as sentry points and had been surrounded by three triangular-type tall bunkers with overhead protection layers made of concrete.

  The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district and killed four militants while wounding at least seven others.

  Suspected militants riding a three-wheeler shot dead two women in the Vavuniya town.

  Troops recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant along with one LTTE belt, one pouch, one grenade, one APM and a few more LTTE items from the Karampaikkulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The Special Task Force personnel killed an LTTE militant and later recovered T-56 weapon, four magazines, three hand grenades, one Icom radio set, one pack, one binocular, ammunition rounds, ration packets and other webbing equipment from his possession in the Narakamulla sector 2 area of Batticaloa district.

  Police conducted a search in the Vakarai, Verugal and Sinnaganga areas of Batticaloa district and recovered five outboard motors of 15 HP hidden in a jungle.

  One soldier was injured in the explosion of an LTTE laid APM in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district.

  The suicide bombing in Pakistan shows that al Qaeda has learnt bomb making from the LTTE, said Foreign Employment Minister and military spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella. "The Pakistani bomb is very similar in style to Colombo's Central Bank truck bomb (of 1996)," adding, both the bombs -- the one in Marriott and the other in Colombo's Central Bank -- were powerful and laden in trucks driven by suicide bombers.

• September 21: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during clashes with the security forces in the Akkarayankulam, Wannivilankulam and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were also killed while five others received injuries during the confrontations.

  At least eight LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured in clashes with the troops in the Karampaikkulam area of Kilinochchi district. Four soldiers were also reported injured in the incident.

  The troops killed 11 LTTE militants, including provincial leader of the outfit, identified as Muttu in the east of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

  Four more militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Pallimunai and Komankulam areas of Vavuniya district. While one soldier was injured, the SFs recovered three hand grenades and one pouch from the incident site.

  The troops neutralized an LTTE base with three bunkers, two huts, a partly destroyed construction and a deep drain in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing at least three militants while injuring nine others.

  The Special Task Force personnel in an ambush at Udagova in the Pothuvil area of Ampara district killed two militants and also recovered two hand grenades from their possession.

  The chief priest at Trincomalee Koneshwaran Temple, Thivathunaraja Kurukkal, who was maintaining close relations with the SFs was gunned down by ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE while he was riding a motor bike on the Pathima street in Trincomalee.

  Police have arrested 22 Tamil men suspected of having connections to the LTTE from the Nuwara Eliya district. The men reportedly have received training on military activities and military intelligence from the outfit.

  Two LTTE suspects were taken into custody by the Police Intelligence Unit along with C4 explosives, detonators and other peripherals.

  The UN in Sri Lanka announced that its offices in the LTTE-held Kilinochchi have been looted. "The UN in Sri Lanka says that it is seriously concerned by theft from its Kilinochchi Offices on Thursday and Friday nights. The UN has drawn this to the attention of the LTTE and says that humanitarian assets and staff ought to be protected at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law," the UN said in a statement.

• September 20: At least 23 LTTE cadres were killed and a large number of others were injured during encounters between troops and militants in the areas west of Mankulam, Navaddikulam, north of Palamoddai, Akkarayankulam, Panniwedikulam, Vannavikulam, Punani Kodamadu and Andankulam in the Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

  Three soldiers were killed in LTTE mortar fire in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Another soldier was killed in clashes with the LTTE militants in the Pannaikandamdu area.

  The SFs recovered explosives from the Mavilaru south of Trincomalee district.

  The fighter jets of Sri Lanka Air Force destroyed two LTTE hideouts near Nachchakuda and Akkarayankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  Two more LTTE hideouts near Kokavil and Akkarayankadu were destroyed by MI-24 fighter helicopters in the Kilinochchi district.

• September 19: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and five other injured in confrontations with the SFs in the area north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed four militants during separate encounters in the Poovarasankulam and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed and at least 18 others injured in clashes with the SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  The Eravur area leader of the TMVP, identified as Parathawaran Udayan, was shot dead by unidentified assailants, Police said. Police spokesman, Ranjith Gunasekara, said the incident took place near the TMVP area office located in the Thalawai area of Eravur.

  One militant was killed in an encounter with the troops in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered seven 152-mm high explosive artillery shells and artillery equipments such as one trail wheel, one equilibrator, one tool box, two seals, four cleaning rods, one oxygen cylinder and one sight box from at Vakarai west in the Thonitattamadu area of Batticaloa district.

  During another search operation at Palampatar area in the Muttur town area of Trincomalee district recovered five 60-mm mortar rounds, five 60-mm mortar chargers and 10 hand grenades.

  The Sri Lankan government said that the resettlement of the Eastern Province is almost finished under the region's development project. Secretary to the Resettlement Ministry A.C.M. Razik said at the moment, 51,851 families have been resettled.

  The United States has announced that its USAID will launch a new multi-year initiative to improve economic growth in Eastern Sri Lanka.

• September 18: At least 25 Sea Tigers, cadres of the sea wing of the LTTE, were killed and 10 Sea Tiger boats, including three big ones, were destroyed in a four-hour long sea battle between naval troops and the Sea Tigers in the seas off Valaipadu at Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district. Four navy personnel received injuries in the fighting. The LTTE Sea Tiger cadres fled with four other damaged boats. Intercepted LTTE communications disclosed that the sea attack was led by a senior Sea Tiger cadre identified as Kader.

  The SFs captured another 1.5 kilometres stretch of land in the Karampaikkulam area of Kilinochchi district killing 15 LTTE militants and injuring 18 others. Three soldiers were also killed while 12 others received injuries during the clash.

  At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and six others injured during clashes with the troops in and around Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed and one more injured in the confrontations.

  Troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district killing at least eight militants. One soldier sustained injuries in the clashes.

  Three persons were killed and five others injured in a claymore mine explosion targeting a civilian bus along the Kilinochchi-Pullekyarkulam road in the LTTE-held Puthur area of Kilinochchi district. The bus was on its way from Pullekyarkulam to Kilinochchi.

  Two persons were shot dead and another two were severely injured in an attack carried out by unidentified gunmen in the Pannalagama area of Ampara district.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed in separate encounters with the SFs in the Akkarayankulam and Panniwedikulam areas of Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs confronted separate groups of the LTTE militants in the areas ahead of the Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs in Jaffna district and killed one militant. One soldier sustained injuries in the LTTE mortar fire.

  The troops overran one more fortified LTTE camp with six bunkers, including one concrete, four cadjan huts, one boat, a kitchen and a few more LTTE items in the deep Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralized an LTTE target in the area north west of Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF fighter crafts neutralized an LTTE anti aircraft defense system at Palaiandankulam, northwest of Vishvamadu, in the Mullaitivu district.

  One LTTE mortar position, about 3 kilometres north of Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district was bombed by the SLAF jets. Also, the MI-24 crafts of the SLAF shelled an LTTE camp, about 1 kilometre east of Vannavikulam.

  The troops recovered three T- 56 weapons and six magazines from the Meegassooriyapura area of Trincomalee district.

  Police recovered 300-grams of C-4 explosives from the Dehiaththakandiya area of Ampara district.

  Army Chief Commander Sarath Fonseka said that the LTTE will go underground rather than 'fight to the last man'.

  The Government distributed SLR 30 million for displaced persons in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi due to the ongoing war in the northern region.

• September 17: At least 25 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed while about 25 militants and 14 soldiers were injured as troops captured a 1.5-kilometres stretch of the huge earth bund at Karampaikkulam, eight kilometers northeast of Nachchakuda, in the Kilinochchi district.

  Troops operating east of Akkarayankulam foiled three counter attacks by the LTTE to capture the area under the security forces since September 15, killing at least 15 LTTE cadres. Troops are now operating just one kilometre west of the A-9 road in the Murikkandal area and 5.5 kilometres south of Kilinochchi.

  The SFs during six separate clashes in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killed 12 militants. One soldier was also injured in an APM explosion during the fighting.

  Five LTTE cadres were killed and 24 others injured in an encounter with SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and four others injured in the LTTE mortar fire and explosion of an APM during the clashes. Also, the troops overran a well-fortified LTTE camp that had four bunkers, one drinking-water well and a mortar pit in the same area after the militants abandoned the camp and fled.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed and another injured in confrontations with the troops in two separate incidents at Navakkulam and Konakkarankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs neutralized an LTTE bunker in the Vilakkavettikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

  Two LTTE militants and a soldier were killed while 29 militants and seven soldiers received injuries as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more militants were killed by the troops and their bunker destroyed in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  A female Assistant Engineer, Lokeshwaran Premalatha, attached with the Ministry of Nation Building and actively engaged in the eastern development programme, Negenahira Navodaya (Resurrection of the East), was shot dead by two ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE at her residence at Thihativu in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in an LTTE mortar fire in the Ranabapura area of Vavuniya district. Another soldier on clearing operations in the Janakapura area sustained injuries in an APM explosion.

  The MI-24 fighter jets of the SLAF shelled withdrawing militants in the northeast of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi district. Details of the incident are awaited.

  One LTTE mortar position, about two kilometres west of Vannavikulam in Kilinochchi district, was neutralized by the fighter jets of the SLAF.

  Similarly, fighter jets bombed an LTTE artillery position, about nine kilometres northwest of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralized a secret LTTE hideout, frequented by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, in Vaddakkachchi area north of Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi district.

  LTTE ammunition and arms storage, three kilometers north of Udayarkattikkulam in the Mullaitivu district was destroyed by the fighter jets of the SLAF.

  The SLAF fighter crafts shelled an LTTE high tech IT facility in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district.

  The SFs recovered 10 detonators, 100 grams of C-4 explosives, one gelignite stick and a 20-feet long detonator code at Horiwila in the Nochchiyagama area of Anuradhapura district.

  Four APMs, one detonator code, two IEDs, one map of Padaviya area, 20 T-56 ammunition rounds, two 9-mm pistol ammunition, three batteries and some food items were recovered by the SFs from the Inguruhinna area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE have used CS gas to attack Sri Lankan soldiers recently in the battlefronts of Wanni region, the MCNS said. However, the Army is fully equipped and well geared up to face any unacceptable ‘chemical or gas attacks of the enemy,’ MCNS added.

  Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka told Daily News that SFs operating in Wanni region are ready to face any type of gas attacks by the LTTE as they have been equipped with gas masks to face such situations.

  The security authorities have decided to hold a special census on the people now living in the Western Province after fleeing the LTTE-held areas.

  September 16: The SFs during separate encounters in the Palamoddai, North of Palamoddai and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district killed 11 LTTE militants. One soldier also received injuries when the LTTE militants triggered an APM explosion.

  Eight more militants were killed and 14 others wounded in encounters between the two sides in the areas east of Akkarayankulam and Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier received injuries in the Akkarayankulam area. The SFs captured one bunker following those confrontations.

  One more soldier was wounded in an APM explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Four persons were injured when a suspected parcel bomb exploded inside a Colombo Transport Bus at Horton Place roundabout in Colombo.

  The Government has reportedly put its health authorities on alert in order to face any possible chemical attack by the LTTE during the fighting in the North, informed sources said.

  The government is seeking the assistance of the people to prevent terrorist activities in the southern part of the country.

  Sri Lanka has said that adopting a legislation by the United States would enable it to prosecute foreign military leaders who recruit child soldiers. It would be a direct blow to the LTTE, which had been recruiting child soldiers despite the pleas from humanitarian agencies, the Government said. The Child Soldiers Accountability Act was unanimously passed in the House of Representatives on September 8 and was adopted by the Senate on September 15.

• September 15: Nine LTTE militants were killed and seven others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Kaliyalamunai, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Pannaikandamdu areas of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also injured in these clashes.

  Troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district and killed six militants while injuring two others. Three soldiers were also injured in LTTE mortar firing during the fighting.

  One Civil Defense Force (CDF) member and a civilian were shot dead by suspected LTTE militants in the Mahaoya area of Ampara district.

  The SFs in two separate encounters killed two militants and injured 19 others in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also got injured in action.

  Six more soldiers sustained injuries in confrontations with the LTTE militants at Vellankulam in the Kilinochchi district.

  Three LTTE bunkers were neutralized when the troops using armoured vehicles attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. About 45 minutes later, the troops captured five LTTE bunkers constructed underground and which had been used by the LTTE as one of their command posts in the same area.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse said troops were on track to capture the outfit’s political capital in Kilinochchi by the end of the year. Ruling out a future cease-fire with the LTTE he vowed to "finish the war as soon as possible".

  The President further said that his Government will seriously consider any request from India to hand over the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran when he is captured.

• September 15: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed as the troops of the 57 Division operating on the Vavuniya front advanced six-kms east of Akkarayankulam tank in the Kilinochchi district further closing towards the Jaffna Kandy A-9 road from the north of Kokkali, said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. Three soldiers were killed and nine soldiers injured during these confrontations.

• September 14: The SFs confronted with the militants at Andankulam and Tannimurippukulam in the Vavuniya district killing eight LTTE cadres while injuring at least 19 others. One soldier was injured in an IED explosion in Andankulam.

  Six more militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs neutralized one LTTE bunker at Vannavikulam in the Kilinochchi district killing three militants while injuring two others.

  Three more militants were killed and two others injured in an encounter in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. 12 soldiers also sustained injuries in confrontations and IEDs explosions in the area.

  Another soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion Kattiaratan in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka Army chief Sarath Fonseka reportedly told his senior officers that about 11000 LTTE cadres have been killed since the military launched its campaign to secure the Mavil Aru anicut in July 2006.

• September 13: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 20 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam, Vannavikulam and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation at Nachchakuda.

  Eight militants were eliminated by the SFs during encounters in the Navakkulam, Mamaduwa and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district. Troops alter recovered the dead body of the terrorist killed in Mamaduwa along with two hand grenades.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed in clashes with the troops in the Periyakunchikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Four Police personnel, including a woman Police constable, sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting a Police vehicle near the White Bridge on the Mandur-Wellaveli road of Batticaloa district. One of the injured policeman died later.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards Police personnel on duty at the Thimilathivu Police post in Batticaloa district and killed one policeman.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force Fighter jets neutralized a heavily fortified concrete building complex of the LTTE that had been built in concealment about 1-km north of Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi district.

  The Police recovered about 100-g C4 explosives and a timer near an electricity transformer close to the Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo district.

  Naval troops recovered 20-g of gelignite, two electronic detonators and 1.5-m long safety fuse from the Kuchchaveli area of Trincomalee district.

  Army recovered 86 anti-personnel mines, two release switches, one pressure switch, 13 anti tank mine covers and one claymore mine from the Kaddaiparichan area of Trincomalee district.

  The SFs recovered one Multi Purpose Machine Gun from the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district.

• September 12: Eight militants were killed and nine others injured during separate clashes with the security forces in the Vedamakilam, north of Palamoddai, north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Perankulam in the Vavuniya district and Akkarayankulam, Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam and Vanneikandamadu in the Kilinochchi district. One soldier was also killed while nine others got injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosion of anti-personnel mines.

  The SLAF fighter jets in two successive air raids neutralized two LTTE camps in the Muhamalai area. The SLAF spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said the SLAF fighters neutralized the LTTE forward operational base located around 200-meters away from the outfit’s FDL in Muhamalai at 5.05 pm (SLST). Five minutes later, the SLAF neutralized an LTTE storage facility located 500-meters away from the same FDL. The store complex used by the LTTE terrorists to store their weapons, ammunitions and communication equipments, spokesperson said.

  The SLAF attack on the LTTE Intelligence Headquarters in Kilinochchi on September 10 has prompted the re-location of INGOs out of Kilinochchi, the Lankadeepa in a report said.

  The SLAF personnel recovered a stock of 185 mortar bomb shells of 82-mm from the inside of tin barrels from the Kandalkadu area of Trincomalee district.

• September 11: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and five others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam, Kariyalanmodai, Manirasakulam, Vannavikulam and Pannaikanthakadu areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. While one soldier was killed during confrontation at Pannaikanthakadu, eight other soldiers reportedly got injured in confrontations in Kilinochchi district.

  SFs killed 14 LTTE militants, including seven women cadres, during confrontations in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops eliminated 10 more militants and wounded eight during separate clashes in the Vedamakilam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

  Seven civilians, who had gone for cultivation work and collecting firewood, were killed by the LTTE militants at Ethimale village in the Kotiyagala area close to the Ampara-Moneragala district borders. While four of them were killed using T-56 weapons from a certain distance, the other three aboard a tractor, were shot dead with pistol at a close range.

  Six more militants were killed and two others received injuries in an encounter with the SFs in the area south of Nayaru in Kilinochchi district.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The troops after confrontation with the militants in the Periyakunchikulam area of Vavuniya district, recovered the dead bodies of two militants along with two T-56 assault rifles, 120 rounds of T-56 ammunition and eight magazines.

  Another LTTE cadre was shot dead by the SFs in the Karadiyankadu area of Jaffna district.

  The troops killed an LTTE area leader, identified as Kaliaradan, along with three other militants during clashes ahead of the Kilaly FDL area of Jaffna district.

  An explosion occurred near the upward railway track area at Kalupalama in the Wellampitiya region of Colombo district. However, no loss of life or damage to the property was reported.

• September 10: Five LTTE cadres were killed and at least three others injured in clashes with the troops in the Akkarayankulam and Maniarkulam areas closer to the Kilinochchi-Mullaitivu districts boarders. Seven soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes and explosion of an APM.

  The troops killed five more militants during confrontations in the Vedamakilam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs eliminated four LTTE cadres and wounded 10 others in an encounter in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire and explosion of an APM.

  The troops shot dead an LTTE militant in the Yodiyankattuwa area of Batticaloa district and later recovered a claymore mine, two pen torch batteries, one detonator, one cyanide capsule and a 30-m long wire roll from his possession.

  One soldier was injured during a confrontation with the militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  An explosion was reported near the De Seram road end adjoining the railway track in Mt. Lavinia in the Colombo district. However, no loss of life or damages to the property was reported.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets shelled two LTTE camps in the Mullaitivu district, reports Sri Lanka Army. The first air attack targeted an artillery ammunition storage and distribution point about 2.5-km east of Udayarkattikkulam while the second attack neutralised a defence line being constructed by the militants using heavy earth moving machinery about 1-km east of Akkarayankulam.

  Sri Lankan Air Force fired shells at the LTTE intelligence headquarters near Kilinochchi town centre and destroyed it extensively, reports Sri Lankan Army.

  The STF personnel arrested one LTTE militant from the Kalmunai area of Ampara district and subsequently recovered one hand grenade, 90 rounds of T-56 ammunition, three T-56 magazines, two bandages, one mobile phone, three SIM cards, one belt order, one fake Identity Card and one toggle rope.

• September 9: The Sri Lanka military said that the combined air and artillery attack by LTTE over Vavuniya in the pre dawn hours killed 21 combatants on both sides. Preliminary reports said the abortive ground artillery attack on the Wanni SF’s Headquarters Complex in Vavuniya killed 10 Army soldiers and one Police constable. While seven airmen, nine Police constables and one civilian also sustained injuries as a result of exchange of heavy fire, the troops have so far recovered 10 bodies of militants, including five female cadres. Simultaneously, two LTTE aircrafts providing support to the artillery attack dropped two bombs which missed their intended target falling on the office area failing to cause much damage. Meanwhile, the SLAF fighter jets which had taken off from Katunayake Air Base intercepted the two fleeing aircrafts and shot one down.

  10 LTTE militants were killed and more than 20 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the areas north of Rumulamunai, Vannavikulam, Kariyalanmodai and Ranaikandanamadu in the Kilinochchi district.

  Four cadres of the LTTE were killed and five others wounded in clashes with the SFs in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed three militants and injured three others in the Uluththuveli and Anandankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were killed during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Panaikandanmadu area of Kilinochchi district.

  The troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Akkarayankulam area of Vavuniya district killing two militants while injuring another.

  12 militants and eight SF personnel were injured during clashes in the area north of Rumulamunai in the Kilinochchi district. The troops also two bunkers during the operation.

• September 8: Troops killed 10 militants while injuring nine others as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Nachchakuda, Tambalamunai, Panisaikundumadu and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district to the west of the A-9 road.

  Six more militants were killed while six others received injuring in a separate clash with the troops in the Uluththuveli and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs neutralised an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers in the areas north of Palamoddai, Navathkulama and Kompuwennakulam areas of Vavuniya district killing three militants while injuring four others.

  One LTTE militant was eliminated while another wounded by the SFs in the Navakkulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  10 persons were injured, two of them seriously, in a hand grenade explosion in the Pettah area of Colombo district. Several vehicles, including a Police Emergency car that was passing the place when the blast occurred were badly damaged.

  Six militants were injured during confrontations with the troops in the area northeast of Janakapura in Vavuniya district, SLA reports.

  The Sri Lankan free lance journalist and former media coordinator of the Eastern Chief Minister, Radhika Devakumar, was shot at and injured by unidentified assailants in Batticaloa.

  The SLAF fighter jets thrice bombed the LTTE defence line in the Nachchakuda area in the Kilinochchi district.

• September 7: 11 LTTE militants were killed and at least six others injured by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Periyamadu, east of Nachchakuda and Vannavikulam areas in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. Four soldiers sustained injuries due to mortar fire and activation of an LTTE APM in these areas.

  Eight more militants were killed and 15 others injured during separate clashes between the two sides in the Andankulam and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers also sustained injuries during these clashes.

  The SFs killed three militants and inured four others in the area north of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and captured two trench lines.

  One soldier was injured in an APM explosion near Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The SLAF MI-24 fighter helicopters neutralised a Sea Tiger base located at Kavitharamunei in the Pooneryn area of Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed an LTTE camp located east of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district.

  Similarly, an LTTE training centre located three kilometres west of Mankulam in the Mullaitivu district was shelled by the SLAF fighter jets.

  The troops conducted a search operation in the Konketiyawa area of Vavuniya district and recovered one suicide jacket, seven claymore mines, C-4 explosives weighing about one-kg, 11 electric detonators, 50-m detonator code, three remote controlled antennas, one battery charger, two maps, 22 anti-personnel mines (APM), 17 AP fuses, seven hand grenades, four packs, one pistol magazine, 49 pistol ammunitions, 125 ammunitions used for M16 riffles, 150 T-56 ammunitions, three batteries, two firing devices, five trip switches, a stock of dry rations and medicines.

  The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has said that the change in the strategy of the Sri Lankan Army along with accurate Intelligence inputs have led the island nation to advance into the LTTE stronghold in northern areas.

  Foreign Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona stressed the need to end fundraising and propaganda capacity of the LTTE and its fronts in the West. "At a time Sri Lanka is engaged in the arduous task of putting an end to terrorism in the north of the country, it was vital to also end the capacity of the LTTE and its front organizations to raise funds and engage in propaganda in Western countries," the Foreign Ministry said quoting Kohona.

• September 6: At least five LTTE militants were killed and another injured during encounters with the troops in the area north from Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed in the LTTE mortar fire while another was injured in an APM explosion during the clashes.

  At Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the SFs captured one LTTE trench line killing two cadres while wounding another. One soldier was also injured in the incident while another soldier sustained injuries in an APM explosion in the same area.

  One soldier was killed and another wounded during clashes with the militants in the Keevelikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Four SF personnel were in injured in LTTE mortar fire and small arms fire towards troops in the Nachchakuda and Vannavikulam areas of Kilinochchi district.

  Two more soldiers sustained injuries in two separate explosions of booby traps in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Two soldiers were injured in clashes with the militants ahead of the Ariyalai FDL of Jaffna district.

  The MI 24 fighter helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised an LTTE bunker line located in the vicinity of Tannimurippukulam Tank in the Kilinochchi district.

  The Sri Lanka Police arrested three persons who were involved in a large number of thefts and lootings in the Nuwara Eliya district and sending the money to the LTTE in North.

  The Eastern Province say that the newly elected Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan a.k.a. Pillayan and his party, TMVP are under pressure due to the parents' appeal to return their offspring enlisted by it.

  The Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the Sri Lankan Government will "find only a political solution to a political issue," and its military engagement was "purely as a means towards eliminating terrorism."

• September 5: At least 14 LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the troops in the Thalikkulam, Vedamakilam and North of Palamoddai areas in the Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of six slain militants along with four T-56 weapons and two bicycles from the Thalikkulam area.

  Eight militants were killed and 13 others injured in clashes with the troops in the Andankulam and north of Kiriibbanwewa areas in the Vavuniya district. The SFs also neutralised an LTTE bunker, one communicative trench line, one mortar location and recovered two hand grenades, 150 T-56 ammunition and 550 MPMG ammunition after the clashes.

  The troops killed two LTTE cadres and injured two others in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  One soldier was injured during a gun battle with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Three members of the TCHR, a pro-LTTE Non Governmental Organisation were evicted from the 61st Annual UNESCO Conference of DPI/NGO at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris \. The UNESCO conference authorities cancelled the registration of the three members - S.V.Kirubahar, Director TCHR, France, Mrs Deirdre McConnel Kirubahara, Director TCHR, UK and J. Jean-Marie, Program Officer, TCHR, Paris – who had registered as participants submitting false information to the Department of Public Information of UNESCO and the DPI/NGO Conference Secretariat in Paris and New York.

• September 4: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed and three others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Vannavikulam, Andankulam and Akkarayannagar areas of the Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

  11 more partly disfigured and decomposed corpses of soldiers delivered to the ICRC officials by the LTTE was received by the Army authorities serving Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district.

  At least nine militants and a soldier were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Akkarayankulam, Mannikkandannadu, Vannavikulam and adjoining areas of Kilinochchi district. Nine more militants and six soldiers were wounded during these clashes.

  The troops confronted a group of seven militants in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district killing five of them.

  The troops eliminated five LTTE cadres during an encounter in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed during the incident.

  Four militants and a soldier were killed while five militants got wounded during clashes in the Andankulam and Kurundankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops repulsed an LTTE attack in the Mannikkandannadu area of Kilinochchi district killing four militants while injuring nine others. Three soldiers also received injuries during the fighting.

  During another encounter in the Akkarayankulam area of Vavuniya district the troops killed four LTTE militants.

  The SFs attacked three LTTE bunkers ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district and killed three militants while injuring at least six others.

  The LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting the STF personnel at Mailavadduvan in the Vavuvathivu area of Batticaloa district inuring one STF member who died later.

  Similarly, another soldier was killed and one more sustained injuries in an IED explosion in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed while another got wounded in LTTE-triggered explosions of APM and booby traps and fire in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Also, the SFs neutralised two LTTE bunkers killing one militant while injuring four others in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE small arms fire and explosions of APMs in the Pokkaravani, Mundipurippu and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier sustained injury in explosion of an IED in the Uluththuveli area of Vavuniya district.

  Also, the SFs destroyed two LTTE boats in the Nayaru seas off Mullaitivu district.

  The Eravur Police recovered one T-56 weapon, one Rocket Propeller Gun and 26 rounds of T-56 ammunition from the Sinna Sawkade area of Batticaloa district.

• September 3: The SFs killed 22 militants, including one LTTE intelligence leader identified as ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ Neelavan, in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  19 partly disfigured and decomposed corpses of soldiers delivered to the ICRC officials by the LTTE in the Mullaitivu district was received by the Army authorities serving Omanthai Entry/Exit point in the Vavuniya district. Of them, seven dead bodies have been so far identified as those of the soldiers who had gone missing in the Nachchakuda area of Kilinochchi district on after heavy fighting on September 2.

  Eight more militants were killed in the Palamoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Three militants were killed in two separate encounters with the troops in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.

  A magistrate conducting an inquiry into a murder escaped unhurt while three soldiers were injured when the LTTE militants detonated a landmine at Sarasalai in the Kappativu area of Jaffna district. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  Four SF personnel sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered explosions of APM, mortars and hand grenades in the Eluttumadduwal and Muhamalai areas.

  One soldier sustained injuries in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

• September 2: At least 44 LTTE militants were killed and more than 100 others injured during two days of clashes between the troops and militants in the Malawi area in Mullaitivu district. Three soldiers were also killed while 18 others sustained injuries during these clashes. The troops which according to earlier reports had captured the Malawi town on September 1 took full control of the Malawi area on September 2.

  At least 17 militants were killed while 18 others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the Nachchakuda and Kunchankulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Five soldiers were also killed while 17 others were wounded. One T-56 weapon, one anti tank mine, twelve booby traps and thirty APMs were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

  During another encounter between the two sides in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed 19 militants and injured 23 others. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

  10 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others wounded as the troops captured about 400-meters of land at Terankandal in the Akkarayankulam area of Kilinochchi district neutralising an LTTE bunker line. 31 soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes.

  The troops killed six more militants and injured 11 others in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards SFs at Veniharagama in the Panama area of Ampara district killing two SF personnel.

  Troops recovered 12 dead bodies of militants from Padaviya and five dead bodies from Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, two dead bodies from Trincomalee district and one dead body from the Malawi area in Mullaitivu district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE mortar location and another defensive position, about two kilometres north of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district.

  The troops recovered one 15-kgs claymore mine, two 60-mm mortar bombs, one APM and a detonator code from the Ethimale and Kumburupiddy areas of Batticaloa district.

  Around 300 to 400 Tamil youths from Kandy had been taken to the North and trained by the LTTE for subversive activities during the cease-fire in 2002.

  The Papua New Guinea intelligence officials (NIO) have arrested 12 Sri Lankan nationals linked to the LTTE who were on the run from the Sri Lankan security forces. They were arrested from a Port Moresby hotel and were allegedly planning to go to Australia using falsified documents, the NIO sources said.

• September 1: Troops captured the strategically important Malawi town on September 1-afternoon, military sources said. Malawi, one of the main administrative hubs of the LTTE where they kept many of their foreign visitors arriving in the Wanni to meet their leaders, is located surrounding the ninth mile post on the Mankulam- Vellankulam road which links the Jaffna Kandy A-9 road and the Mannar- Pooneryn A-32 road. Malawi reportedly has a hospital, banks and a massive bakery complex which can make 5000 loaves of bread at once.

  Eight LTTE cadres were killed and 23 others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the Andankulam and north of Kokkuthuduvai areas in Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were wounded in these clashes.

  The troops neutralised three LTTE trench lines in the areas north of Palamoddai, Navathkulama and Kottakkarankulam areas in the Vavuniya district killing seven militants and injuring nine others. One soldier was also killed while the troops recovered two T-56 weapons from the incident site.

  18 LTTE militants were killed and more than 21 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Palamoddai and Navakkulam in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while the troops recovered the dead bodies of five slain militants along with three T-56 weapons and one communication set.

  The SLAF jets neutralised an LTTE defence line, north of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF bombed LTTE’s Madam area defence line, about three kilometres east of Nachchakuda.

• August 31: The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Andankulam and north of Kokkuthuduvai areas in Vavuniya district killing at least 16 of them and injuring 19 others. Two soldiers were also killed and five soldiers sustained injuries in this incident.

  During another encounter in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district, the SFs killed seven militants and wounded nine others. Three soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries in theses clashes. One more soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the same area.

  The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants at Konketiyawa in the Padaviya area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of 10 slain militants.

  The troops killed a militant and injured seven others during an encounter near the Kilaly Forward Defence Line in Jaffna district. One soldier was wounded in the incident.

• August 30: Nine militants were killed and five others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam, Kariyalanmodai and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district. Seven soldiers also got injured in these confrontations.

  Four more LTTE cadres were killed while six others received injuries in confrontation with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards SFs in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district killing three soldiers while injuring nine others.

  Three SF personnel were killed and four others injured when the LTTE militants fired mortars towards the troops at Konketiyawa in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops during separate encounters in the Navakkulam and north of Palamoddai areas in Vavuniya district killed three more LTTE cadres. One soldier also sustained injury during confrontation in the north of Palamoddai. In a separate encounter in the Palamoddai area, the troops eliminated another militant while injuring one more.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district, the SFs killed two LTTE cadres.

  One militant was killed when Police fired at a group of LTTE militants in the Abimanpura area of Vavuniya district.

  One militant was killed when the SFs opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants at Konketiyawa, an area about three kilometres interior from the Bogahahandiya-Welioya road, and subsequently recovered the dead body of the slain militant.

  At least 48 persons, including two children and seven women, were injured in an LTTE-triggered parcel bomb explosion at the Bo-Tree Junction of Olcott Mawatha in the Pettah area, a short distance away from the main bus terminal in capital Colombo. Defence officials said the bomb inside the parcel was left near a wristwatch vendor.

• August 29: Eight LTTE militants were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district. Four more soldiers and at least three militants received injuries in the incident. Also, one soldier was killed while another got injured during a separate confrontation in the same area.

  Five more LTTE cadres were killed while three others got wounded during confrontations with the SFs in the area north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Separately, one soldier was injured in an LTTE laid booby trap explosion in the same area.

  The troops killed four militants while wounded 14 others during separate encounters in the Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also received injuries in LTTE mortar fire.

  The SFs eliminated two LTTE militants while injuring four others during confrontations in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Seven detainees, including six arrestees on murder and an LTTE suspect, were injured in a grenade explosion inside the cells at Batticaloa Prison headquarters.

  MI-24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised a LTTE bunker line, about two kilometres northeast of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district.

  The MI-24 fighter helicopters bombed a group of LTTE militants constructing a sand bund in the Tannimurippukulam tank area of Kilinochchi district.

• August 28: Troops captured the strategic Palamoddai town, six kilometres northwest of the Omanthai entry exit point in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops also captured Uluththuveli area in the Mullaitivu district.

  19 militants and four soldiers were killed while 32 persons were injured during clashes between the two sides in the east of Thunukkai, Alankulam and areas about two kilometres to the east of Nachchakuda in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Troops later captured the Alankulam area.

  18 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Vavunikkulam, Nitthikaikulam and Andankulam areas in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts. One soldier was also killed while 19 others sustained injuries during these clashes. Another soldier engaged in de-mining was wounded in an APM explosion in the Andankulam area from where the SFs unearthed 12 APMs.

  The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the Palamoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district killing at least 15 of them. Four soldiers sustained injuries during these clashes while another was wounded in an APM explosion in the Palamoddai area. The troops also captured four trench lines and recovered the dead bodies of two militants after the clashes.

  The SFs killed one of the two militants who had attempted to lob a hand grenade towards the troops at Ariyalai in the Jaffna district. Troops later recovered his dead body. Meanwhile, one soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Nagarkovil area.

  Police recovered a 2.5-kg heavy claymore mine, one detonator and a wire roll of 69 ft from the Thorankadu junction, close to Narasinghe Hindu Kovil (Temple) in the Uppuveli Police Division of Trincomalee district.

• August 27: 11 LTTE cadres were killed and 13 others injured during an encounter with the SFs in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed in an improvised explosive device explosion while two others sustained injuries during the fighting and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

  The SFs neutralised three LTTE trench lines in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district killing five militants and wounding seven others.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and their bodies found subsequently by the SFs at Vellankulam in the Trincomalee district. The slain militants were identified as Viniden, the Trincomalee North area leader, and Kanthan. Two T-56 assault riffles were recovered from the incident site.

  The SLAF MI-24 fighter helicopters neutralised an LTTE bunker line situated two-km east of Nachchakuda in the Kilinochchi district.

  The troops recovered 10 chargers containing 700-gram gelignite, five non-electric detonators, four ft safety fuse, one T-56 weapon, one magazine, 30 rounds of ammunition and portable radio set from the Gandhinagar, Kangankungu and Irankulam areas of Trincomalee district.

  The SFs recovered two hand grenades and one 5-kg heavy claymore mine from the Kaththankudy area in Batticaloa district.

• August 26: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 60 others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Koliyankulam, Navakkulam, Andankulam, Nitthikaikulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district, Alankulam in the Mullaitivu district and Wannarikulam in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines and booby traps during the fighting in these areas.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Kilali, Puthur and Therankandal areas of Jaffna district and killed 10 more militants.

  The LTTE using a small aircraft dropped two improvised bombs on Trincomalee naval base on August 26-night. The Defence Ministry said the LTTE launched the air raid on the naval camp at about 9:15 pm (SLST). Naval sources confirming the attack on the Trincomalee Navy base said the raid caused minor damages and added that one bomb out of the two dropped failed to explode. 10 sailors were injured in the attack.

  The SFs recovered a claymore mine from the Thunadi area of Batticaloa district.

• August 25: At least eight militants were killed and 11 others injured as the troops captured another 800m long stretch of land under their control from the Tannimurippukulam tank bund, about 9.5-km to the north East of Nedunkerni in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers also received injuries during the clashes.

  The SFs neutralised an LTTE bunker line in the Vannavikulam area of Kilinochchi district killing six militants and injuring four others. One soldier was also killed while four others sustained injuries. Three more soldiers received injuries during several other clashes in the same area while inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE. The exact details of these clashes are awaited.

  Four soldiers were killed and a similar number of them wounded when the LTTE militants opened mortar fire from the east of Thunukkai and also from the Ariyamadu area towards the troops to the west of Mullaitivu town centre. Also, one soldier sustained injuries in another LTTE fire in the Yogapuram, about 5-km southeast of Thunukkai.

  Two more soldiers were killed during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Andankulam and Ranabapura areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops in an encounter killed one militant and injured two others in the Vellankulam area. Separately, three soldiers were wounded in an improvised explosive device explosion in the same area.

  The SFs recovered one T-56 weapon, four T-56 magazines, 120 rounds of T-56 ammunition, two hand grenades, one map, one compass, two cyanide capsules, one mobile phone, one belt order, one pack, food items and some water cans at Abimanpura in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.

• August 24: 12 LTTE militants were killed and 12 others were wounded during clashes with the Army in the east of Tunukkai, Vannarikulam, Palamoddai, Andankulam, north of Kiriibbanwewa and other areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

  One LTTE militant was killed during a confrontation with the SFs in the Ponnaru area of Jaffna district. Similarly, one soldier was wounded in an LTTE artillery fire in the Muhamalai area.

  The STF personnel recovered one T-56 weapon, 114 T-56 ammunition rounds, two magazines, one micro pistol, three micro pistol ammunition rounds and one weapon sling from the Kurukulmadu area of Batticaloa district.

  The STF also recovered one anti- personnel mine, one Global Positioning System, one LTTE uniform, one harness pack and one walkman set from the north of Kumbukkanoya in Ampara district.

  Three gelignite chargers, each weighing 700 grams, two safety fuses and four non electrical detonators were recovered form the Irrakkandi area of Trincomalee district.
  
  An LTTE militant who attempted to lob a hand grenade towards troops on duty at Chavalakade in the Trincomalee district was shot dead by the SFs. The SFs later recovered the dead body of the slain militant along with one hand grenade from the incident site.

• August 23: 11 LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured during confrontation with the SFs in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others received injuries in IEDs explosions in the same area.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Ranabapura and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district and killed five militants. Five soldiers also received injuries during these confrontations.

  Five more LTTE cadres were killed as the troops attacked neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also got wounded in IEDs explosions in the same area.

  The SFs in an encounter with the LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam area of Kilinochchi district killed five cadres while four soldiers received injuries in LTTE mortar fire.

  The troops neutralised a LTTE bunker in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district killing four militants.

  One soldier was killed and another received injuries during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

  Another soldier was killed and one more received injuries in an IED explosion in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

  One soldier got injured in an LTTE mortar fire in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

• August 22: Troops attached to the 57 Division and the Special Forces captured Thunukkai, the second most important administrative hub of the LTTE, taking the Forward Defences of the ground troops just 12-kilometres south of Kilinochchi, after capturing Uyilankulam, located eight kilometers north of Thunukkai. At least 20 militants and five soldiers were killed during the two days of confrontations in Thunukkai. Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka said that Kilinochchi will certainly be the next target of the SFs as all the gates were opened for Wanni and Kilinochchi liberation with the regaining of Thunukkai and Uyilankulam, two of the most tactically important towns west of Mullaitivu district.

  The SFs captured three LTTE trenches killing seven militants and wounding 17 others in the north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants and killed three cadres while injuring three others in the north of Palamoddai in Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also received injuries in the fighting while another got wounded in an APM explosion.

  The SFs killed five militants and wounded 20 others in two separate attacks in the Anandankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Five militants were killed and nine others received injuries during confrontations with the troops in the areas south of Malawi, Uyilankulam and Thunukkai in Mullaitivu district. Seven soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

  During a clash between the Army and LTTE militants in the Aithimundai and Maniarkulam areas, the SFs killed four militants while three soldiers were wounded in the fighting. In the Maniarkulam area, one soldier was injured in an APM explosion.

  Two soldiers were killed and another wounded in an LTTE mortar attack towards SFs in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was wounded in an APM explosion in the Malawi south area of Mullaitivu district.

  An unidentified assailant lobbed a hand grenade at two Sri Lankan Muslim Ministers at Kaduruwela in the Polonnaruwa district. Amir Ali, Minister of Disaster Relief Services and Hussain Bahila, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs were the target of this hand grenade attack, Police said. The Blast occurred while the two Ministers were on the way to their rest house after the election campaign for the Provincial Council Elections to be held on August 23.

  The SLAF MI–24 helicopters neutralised an LTTE camp, about 17-km northwest of Thunukkai, to the south of Vannavikulam tank in Kilinochchi.

  The fighter jets shelled an LTTE logistic base in the Darmapuram area, about five-km north of Viswamudu tank, from where vehicle spare parts and other combat items for the LTTE are distributed.

  Police recovered eight gelignite sticks mixed with C-4 explosives, two detonators and 138-kg of steel from the Balagolla area of Kandy district.

  Accessories needed to prepare suicide jackets were recovered by the SFs from the inside of St. Philip Neri's Catholic Church in Colombo Fort. The SFs recovered a bag laden with 11 MR type switches, 11 PT type switches, one PR type switch, five remote antennas and one bag of garments.

• August 21: Six militants and two soldiers were killed while nine militants and seven soldiers sustained injuries as clashes erupted between the twos sides in the Vanarakulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Thunukkai and south of Malawi areas in the west Mullaitivu and killed six militants. One soldier was also killed while two others got wounded in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of anti-personnel mines.

  Five militants were killed during separate confrontations between the two sides in the Nachchakuda and Palamoddai areas of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts. A soldier was also killed during the fighting in Palamoddai area.

  SFs killed five LTTE cadres and wounded 22 others during separate confrontations in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  A Sinhalese student of the Eastern University in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district was shot dead by suspected LTTE militants at around 8.45 pm (SLST) outside the students’ hostel.

  One militant was killed and at least three others were injured during an encounter with the troops in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Another militant was killed by the SFs in the area ahead of the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line in Jaffna district. One soldier was also injured in an LTTE mortar fire in the same area.

  Troops entered the strategically important Thunukkai town in the Western flank of the Mullaitivu district, west of the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 road, and are continuing search operations to flush out the LTTE cadres, military sources said. Thunukkai is reportedly an alternative hideout of the outfit’s chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. "The fall of Thunukkai is imminent by Friday afternoon as troops are flushing out Tiger cadres," Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said.

  MI-24 gunships of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE camp, seven-km North West of Omanthai in Vavuniya district.

  The MI24 fighter helicopters shelled LTTE camps in the Thunukkai town area of Mullaitivu district.

  The Colombo High Court Judge, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, reissued notice to four suspects, including LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, in connection with the assassination of the former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Kadirgamar was assassinated in a sniper attack at his residence at Longden Place in Colombo on August 12, 2005.

  The Attorney-General objected to relief being granted to two suspects currently in remand custody on charges of supporting the LTTE. Senior State Counsel informed the Court that the first petitioner is accused of being in the LTTE Intelligence Branch and the second of aiding and abetting the first. The court, however, granted leave to proceed on the allegations of illegal arrest and detention.

• August 20: Six LTTE cadres were killed in clashes with the security forces in the Konakkarankulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

  Two civilians, identified as Razik Munefil Mohammed and Mohammed Riyaz, were killed and three others were injured when the LTTE militants opened fire towards a group of 13 civilians collecting firewood in the Wilgamwehera area of Trincomalee district.

  One soldier was killed and another wounded by the LTTE in the area south of Malawi in Mullaitivu district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards troops in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district killing one of them.

  Fighter jets of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE bunker line 3-km east of Nachchakuda area in the Kilinochchi district.

  Another bunker line 3-km east of Thunukkai in the Mullaitivu district was neutralised by the SLAF jets.

• August 19: At least 21 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed while 23 soldiers sustained injuries as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas south and east of Vannavikulam, west of Thunukkai, south of Malawi and Andankulam in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Palamoddai and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

  An unidentified assailant killed a Police Constable, Herath, guarding a sealed private Computer Graphic Centre in the Kotahena area of Colombo. The Computer Graphic Center, suspected to have been involved in LTTE terrorist networks, remained sealed following a Court order.

  Two soldiers were injured in anti-personnel mine explosion in the Muhamalai area and LTTE’s firing in the Wallipuram area.

• August 18: At least 33 LTTE militants were killed and more than 16 others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Nachchakuda, Navakkulam, Palamoddai, Uyilankulam, Sinnapuliyanperumal, Andankulam, Kokkuthuduvai and Vannavikulam areas of the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. Two soldiers were also killed while six others sustained injuries during the clashes at Nachchakuda, Vannavikulam, Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai.

  Three soldiers were killed and another was wounded in an LTTE mortar attack in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Similarly, three soldiers were wounded in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Nagarkovil area.

  A secret report released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on August 18 says that the Toronto based non-profit group, the WTM, wired more than $3 million to overseas bank accounts to allegedly utilize for financing the LTTE. The 83-page report, marked "Secret" but unsealed by order of a Federal Court judge, provides the first detailed look at the banking activities of the WTM and says, "The bank records seized . . . demonstrate that the World Tamil Movement has developed an elaborate machine like entity that moves throughout the Greater Toronto Area collecting funds with extreme proficiency."

• August 17: At least 23 LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed and more than 46 militants and four soldiers injured as clashes erupted between the two sides at several places in the Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

  The SFs attacked several LTTE camps in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing seven militants and injuring at least nine others. One soldier also sustained injuries in an APM explosion in the same area.

  The troops neutralised three fortified LTTE bunkers in the Nachchakuda area of Kilinochchi and killed six militants and wounded 13 others. Two soldiers were also killed while 11 others sustained injuries in the incident. Elsewhere, a soldier was injured in explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap in the Mundampiddy area.

  The SFs killed four militants and injured five others in the Uyilankulam area of Mullaitivu district. Two soldiers were also killed while four others sustained injuries in this incident.

  Six militants were killed and 19 others wounded during separate encounters with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also killed during these clashes.

  The Sri Lanka Air force MI 24 fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE camp in the Nachchakuda area of Kilinochchi district.

  The Kanniya Police recovered found two T-56 magazines, 44 rounds of ammunition and two pouches from the Kalarappu area in Trincomalee district.

• August 16: The troops captured LTTE’s ‘Jeevan Base’, a large underground training facility of the outfit, in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district at around 4.30 pm (SLST), the Defence Ministry said.

  Five militants and four soldiers were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas south of Thunukkai and Malawi in Mullaitivu district. 11 militants and four soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The troops captured an LTTE bunker in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing six militants and injuring another. One soldier was also injured during the exchange of fire.

  Four militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district. One soldier was killed and two others were wounded in the incident.

  During an encounter in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants and injured four others. Two soldiers were also killed while three others were wounded.

  The SFs opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants moving in the area south of Thunukkai killing one of them and injuring three others. Troops later recovered the dead body of the slain militant along with his T-56 weapon.

  25 LTTE cadres were injured as the troops captured four bunkers and two trench lines in the Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. In addition, two soldiers were injured in IED explosions at Andankulam.

  The SFs captured six LTTE trenches injuring at least five militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier sustained injury in an APM explosion in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE mortar fire attack in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs recovered one claymore mine of about 15-kg with a remote controller unit and some accessories from the jungle area near the Kuda Bulankulama tank in Anuradhapura district.

  Police arrested four key LTTE suspects wanted in connection with 13 bomb blasts in the hill country area, including Kandy and Matale. They were arrested from Matale, Rathwatta and Elkaduwa. In addition, Police also arrested six LTTE suspects in Rathwatta several days ago along with 13-kg of high explosives, 30 detonators, 11 feet long detonator codes and cyanide capsules. Investigations revealed that these suspects are linked to 13 blasts in Kandy and suburbs, including the explosions of buses in Dambulla, Digampatha and Polgolla. These suspects had also attempted to assassinate Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

• August 15: Nine LTTE militants and a soldier were killed as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Nachchakuda and Panikkamadammadu areas of Kilinochchi district.

  The SFs attacked several LTTE hideouts in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing seven militants while injuring six others. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in IED and anti personnel mines explosions.

  The SFs in separate encounters at Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai in Vavuniya district killed three LTTE cadres and injured 16 others. Four soldiers were also injured in an IED explosion.

  The LTTE militants triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting an Army bus in the Irana Iruppaikulam area in Vavuniya district killing two soldiers while wounding five others.

  The troops killed two militants and injured two during clashes in the Thunukkai, Meeyankulam and Malawi areas of Mullaitivu district. One soldier was also killed while another got injured in these incidents.

  An EPDP member was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Kaththankudy area of Batticaloa district.

  An LTTE militant was killed by the SFs during encounters in the Kilaly and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also injured in these clashes.

  The troops neutralized an LTTE bunker at Vedamakilam in Vavuniya district killing one militant.

  Fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralized an LTTE bunker line about eight-kms east of Nachchakuda in Kilinochchi.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 fighter crafts neutralised a well-fortified LTTE bunker line and another strong point, situated about 1.5-km east of Nachchakuda in the Mullaitivu district.

  Naval troops recovered one claymore mine of 8.5-kgs, 17 gelignite chargers, 13-m of service cord and nine non-electrical detonators from the Irrakkandi area in Trincomalee district.

• August 14: At least 35 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed while 48 militants and 10 soldiers sustained injuries in clashes between the two sides at places north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Panikkamadammadu, Kalaikadu, Poddimodikulam, Komankulam, Palamoddai, Navathkulama and north of Kalvilan in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts.

  In the encounter at Palamoddai in Vavuniya district, the SFs captured four bunkers and one 81-mm mortar point killing nine militants while injuring 10 others.

  Nine militants were killed by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Troops neutralized a line of five LTTE bunkers and captured a drinking water well killing two militants while injuring five others troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed one militant and also recovered four hand grenades and two pouches from the Palamoddai area in Vavuniya district.

  One militant was killed and five others wounded in a mortar attack by the SFs towards an LTTE hideout in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE mortar fire targeting the troops in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised LTTE camps in the Uyilankulam and the areas one-km east of Thunukkai in Mullaitivu district.

  A combined patrol team of the STF and Police personnel recovered one 10.8-kgs heavy claymore mine, one T-56 assault rifle, one magazine, 29 T-56 rounds, three detonators and four 9-V batteries along the Damana road, near 55 km post in the Ampara district.

  The Special Task Force personnel recovered one T-56 assault rifle, five magazines, 150 ammunition rounds, one power loom machine, one compass, one belt order, forty three 1.45-v batteries and one 9-v battery from the Palukamam area of Batticaloa district.

• August 13: The troops captured Mulankavil, the second most powerful administrative base for the LTTE in the Kilinochchi district. 20 militants, including one area leader identified as Thennaman, were killed during the incident.

  Troops attached to the 57 Division captured Kalvilan village in Mullaitivu district after two days of fighting. According to sources, more than 30 militants were killed as troops repulsed six counter attacks of the LTTE to foil the advance of the troops into the village.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs captured one LTTE bunker and two trench lines in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing four militants while injuring seven others.

  Two soldiers were killed and three others inured when the LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards soldiers in the Andankulam and Kudumbimalai areas of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed one LTTE cadre during an encounter in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Separately, a soldier received injuries in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the same area.

  Two soldiers were also injured during another clash with the militants in the Kalvilan area of Mullaitivu district.

• August 12: The SFs killed six LTTE cadres and injured eight others in the Vedamakilam, Navakkulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during these clashes.

  The troops during separate encounters in the Janakapura north, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa north areas in Vavuniya district killed three militants and injured 26 others. One soldier was also killed while seven others sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered IED explosions and mortar fire.

  Two soldiers and a militant were killed when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kidipidittankulam and Kalvilan areas, east of Vavunikkulam in Mullaitivu district. Three more militants and an equal number of soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The troops captured two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring six others.

  Two soldiers engaged in search and clear operations in the newly captured areas of Adanipankulam, Kalekuda, Illuppukadavai north, Parappakandattan and Irakkandi were killed in the explosion of a booby trap. 24 APMs, four booby traps, one pressure mine and two gelignite chargers were recovered from theses areas.

  Three soldiers and a militant were injured during an encounter between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The Special Task Force personnel recovered one radio set, one antenna and two APMs from the Batticaloa district.

  An LTTE defence line at Chinnakkomalai, about nine-kms north of Vellankulam in Kilinochchi was neutralised by the fighter jets of Sri Lanka Air Force on August 12.

  Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka refuted allegations by the LTTE that civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are getting killed and injured due to the shelling of the SFs.

• August 11: At least six LTTE militants were killed and four others wounded by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed while eight others wounded in the confrontation.

  The SFs in an encounter killed five LTTE cadres while wounded four others in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops observed an LTTE boat movement in the seas off Adampan Kulam in Kilinochchi district and opened fire on the flotilla of about six boats completely destroying one boat while severely damaging the others. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the troops killed three militants while the militant’s counter fire killed one soldier.

  The troops confronted the LTTE militants in the Koliyankulam area in Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

  Two more militants were killed and three others inured by the SFs in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Four soldiers were injured in APM and IEDs explosions in the Kalvilan area of Mullaitivu district.

  Two more soldiers sustained injuries in another APM explosion in the Kalekuda area of Kilinochchi district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Adampan Kulam area.

  The troops captured the Kalekuda Jetty, about two-kms north of the Mannar-Kilinochchi district boundary. The jetty reportedly used by the LTTE to facilitate their sea movement and smuggling, gives an adequate view of the outfit’s Nachchakuda Sea Tiger base, located about two-kms northwards.

  One trooper was killed when the LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting a security post on Mandur road in the Chavalakade area of Ampara district.

  The MI 24 fighter air craft of the Sri Lanka Air Force is reported to have neutralised an LTTE facility about 4.5-kms north of Vavunikkulam in the Mullaitivu district.

  Troops recovered one 40-mm grenade launcher, three 40-mm grenades, two claymore mines, 86 rounds of ammunition, eight anti-personnel mines, one radio set, three magazines, 12 water bottles and five LTTE packs from the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

• August 10: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured by the SFs as a fierce gun battle ensued between the two sides in the area south of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaitivu district. During subsequent search operations, the SFs recovered the dead bodies of seven militants, including four of the Imran Pandiyan Group and three of the Sea Tigers.

  The troops opened fire on LTTE positions ahead of the Kilaly FDL in Jaffna district and killed 15 militants.

  Eight LTTE cadres were killed as the SFs captured an LTTE bunker complex with trenches that intercommoned each bunker in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were injured in the fighting, the SFs recovered three hand grenades and 250 rounds of ammunition from the area.

  The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and Andankulam in Vavuniya district and killed seven of them and injured at least 15 others. One soldier was also killed while three others were injured.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the Kariyalanmodai area of Kilinochchi district, the SFs killed seven militants. Three troops were injured in the incident.

  The troops killed four more militants in the Kunchankulam area of Kilinochchi district.

  Three more LTTE cadres were killed by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kopavitchanulam area of Vavuniya district.

  An unidentified gunman killed a civilian in the Savakkulam area of Trincomalee district.

  Police recovered the dead body of a person with cut injuries from the Palleadi area of Trincomalee district.

  One soldier was killed and two others sustained in an LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosion and small arms fire in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was killed and one more wounded during two separate clashes in the Vannavikulam and Nachchakuda areas of Kilinochchi district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Kaththankudy area of Batticaloa district.

  Seven soldiers sustained injuries in an LTTE mortar fire at the troops in the area south of Malawi in Mullaitivu district.

  Four soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered APM explosions in the Ponavillu area of Kilinochchi district.

  Three soldiers were wounded in APM explosions in the Kalvilan and Chirakkandy areas of Mullaitivu district.

  One 81-mm mortar position of the LTTE was captured by the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Supply of electricity was disturbed in and around Kodikamam in Jaffna district after the militants damaged the electricity transformer that distributes power to the area. This was the fifth electricity transformer damaged by the LTTE since February 2008. The militants damaged two transformers in Puttalam, one in Mt. Lavinia and another in Thalavakele.

  The Special Task Force personnel recovered a landmine weighing 15-kilograms, 119000 T-56 cartridges, 70 mortar shells, 216 chargers for 82-mm mortar shells, 72 mortar cartridges, 69 mortar safety fuses, 200 M16 cartridges and 22 T-82 hand grenades from several locations in the Batticaloa district.

• August 9: During separate clashes between the two sides in the Palamoddai, Nadunkulam and Navathkulama areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed 16 militants and injured 10 others. One soldier sustained injuries during these clashes.

  The SFs killed four militants and injured 14 others in the areas north of Janakapura and Andankulam areas in Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralised four LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district inflicting heavy casualties to the LTTE. Details of the incident are awaited.

  The SLAF jets neutralised an intelligence operation centre of the LTTE in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed and destroyed a main supply base of the LTTE in the Vishvamadu area of Mullaitivu district.

• August 8: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Thennayankuma area of Mullaitivu district. One soldier was also injured during the confrontation.

  The SFs killed five militants during confrontations in the Thennayankuma and Malawi south areas of Mullaitivu district. Three soldiers were also killed while eight others wounded in the incident.

  The troops captured two LTTE bunkers killing six militants and wounding 18 others during confrontations in the Andankulam, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  The SFs killed five more LTTE cadres and injured another during separate clashes in the Kallamparawa, Adampan Kulam and Palamodaikulam areas of Kilinochchi district. Three soldiers were also injured in these confrontations.

  Two soldiers were injured in an improvised explosive device explosion at Wesibendagalla in the Polonnaruwa district.

  An aerial attack carried out by the SLAF MI-24 helicopters neutralised an LTTE forward reccee point complex consisting of a radar point and a boat yard in the Nagasivanthurai area of Mullaitivu district.

  The Special Task Force recovered one 15-kg land mine, 22 hand grenades, 19500 T-56 ammunition rounds, 200 M-16 ammunition rounds, seventeen 82-mm mortar rounds, 216 chargers and 69 safety fuses in the Pavakkudichenai area of Batticaloa district.

• August 7: Nine LTTE militants were killed and at least 22 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also killed while 16 sixteen others received injuries in confrontations, explosions of IEDs and APMs.

  The SFs confronted with LTTE militants in the north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed four militants while wounding six others. One soldier was killed and another got injured during confrontations.

  Two more militants were eliminated while five others wounded by the SFs in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  During another confrontation in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two more LTTE cadres.

  Six soldiers were injured in LTTE-triggered APMs and IEDs explosions and mortar fire in the Kalaikadu and Periyakulam areas of Mannar and Mullaitivu districts.

  One more soldier sustained injuries in confrontation with the troops in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district.

  Troops captured four trenches and one LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Troops captured two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and recovered two hand grenades and three magazines.

  The SLAF neutralised an LTTE camp in the Pillawarayankadu area, seven-km north of Vellankulam in Kilinochchi district.

  The SLAF ground troops conducting clearing operations in the Peraru area, north of Trincomalee, recovered a stash of newly buried ammunition and explosives, including three claymore mines, 4500 ammo for T-56 riffles, 10 anti-personnel mines, 102 electrical detonators, three-kg of C-4 high explosives and 350 pistol ammunition.

  A Sri Lankan national was jailed in the United Kingdom for two years and nine months when he confessed that he was blackmailed to work for the LTTE to clone 500 credit cards of British customers for the outfit to steal 175000 British Pounds.

• August 6: Seven LTTE militants were killed and more then 10 others wounded during clashes with the SFs in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One soldier also died in an improvised explosive device explosion in the same area.

  The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed five militants while injuring 18 others. One soldier was also wounded during the incident.

  Troops attacked Muhamalai FDL of the LTTE in the Jaffna district from seven different flanks killing at least five militants and injuring 25 others. Three soldiers were injured in explosions of APM in the area.

  The SFs killed two more militants and injured two others in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Another LTTE cadre was killed and one militant was injured in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed a militant and injured three others in the Kalvilan area of Mullaitivu district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts neutralised a Sea Tiger base in the Nayaru lagoon of Mullaitivu district. At least two Sea Tiger boats were completely destroyed in the attack.

  Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said that denying the LTTE access to INGOs and NGOs material was a critical element in Government’s efforts to destroy the terrorist group.

• August 5: At least 26 militants were killed and more than 73 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. Three soldiers were also killed while eight others sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed 10 of them and injured 20 others. Five soldiers were also wounded in these clashes and explosion of an LTTE laid landmine.

  A soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an LTTE-triggered remote-controlled claymore mine explosion targeting a group of soldiers in the Periyamadduwana area of Batticaloa district.

  One soldier was shot at and injured by ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE at the Kalladi Bridge in Batticaloa. He succumbed to his injuries later.

  Another soldier who was wounded during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district succumbed to his injuries later.

  The MI-24 fighter crafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised an LTTE camp about 5.5-km north of Vellankulam in the Kallamparawa area of Mullaitivu district.

  Police recovered 15 APMs from an abandoned LTTE camp at Sampoor in the Trincomalee district.

  The SFs also recovered one abandoned hand grenade from the Madukanda area of Polonnaruwa district.

  Sri Lanka police has asked for public support in tracing a most wanted Black Tiger, identified as Mohammed Amzar Ramzin alias Sannakkiyan. According to the Defence Ministry, he was the mastermind of many civilian massacres, including the bus bombing at Dambulla and the suicide bomb blast that killed over 100 navy personnel at Digampathana.

• August 4: 11 LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Thunukkai, south of Kalvilan, Kalaikadu and Vellaimuntai areas in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries during these clashes.

  Seven militants were killed and nine others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Paddikkudiyiruppu, Pullekyarkulam, Navathkulama and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. Among the dead was Kumaran Master, the Pullekyarkulam area leader of the outfit. One soldier was also injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Palamoddai area.

  The troops killed six militants and injured 14 others in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  The security forces recovered the dead body of a militant along with three hand grenades and an LTTE dog tag from the Arali area in Jaffna district.

  The troops attacked a fortified camp of the LTTE located north of Vellankulam in the Kilinochchi district and killed five militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were killed in mortar fire by the LTTE and another was wounded in an APM explosion.

• August 3: Troops attached to the 58th Division advanced further northwards on the Mannar-Pooneryn road Troops attached to the 58th Division advanced up to 29th mile post on the Mannar Pooneryn road after shifting the entire 58th Division into the Kilinochchi district. "At least 15 Tiger cadres were killed in the confrontation that erupted yesterday in the North of Vellankulam," an unnamed senior military official said.

  The troops advancing towards the areas north of Vellankulam in Kilinochchi district repulsed LTTE attacks and killed 12 militants and injured 14 others.

  SFs killed nine militants and wounded seven others at Vellankulam in Kilinochchi district. Two soldiers were also killed in the incident.

  Five militants were killed and two others wounded during encounters between the two sides in the Uttimodai and Kovilan areas of Vavuniya district.

  A LTTE makeshift camp on the Iranatheevu islands, about 12-km west of Nachchakuda beach in the Kilinochchi district, was destroyed by the Naval troops. During the raid, Navy destroyed one LTTE boat and killed four militants. Sailors also captured two LTTE boats along with their Out Board Motors, one stretcher, a haul of medical items, two cans full of fuel and a tent.

  The SFs confronted LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and Ranabapura areas in Vavuniya district and killed three of them and injured 20 others. One soldier was also killed in Ranabapura while another sustained injury in an APM explosion in the north of Kiriibbanwewa.

  The SFs killed three LTTE cadres in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another was injured during the incident.

  Three soldiers were killed while another sustained injuries in a grenade explosion in the Thanankilappu area of Jaffna district.

  One more soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  An LTTE trench line was captured by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs recovered parts of a T-56 weapon, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) barrel, one pressure mine, 2100 rounds of ammunition, six Rocket Propeller Gun rounds, two 60-mm mortar bombs, one claymore mine of 1.5 kg, two MPMG links and one 90 V car battery at Vameivattavan in the Nakarai area of Batticaloa district.

  30000 persons have been displaced in Wanni due to the fighting and air strikes in the last two months and the region is also experiencing a shortage of medicines and other supplies, the latest UN reports said last week.

• August 2: Sri Lanka military captured Vellankulam town, the northernmost town in the Mannar district. At least 30 LTTE militants were killed and the remaining reportedly used sea routes to withdraw. With the capture of Vellankulam, the entire Mannar district came under the control of the security forces for the first time. "The troops attached to the 58 Division killed 2,500 Tiger cadres in the Mannar battlefront by the time it completely liberated the Mannar district from the clutches of the LTTE and stepped into Kilinochchi district the last stronghold of the LTTE," the General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Shavendra Silva said. The troops on the Mannar front began their operation in September 2007.

  Three militants were killed by the troops in the Palamoddai and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed three LTTE cadres and wounded another in the Kalvilan and Malawi areas of the Mullaitivu district.

  Two militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes ahead of the Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE mortar fire in the Vellankulam area of Mannar district.

  The LTTE militants fired at a team of STF personnel on a search operation in the Nevigal Aru area of Ampara district on August 1. The STF personnel retaliated and later recovered the dead body of a militant along with war-like items from the area. Two STF personnel sustained injuries in the incident.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

  Police recovered 400-g of TNT high explosive hidden inside a pair of ladies’ shoes, a kilogram of the same explosive laden inside a tin container, two LTTE camouflage uniforms and one box of ammunition buried under soil in a jungle area on the beach in the Karukkupane area of Colombo district.

• August 1: At least 15 soldiers and nine militants were killed while 27 militants and 20 soldiers were wounded as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district.

  Seven militants were killed during another encounter between the two sides in the Vellankulam area of Mannar district.

  The troops killed eight militants and injured three others in the Navvi and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

  Four militants were killed by the troops in the Paddadmutthukulam and Navathkulama areas of Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE cadres were killed and eight others injured in Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. 10 soldiers were injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of improvised explosive devices in the Kiriibbanwewa area.

  The troops killed three militants in the Vellankulam area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while two others were injured.

  The SLAF carried out three separate air raids targeting LTTE locations. The SLAF’s helicopter gun-ships neutralized the tank bund of the Tannimurippukulam tank, an area 15-km northeast of Nedunkerni, an area 4-km southeast Thunukkai town and a location 6-km southeast of the Thunukkai town.

  One Rocket Propeller Gun (RPG) round, two claymore mines of 3.5-kg each, one T-56 magazine, 50 T-56 live rounds, two hand grenades, one LTTE pouch, two RPG chargers and three black overalls were recovered by the police from Uppuveli in Trincomalee district. The SFs also recovered 12 APMs and 100 live rounds of T-56 ammunition from Dangeliyadda in Batticaloa district.

• July 31: The troops crossed the district borders between Mannar and Kilinochchi at an undisclosed location on the Mannar-Vavuniya combined warfront 20 LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed in the operation during which the troops established their control over five square kilometres area in the Mundampiddy area.

  The troops attacked an LTTE camp in the Mundampiddy area of Mannar district and killed seven militants.

  The SFs also clashed with LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed six of them and injured 10 others. Two soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  Five top LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the SFs at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. Four women cadres, including, "Lieutenant Colonel" Kumaveri Thangeamma, leader of the LTTE’s women’s wing in Mullaitivu, and three of her accomplices, Kanthimani, Pushparani and Magolechchami, were among those killed. During another clash in the same area, one LTTE group leader, identified as Madavani, was killed by the SFs.

  The troops neutralized three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Navvi and another in the Palamoddai area in Vavuniya district. Four militants were reportedly killed in these operations.

  Four militants were killed and eight others wounded by the SFs during clashes between the two sides in the Thunukkai area of Mullaitivu district.

  One soldier was killed in Navvi in the Vavuniya district while another sustained injuries in an APM explosion in the same area.

  The troops reportedly captured a stretch of about 1.5-km in the Nachchakuda area on A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn Road.

  The MI-24 fighter air crafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a LTTE camp to the west of Vellankulam.

  The troops recovered 1500 rounds of T-56 ammunition, one APM, five 81-mm mortar shells from the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district. Similarly, the SFs recovered one hand grenade from the Valaichchenai jetty area.

• July 30: While one LTTE bunker was destroyer, at least eight militants were killed and 17 others injured by the troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE cadres in the Navathkulama, Kattikulam and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district and killed eight militants and injured three others.

  The SFs attacked and destroyed a heavily fortified LTTE camp in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district after a seven-hour long battle killing five militants. Among those killed include one LTTE woman leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Kadiravani, and "Captain" Vageesan. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  One soldier was killed and 15 others sustained injuries during clashes with the militants at unspecified locations.

  Five soldiers were injured in clashes with the militants in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Three more soldiers were wounded in three APM explosions triggered by the LTTE in the Nedunkerni, Navvi and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in an IED explosion in the south of Kalvian in Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers were injured in IED and APM explosions respectively in the Sulathinakulam and Mundalpalli areas of Mannar district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralised a Black Tiger training centre in the jungle area, about three-km northwest of Iranamadu tank in Kilinochchi.

  July 29: The LTTE militants operating in the Thunukkai and Kavilan areas of Mullaitivu district opened mortar fire towards the troops in the north of Thunukkai and killed two soldiers while injuring three others. In the retaliatory fire, the SFs killed eight militants.

  Five LTTE militants were killed while three others were wounded by the SFs as the troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Kalmadu area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  The SFs neutralised several LTTE camps in the area east of Vellankulam in Mannar district. During the operation troops also ambushed a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them in Adampan Kulam. In a similar clash in the same area, the SFs wounded 10 militants.

  Two soldiers were killed during an encounter with the LTTE cadres in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed two militants during an encounter in the north of Navvi area in Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed while five others sustained injuries in an encounter with the militants in the Vavunikkulam and Malawi areas of Mullaitivu district.

  The troops captured LTTE camps in the Kalmadu, Mundampiddy and Malawi south areas in Mullaitivu district and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant.

  One soldier sustained injuries in a clash with the militants in the Mundampiddy area on Mannar- Pooneryn (A-32) road.

  LTTE cadres hiding in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district opened artillery fire on the SF’s at the Muhamalai FDL, injuring two soldiers.

  The SFs captured the Mundampiddy area taking control of a section of the Vellankulam-Thunukkai road. This is for the first time since the early 1990’s the SFs have captured a section of the road.

  In the wake of the intensified military operations and Government forces’ taking control of virtually the entire Mannar district, over a hundred thousand people have evacuated their homes and moved to the heartland of LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi district as displaced refugees, said Tamil media and education ministry sources, adding that about 55 schools in the Wanni region have been closed to accommodate the families. People in Mannar-Kilinochchi and Mannar-Mullaitivu borders are also evacuating their homes and moving as displaced refuges, the sources added. 35 schools in the Mannar Madhu zone and 20 schools in both the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts have been closed.

• July 28: Nine LTTE militants and three soldiers were killed while more than 25 other militants and six soldiers were injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, north of Kokkuthuduvai and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  12 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured by the SFs during clashes at Adampan Kulam and Iluppakadaweli in the Mannar district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

  The troops clashed with militants in the Navathkulama, Vilakkavettikulam, Kuttimulei and north of Navvi areas in the Vavuniya district and killed nine of them and injured four others. While two soldiers were injured in LTTE mortar fire, one soldier sustained injury in an IED explosion.

• July 27: SFs captured the Sugandan base, part of the LTTE’s One-Four base complex in the Mullaitivu jungle. The Sugandan satellite base was a small base which was being used by the LTTE cadres for communications, he added.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed in three separate encounters with the troops in the areas north of Navvi, Parappukkal and Kattikulam in Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in these clashes.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and 13 others sustained injuries when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ranabapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Ethawatunuwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were killed in mortar fire by the LTTE while five others were wounded in explosions of IEDs and APMs in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa.

  The troops attacked two LTTE bunkers in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed five militants and injured seven others.

  The troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing two more cadres and injuring two others.

  One soldier was killed during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Malawi area of Mullaitivu district.

  Five soldiers engaged in clearing operations in the Pampeddi and Kurunchivillu areas of Mannar district were wounded in explosion of IEDs and APMs.

  Sri Lanka defence officials said that the LTTE had obtained "a large number of vehicles" belonging to the NPA, an international non-governmental organization operating in the North. The vehicles, including few earth moving vehicles, trucks, jeeps, tractors, and motorbikes, were being used for bunker construction, transporting of LTTE leaders etc. NPA is one of Norway's largest non-governmental organisations, involved in more than 400 projects in 30 countries.

• July 26: The troops killed six LTTE militants during clashes in the Navathkulama and Navvi areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted several group of LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district and killed three of them and injured 10 others. Five soldiers were injured in explosions of IEDs and mortar fire.

  Three more LTTE cadres were killed by the security forces in the Muhamalai and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were injured in an LTTE mortar fire attack in the Pallaimadu area of Mannar district.

  Troops also recovered 15 APMs from the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district.

  1130 rounds of T-56 ammunition, 163 APMs, 185 APM fuses, ten 81-mm mortar rounds and one 120-mm mortar round were recovered from Kirimichchiya and Vakarai areas in Batticaloa district.

• July 25: At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured during separate clashes with the troops in the Pandiyankalli, north of Oddankulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. Eight soldiers were also reported killed while 10 others received injured during these confrontations. Troops alter recovered the dead body one militant along with T-56 assault rifle and five ration packets.

  Eight more militants were killed and 10 others injured by the SFs when clashes erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation.

  The SFs killed an LTTE cadre in the area ahead of the Muhamalai FDLs in Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE mortar point near Thunukkai in the Mannar district.

  Troops recovered one T-56 assault rifle, two T-56 magazines and 60 T-56 rounds of ammunition in Batticaloa district.

  The Special Task Force personnel recovered two hand grenades, 46 T-56 rounds of ammunition and two T-56 magazines from the Porativu area in Batticaloa district.

• July 24-25: The troops advancing towards the Mullaitivu district captured the Vavunikkulam tank located three-km south of Mallavi Town in the Mullaitivu district on July 24-morning. The troops later repulsed a LTTE counter-attack on the Vavunikkulam tank. "So far the troops have collected 36 Tiger bodies in the Vavunikkulam area killing more than 55 of them during the battle to capture Vavunikkulam tank bund and the subsequent attack to repulse the counter attack by the LTTE to regain control of the area," Brigadier Nanayakkara said. Eight senior LTTE cadres, identified as ‘Lieutenant Colonel’ Pallavan, ‘Major’ Ambumani, Selvakannan, Sellappu, Muhi, Illambu, Sudar and Jenathan, who were at the commanding level of the 'Charles Anthony' brigade in Mannar sector were among the slain militants.

  July 24: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and more than 42 others injured during separate encounters with the troops in the Pandiyankulam, Navakkulam, Navvi, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed while 13 others sustained injuries during these encounters.

  Three soldiers were injured in LTTE-triggered APM explosions and mortar fire in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and Pampeddi area in Mannar district.

  Troops neutralised 15 LTTE bunkers in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralised an LTTE Recruit Training Camp, about four-km north of Mudyankattu tank in the north of Oddusudan in Mullaitivu district.

  An LTTE camp was shelled by the SLAF jets in the area, about 2.5-km east of Thunukkai in the Mannar district.

  The SLN fast boats attacked a fleet of 10 LTTE boats in the coastal waters off Chilawatta, two nautical miles south of Mullaitivu. SLN sources said that three LTTE boats were destroyed in the incident.

  SFs in the Ariyamankerni area of Batticaloa district unearthed a five-kg heavy claymore mine.

  A vertical dam is being constructed around what is thought to be LTTE chief’s Velupillai Prabhakaran’s bunker in Wanni in order to construct a deep underground railway tunnel, as an escape plan in the event the SFs capture Kilinochchi, intelligence sources told Daily Mirror.

• July 23: 23 LTTE militants were killed and 21 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Eelamaruttankulam, Pungntharumadu and Nauvi areas of Mannar district and north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district on. At least eight of them died when the troops attacked the outfit’s bunkers in the Nauvi and Kiriibbanwewa areas. While four soldiers were also killed during the clashes in Nauvi and south of Kalvilan, 10 others were reported injured in these clashes.

  The SFs attacked an LTTE bunker in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district and killed three militants.

  A civilian who was shot at and injured by an unidentified assailant in Vavuniya succumbed to his injuries later.

  Police recovered the dead body of a girl at Pulanchimunai in the Batticaloa district.

  Another dead body was recovered by the Police from Koviladdy area in Batticaloa district.

  One more dead body was recovered from Kopay in the Jaffna district.

  Four soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-laid anti-personnel mine explosions in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Karawaddivembu, Mannar and Puthukulam areas.

  Police in the Kalutara district arrested a six member gang of robbers and seized a van from them while they were proceeding to the North to sell it to a businessman having LTTE links. Police said the van was robbed on July 22-night at Embilipitiya in the adjoining Ratnapura district.

  Police arrested a suspected female LTTE suicide bomber in the Horana area of the Kalutara district. The 34-year-old suspect, a resident of Kilinochchi, was arrested in the vicinity of a garment factory at Moonagama.

• July 22: At least 22 Black Tigers were killed when the SLAF fighter jets carried out an air attack in the Mullaitivu area targeting an LTTE training centre in the Udayarkattikkulam area East of Iranamadu. Udayarkattikkulam area is considered as a nerve centre of the outfit in the Mullaitivu district and had been used for special training for its leaders.

  12 LTTE militants were killed and about 30 others injured as the SFs launched an attack on the outfit’s Murunkaiyadippudi camp in Mannar district.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed seven of them and injured 22 others.

  The SFs killed five LTTE cadres and injured six others in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were wounded in the incident.

  Two militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralised one LTTE bunker in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed two militants.

  One soldier was killed during clashes in the areas east of Pampeddi in the Mannar district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE fire in the Murunkaiyadippudi camp area of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers were injured in an APM explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered APM explosions and mortar fire in the Palamoddai and Mundipurippu areas of the Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the in the Murunkaiyadippudi camp area of Mannar district.

  One militant was injured in clashes with the SFs in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

  The naval troops on surveillance in the seas off Nayaru in Mullaitivu after spotting several Sea Tiger boats opened fire on them destroying one of them and damaging at least two others.

  Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament that the Government would not enter into any agreement with the LTTE although they have declared a unilateral cease-fire during the period of the SAARC summit.

• July 21 The LTTE announced that they would observe a unilateral cease-fire during the period of the SAARC summit from July 26 to August 4. The outfit’s political wing said in a press statement issued from Wanni that, "As a sign of this goodwill, our movement is glad to inform that it will observe a unilateral cease-fire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC conference from 26th July to 4th August and give our cooperation for the success of the conference. At the same time if the occupying Sinhala forces, disrespecting our goodwill gesture of our people and our nation, carry out any offensives, our movement will be forced to take defensive actions."

  At least 24 militants were killed and 15 others injured as the troops launched an attack on LTTE camps in the Murunkaiyadippudi area of Mannar district. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the clashes.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the Kalawilan, Cheddapiddikulam and Pandiyankulam areas in Mannar and Palamoddai, Madam and north of Navvi in Vavuniya the SFs killed 10 LTTE militants and injured three others. One soldier was also killed and five others were wounded in these clashes.

  The troops attacked one LTTE bunker complex in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants and injured four others.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district killing two militants and injuring 10 others.

  The troops also attacked an LTTE bunker in the areas north of Navvi in Vavuniya district and killed two militants and injured two others.

  The troops captured an LTTE bunker in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district after an encounter in which four LTTE militants were injured.

  The troops clashed with another group of LTTE cadres in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district injuring three of them.

  One soldier was injured in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Sarasalai area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs recovered two T-56 weapons, two magazines and 30 rounds of ammunition from the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.

• July 20: Troops captured the biggest LTTE base at Illuppukadavai, 10-kilometres north of Vedithalthivu, in the Mannar district. At least 15 militants were reportedly killed during the clashes that continued for the past two days. One soldier was also killed while two others got injured. The Illuppukadavai base could accommodate more than 200 cadres.

  14 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured by the security forces as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Omanthe, Vedamakilam, Pungantalvamadu, Parappukkal, north of Navvi and Palamoddai in Vavuniya district.

  During a clash between the two sides in the Iluppakadaweli area of Mannar district, the troops killed 13 militants.

  The SFs captured five LTTE trench lines in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district killing five militants and injuring three others.

  Five LTTE militants were killed and 18 others injured by the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes and explosions of APMs and improvised explosive devices in these areas.

  The troops attacked two bunkers of the outfit in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district and killed three militants and injuring five others. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  One militant was killed and four others wounded as the SFs captured five bunkers, eight trench lines and one camp of the LTTE in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Five soldiers were injured in an LTTE attack in the Karawaddivembu area of Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in APM explosions in the Uttimodai and Pandiyankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was wounded when the LTTE militants fired a mortar at the FDL in the Kodikamam area of Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka Navy and the Air Force in a joint operation destroyed six Sea Tiger boats and damaged two others which were operating in the sea off Nachchakuda in the North of Illuppukadavai. According to reports, with the fall of Vedithalthivu and Illuppukadavai the LTTE had shifted their Sea Tiger activities further north on the North Western coast making Nachchakuda as their centre.

• July 19: Eight LTTE militants were killed in an encounter with the troops in the Karawaddivembu and Murunkaiyadippudi areas of the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured in mortar fire by the LTTE in these areas.

  The troops killed five militants and injured more than 10 others during clashes in the areas north of Andankulam, north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One bunker was also neutralized by the troops in north Kiriibbanwewa.

  Three militants were killed when the security forces neutralised another LTTE bunker in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed and two others wounded in mortar fire by the LTTE in the Mutatiyankamam, Koddadival and Illuppukadavai areas of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered APM explosion and mortar fire in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in explosions while they were engaged in removing LTTE laid APMs and improvised explosive devices in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  July 18: Nine LTTE militants were killed and 12 others injured by the SFs during confrontations in the areas north of Navvi, Palamoddai and Pandiyankulam in Vavuniya district. Five soldiers also sustained injuries in these confrontations. One more soldier received injuries in an anti personnel mine explosion in the Pandiyankulam area.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed and at least 27 others injured by the SFs during separate confrontations in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers also sustained injuries in action.

  The troops killed three militants in the areas ahead of the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs in Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered the dead body of the soldier who went missing after confrontations with the militants in the Thunukkai area of Vavuniya district on July 17.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered IED explosions and small arms fire in the areas of Kaddalvayal and Kurukkandai in Mannar district.

  The SFs recovered seven claymore mines with stands, two anti personnel mines, one binocular, sixty ammunition, three roles of claymore wire about three-metre, 50-m of flexible wire, three-metre of detonator cords, four cyanide capsules, three camouflage caps, wire cutters, 11 pen torch batteries and some medical items from Akkarayanaweli area north of Tennamaramvady in Trincomalee district.

• July 17: 19 LTTE militants were killed and 40 others injured when the troops attacked the outfit’s bunkers in the Thunukkai, Pandiyankulam, Oddankulam, Pallaimadu, Palaiandankulam, Thiravu, north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and Vellankulam areas in Vavuniya district. While five soldiers were also killed and 10 others injured in improvise explosion devices explosions in these areas, one soldier went missing during the confrontation in Thunukkai. Troops also neutralised at least 11 bunkers, including eight bunkers in the Navvi area, during the operation.

  The SFs recovered a powerful three-kg heavy claymore mine and two hand grenades from the Valaichchenai Railway Station premises in the Batticaloa district following a tip-off given by a civilian and averted a major bloodbath since a train from Polonnaruwa was expected there a few minutes later. The claymore, two hand grenades, two 9-V batteries and the 120-m long detonator wire had been kept covered, in close proximity to the main entrance of the Railway Station when they were detected by the troops. Similarly, troops in the Muttur area of Trincomalee district recovered one locally made pistol, two RPG rounds, 50 RPG chargers and one hand grenade.

  The SLAF neutralised one LTTE heavy weapon position, about two-km west of Mullaitivu lagoon.

  The SLAF bombed a Sea Tiger logistic base about one-km north of the Mullaitivu lagoon. The base was badly damaged and two Sea Tiger boats which caught fire were completely destroyed, according to the SLAF.

  A MI-24 fighter helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force neutralised a Sea Tiger base at Illuppukadavai, about 11-km northeast of Vidattaltive in the Mannar district.

• July 16: The troops captured the biggest Sea Tiger base in the North Western coastal town of Vedithalthivu in Mannar for the first time after the early 1990’s. More than 70 to 80 militants were killed during the past few days, the General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Silva said. The Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka said that the troops are now advancing towards Illuppukadavai, the next Sea Tiger base in the Western coast confining Sea Tiger activities in the Western coast to the Northern most part of the Western coast towards Nachchakuda.

  12 LTTE militants were killed and 23 others wounded during clashes with the troops in the Periyamaraiillupai, Kattikulam, Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injury in the clashes. Troops captured three bunkers at north of Navvi and recovered one Global Positions System.

  During a clash in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed eight militants and injured 25 others. While 10 SF personnel were wounded in the incident, the SFs also neutralised two LTTE bunkers.

  Three LTTE cadres and two soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire between the two sides at the Vidattaltive jetty in Mannar district. While six soldiers sustained injuries, the SFs recovered two trucks, one canter and a motor bike.

  The troops neutralised six LTTE bunkers ahead of the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil FDLs in Jaffna district killing one militant while injuring another.

  The SLAF said that they had destroyed two fleeing LTTE boats off Vidattaltive shores in Mannar using MI-24 attack helicopters. Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said the two boats fleeing with LTTE cadres aboard were destroyed four kilometres north of Vedithalthivu.

  Another Sea Tiger base 40-kilometers north of Vidattaltive identified as Wallaipadu, which had been used by fleeing LTTE cadres to regroup, too had been targeted by the SLAF jets.

• July 15: 28 LTTE cadres were killed and more than 40 others injured by the SFs in the Navakkulam, Maruthamadu and Nedunkandal areas in Vavuniya and Eachalarakkai in Mannar.

  20 militants were killed as the Army troops along with the SLAF launched an attack on a convoy of LTTE while it was moving along A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn road. The fleeing militants left abandoned several damaged vehicles, the report added.

  At least 20 Sea Tigers were killed as the SLAF MI 24 helicopter gun ships neutralised an LTTE camp located north of Vidattaltive area in the Mannar district.

  The SFs neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Maruthamadu area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants and injured four others.

  During clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, the troops killed four militants and injured 20 others.

  The troops captured two LTTE camps in the Ampandankulam and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya district killing three militants while injuring eight others.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed while 15 others were wounded in LTTE attacks in Welioya, Vavuniya and Mannar. Separately, six more soldiers were injured in APM and IED explosions in these areas.

  One LTTE cadre was killed in an encounter with the SFs in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  Five militants were injured when the troops attacked an LTTE bunker north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were wounded by the militants in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  The Special Task Force personnel recovered eight T-56 weapons, three suicide kits, two suicide kit dummies, one solar panel and 20 video cassettes from the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district.

  Two LTTE militants, M. D. Mohan and B. Pradeepan, surrendered before the Uppuveli Police station in Trincomalee district.

  Fierce fighting continued in the south and east of Vedithalthivu as the troops surrounded the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast in North Mannar. "The LTTE had vacated some locations in Vedithalthivu by last evening as they felt the area was being surrounded by the troops," Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka told Daily News. Sources said that the militants started fleeing further north of Vedithalthivu after loading their belongings into trucks as troops advanced into the territory. The sources also confirmed that heavy damage has been caused to the LTTE as the fleeing militants were targeted by long range artillery guns of the security forces. Troops have also been able to capture a section of the A-32 road and continued the military thrust on the Vedithalthivu Sea Tiger base after capturing the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ area.

  Australian Federal Police (AFP) have arrested, at the request of the US FBI, a director of a Melbourne business college believed to be linked to the LTTE over alleged terrorism offences in the US. Thulasitharan Santhirarajah is expected to face extradition proceedings after his arrest when AFP agents raided homes and businesses around Melbourne, including the office of his Melbourne International College. A spokesman for federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said, "The man is wanted to face prosecution for alleged terrorism offences in the United States of America." Apart from the city office of the college, AFP agents raided five properties and businesses in Narre Warren, Dandenong and Lysterfield.

• July 14: A civilian was injured in a bomb blast in the Ottamawadi area of Batticaloa district.

  An LTTE militant swallowed cyanide at the time he was arrested by the police in the Wellawatta area of Colombo district.

  A family of six, including three children, were arrested by the SFs at Aselapura in the Batticaloa district while transporting food items to the LTTE militants hiding in the jungles.

  At least 27 LTTE militants were killed and 69 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ampandankulam, Palampiddi, Navvi, Nithyanagar, Parappakandattan and Puthukulam in Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Four soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries. The troops also captured one bunker and two trenches.

  Three soldiers were killed and another injured in an LTTE-triggered IED explosion in the Kadolana area of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed an LTTE militant in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered three hand grenades from the Pansalgodalla area of Trincomalee district.

  The LTTE since 2007 has been conscripting boys and girls who had just reached 17 years for war and by now 30 per cent of those recruited with the adults have been killed, stated the University Teachers for Human Rights-Jaffna.

• July 13: At least seven militants were killed when the troops attacked a LTTE camp northeast of Sulathinakulam in the Mannar district. The troops later recovered the dead bodies of five slain militants along with one T-56 weapon.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district killing seven militants while injuring 26 others.

  The SFs opened fire on two LTTE bunkers at Periyavilankulli and Puthukulam in the Mannar district and killed five militants.

  The troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district clashed with the LTTE militants killing at least three of them while injuring two others. An IED explosion in the same area injured two soldiers.

  Two more militants were killed and five others injured by the SFs in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  One civilian, identified as Thabirasa Ravishanker, was shot dead by a ‘pistol gang’ militant of the LTTE in the Uralu area of Jaffna district.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant during an encounter in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district.

  The troops opened fire on a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Nallikulam area of Vavuniya district killing one militant while injuring another.

  The SFs fired on a canter vehicle carrying LTTE militants in the Komparuttakulam area of Vavuniya district leading to an unspecified number of casualties to the LTTE. Troops later recovered the dead body of one militant along with the damaged vehicle.

  Another militant was killed when the troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One more militant was killed and three others injured during clashes with the troops at Parappukkal of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in APM and IED explosions in the Ampandankulam and Uluvaneri areas of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was injured when an LTTE booby trap exploded in the Eachalarakkai area of Mannar district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force troops recovered 460-g of C-4 explosives hidden in a hollow of a tree from the Trincomalee district.

  The troops recovered one hand grenade in the Kantale area of Trincomalee district.

  Police recovered one claymore mine of 1.5-kg from the Thoppur area Trincomalee district.

  The STF troops arrested one LTTE militant along with one hand grenade, one camouflage uniform and one LTTE dog tag from the Wellaveli area of Batticaloa district.

  Police conducted a search operation near the Aurveda Hospital at Rajagiriya in Colombo and found two hand grenades, one shotgun and 36 rounds of ammunition hidden near the statue of Dr. N.M. Perera.

• July 12: Four LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during clashes between the two sides in the Navvi area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers and a militant were injured in these clashes.

  SFs killed four LTTE militants and injured 12 others in the Puthukulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in incident.

  The troops killed four LTTE cadres and injured an equal number of them in the Sannarkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Three more LTTE militants were reportedly killed and three others injured during clashes with the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  The troops neutralised one LTTE bunker in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district killing two militants.

  Two more LTTE cadres were killed by the SFs as the troops attacked an LTTE bunker north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Another LTTE militant was reportedly killed as the troops attacked an LTTE camp in the Kambiliyawa area of Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE militants were injured in clashes with the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in APM and IED explosions in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE militants and one soldier sustained injuries during encounters in the Kilaly and Nagarkovil areas of the Jaffna district.

  The troops neutralized a bunker fortified with 60-mm mortar point injuring three militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  During separate clashes in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district two militants were wounded.

  Another soldier was injured in an IED explosion in the area north of Navvi in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs also clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and injured at least one of them.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed an LTTE bunker line and a vehicle park located about 3.5-km south of Thunukkai in the Mullaitivu district.

  Troops recovered three hand grenades from the Kalettewa area in Anuradhapura district.

• July 11: Army troops, after clashes that lasted for days, took full control of the Nedunkandal town, about 16-km north east of Periyamadu in the Mannar district. The town was an important tactical and administrative location of the LTTE.

  Troops also captured Navvi, another small town about 15-km northwest of Omanthai in Vavuniya district.

  Five LTTE militants were killed and six others injured in clashes with the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  At least four civilians, including two women and a 12-year-old child, were killed and 25 others sustained injuries when a group of LTTE militants shot at a bus plying from Moneragala to Kataragma on the Buttala- Kataragma main road.

  During another confrontation between the two sides the troops killed four LTTE militants in the Wellaveli area of Mannar district.

  The troops also killed three LTTE militants and injured 11 others in the Maruthamadu, Eelamaruttankulam and Ampandankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two militants were killed and three others injured in the Navvi area of Vavuniya district. Six soldiers sustained injuries in APM and IED explosions.

  One soldier was killed and two others injured in the Mundipurippu area of Vavuniya district when the militants attacked an Army bunker. Four militants sustained injuries in the retaliatory action by the troops.

  One more soldier was killed while another was wounded in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Nedunkandal area of Vavuniya district.

  One militant was killed and four others wounded by the troops in the Nagarkovil and Kilaly areas of the Jaffna district.

  10 militants were injured in clashes with the troops in the Kiriibbanwewa area of the Vavuniya district.

  Seven soldiers were injured during encounters in the Welioya area of the Vavuniya district.

  Three more soldiers were inured in IED explosions in the Palaweddumodai, Ampandankulam and Vaddakkandal areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion the Puthukulam area of Mannar district.

  One Special Task Force trooper was injured in an abortive LTTE attempt to attack a Police roadblock near Halmillawetya junction in the Anuradhapura district.

  One LTTE militant was wounded in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered 30 APMs from the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district.

  The SFs recovered 1800 General Purpose Machine Gun rounds, 300 Multi Purpose Machine Gun rounds, 700 T-56 rounds and three 60-mm mortar fuses from the Melancholia area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE’s website Tamil Net claimed the number of people displaced in Wanni continues to rise as homes have come under artillery fire. "More than 1,00,000 people within the Wanni area have been displaced since the clashes restarted in mid-2006. Many of the displaced are forced to live in the open space. Shortage of fuel affects the transport of drinking water to the IDPs," it said. The LTTE said the shortages were "imposed" by the Government and could easily be rectified.

• July 10: At least seven militants were killed when the troops attacked LTTE camps in the Palamoddai, Navavi, Mundipurippu, Navakkulam, south of Ampandankulam, Illanthaimotai and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Chandamandankulam, Palaweddumodai, Pallimunai, Uthkamam, Palairaimotai areas of Mannar district and killed seven of them. Eight soldiers sustained injuries during the operation in which they neutralized two bunkers.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed and 23 others injured by the SFs in the areas north of Janakapura, Uluthuvely and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Six soldiers were wounded in the incident.

  Three civilians, identified as Surendra Kumara, Wasantha Premakumara and Asanka Namal Buddhika from the Wattegama area of Kurunegala district, were shot dead by a ‘pistol gang’ militant of the LTTE in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district.

• July 9: Eight LTTE militants and one soldier were killed while six militants and two soldiers were wounded during clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs attacked three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and neutralised one of them killing nine militants while injuring 10 others.

  The troops clashed with the militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed eight of them while injuring 10 others. Seven soldiers were injured in this incident. The troops during the operation also captured one LTTE bunker.

  Six more militants were killed and a soldier was wounded when the troops attacked several LTTE camps in the Anandankulam, Navvi and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs captured five LTTE bunkers in the Mathirmadu area of Mannar district and killed six militants.

  During an encounter with the LTTE cadres in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants and injured five others. Two soldiers were also killed in this incident.

  One soldier was killed and two others wounded when the LTTE militants fired mortars towards the troops in the Adampaddankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

  Troops recovered one unidentified dead body during a search conducted in the Avaranthalawa area of Mannar district.

  Six soldiers were injured in IED explosions in the Palamoddai, Nedunkandal and Panankamam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in APM explosions in the Thirukethiswaram area of Mannar district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured a LTTE bunker in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district injuring at least three militants.

  The troops in Trincomalee arrested a woman carrying a magazine of a mini-ushi type gun.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats in the seas about one-km off the Mullaitivu beach. One Sea Tiger boat was completely destroyed while a few others were severely damaged.

  The LTTE communication revealed that two 'majors' were killed in air raids by the SLAF jets on an LTTE camp in the Vaddakkachchi, eight-km Northeast of Iranamadu tank, area of Kilinochchi district on July 6.

  The LTTE has started to extort Government servants living in un-cleared areas forcing them to contribute SLR 4000 from their salary to the coffers of the outfit, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said based on the information from civilians fleeing the un-cleared areas. He also said that civilians living under severe pressure of the LTTE were now fleeing to the cleared areas in large numbers.

• July 8: At least eight LTTE militants were killed as the troops neutralised one bunker at Periyavalayankadu in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed at least seven militants while injuring nine others. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  The troops captured four LTTE bunkers in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring another. The troops later recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants along with two T-56 weapons and one radio set.

  Two soldiers were killed and another injured during an exchange of fire which ensued after the LTTE militants fired upon a group of soldiers who were on a foot patrol in the Arsadikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One more militant was killed while eight others were wounded in clashes with the SFs in the Karukkakulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

  Six soldiers sustained injuries in the LTTE mortar fire and explosions of IEDs in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in IED explosions in the Adampan Kulam and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  An LTTE logistic base, three-km southwest of Paranthan in the Kilinochchi district, was neutralised by the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets.

• July 7: At least nine LTTE militants were killed and 14 others injured during three separate clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa, north of Janakapura and Kamalmunai areas of Vavuniya district and killed three of them while injuring at least 16 others. One soldier was also killed while two more sustained injuries in the fighting.

  Another soldier was killed while three others sustained injuries when the LTTE militants fired mortars in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

  The SFs captured three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district killing one militant and injuring four others.

  The SFs neutralised three more bunkers in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district killing an unspecified number of militants while inflicting injuries to three others.

  In the Palamoddai area area of Vavuniya district, the troops neutralised one more LTTE bunker. One militant was killed while at least three others were wounded in the incident.

  Three soldiers were injured in explosions of APMs in the Kilaly, Eluttumadduwal and Eachalarakkai areas of Jaffna district.

  The troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district injuring three militants.

  The troops recovered one pouch, one 9-V battery, four T-56 magazines and 39 T-56 ammunition rounds from the Ariyamankerni area of Trincomalee district.

  The SFs recovered 30 APMs from the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district.

• July 6: Seven LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Navathkulama, Ampandankulam and Palamoddai areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and 10 others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the area north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were wounded in these clashes.

  The SFs also killed two LTTE militants in the Mannar district.

  One soldier was killed and another injured in an LTTE attack in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was killed by the militants at Puthukulam in the Mannar district.

  Five LTTE militants were injured in clashes with the SFs in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was wounded in an APM explosion in the Eluttumadduwal area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier sustained injuries in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion at Moddai in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs neutralised an LTTE bunker at Kovitkanchikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE combat trouser, one LTTE pack and parts of one hand-held radio set were recovered during search operations conducted by the troops in the Ariyamankerni area of Trincomalee district.

  Sri Lanka Army reopened the Omanthai entry/exit point, the southernmost entrance between the cleared areas (area under Government control) and the non-liberated areas (area not under Government control) in the Northern Province, at 3.15 pm (SST). According to the defence sources, the ICRC officials also opened their offices at the point. The entry/ exit point remained closed since July 1 as the ICRC officials opted to close their offices on security reasons claiming that Sri Lanka Air Force had carried out air raids at LTTE targets located close to their offices in the area.

  Insisting that he still remained the leader of the TMVP, Karuna admitted there was an attempt by some top government officials to split the outfit without the knowledge of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

• July 5: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 18 others injured as the troops confronted with the militants in the Ampandankulam, Puttakamam, Paranthekulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. Also nine soldiers were injured in LTTE mortar fire while four others sustained injuries in explosions of APMs and improvised explosive devices. One LTTE bunker was neutralised by the SFs in the Palamoddai area.

  Four more LTTE militants were also killed while nine others got inured in clashes with the SFs in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Naddamankulam and Anandankulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while four others received injuries.

  One soldier sustained injuries in a confrontation with the LTTE militants in the Kattiaratan area of Jaffna district.

  Troops on search and clear operations in the Dangeliyadda and Eravur areas of Batticaloa district recovered 52 APMs and one hand grenade.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE camp in the Vaddakkachchi, eight-km Northeast of Iranamadu tank, area of Kilinochchi district.

  The LTTE commemorated 356 Black Tigers, men and women, who have staged suicide attacks since the tactic was first used by the outfit 21 years ago, reports Agencies. "Three hundred and fifty six Black Tigers have laid down their lives, 254 of them in sea operations, during the last 21 years since," Tamil Net said. The LTTE in 2007 had commemorated 322 suicide bombers who perished in attacks. The figures show that 34 suicide bombers had carried out attacks in the past year. An attack on Anuradhapura air base on October 22, 2007 was the worst, with 21 suicide bombers destroying a fleet of aircraft. One militant later returned to the north with video footage of the attack, while the others were shot dead or blew themselves up.

• July 4: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Parayanakulam, Palamoddai, Vidattaltive, Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were also in killed an IED explosion in the Palamoddai area. Separately, two soldiers engaged in clashes in the -Periyamadu areas went missing. Nine bunkers were also neutralized by the troops near Periyamadu.

  At least 20 LTTE militants were killed 12 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Maruthamadu, Navakkulam, Thunukkai, Nochchimunai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the confrontations.

  At least 17 militants were killed as the Army’s 59th Division engaged in an offensive on the Welioya front captured the LTTE’s strategic Michael Base. The Michael Base, part of the 1-4 Base, is located seven-km north of Janakapura and is similar to the Munnagam base - the first base in the 1-4 complex captured earlier -, is an underground structure.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Ranabapura areas of Vavuniya district and killed eight LTTE militants while injured 22 others. Troops also captured one LTTE bunker.

  Five more LTTE militants were killed and at least 12 others wounded by the troops during clashes in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed and another injured by the SFs during another confrontation between the two sides in the Ampachdankulam and Thiraktive areas of Mannar district. One soldier also received injuries in the explosion of an anti personnel mine.

  During another confrontation the SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  At least 17 soldiers received injuries in LTTE fire and explosions of anti personnel mines in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Explosions of three APMs in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district wounded three soldiers. Troops also recovered 236 APMs and 13 IEDs from these areas.

  Troops recovered 30 APMs at Dangeliyadda in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district.

• July 3: Three civilians and an equal number of police personnel were injured in an LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion near the railway station at Eravur in the Batticaloa district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralised an LTTE camp, two-kms southwest of Vidattaltive in the Mannar district.

  The SLAF MI-24 gun ships bombed several vehicles carrying a group of militants in the area surrounding Vidattaltive in the Mannar district.

  A Sea Tiger (the sea wing of the LTTE) base, known as Devil Point in the Jaffna lagoon, some 15-kms southwest of Pooneryn in Jaffna was shelled by the SLAF jets.

  Police seized 150-kgs of gelignite explosives and arrested a suspect together with a van at a road block in the Kalpitiya area of Puttalam district.

  The founder of the TMVP, Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan alias ‘Colonel’ Karuna, returned to Colombo after completing his jail term in Britain on charges of violation of immigration laws.

• July 2: 12 LTTE militants were killed by the SFs in the clashes at Kayamodai and Puthukulam in the Mannar district.

  The troops killed 12 militants in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two more militants were killed in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  At least 24 militants and six soldiers also sustained injuries in clashes with the troops in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

  The STF recovered a cache of arms and weapons from a house belonging to a Sinhalese in the Ambalangodella area of Vavuniya district, following information given by the woman who was arrested on July 1 while carrying explosives hidden in a coconut shell. According to the Vavuniya Police, this happens to be one of the biggest haul of arms found in a single place by the STF. The recovered items include land mines each weighing over 11-kgs, five claymore mines, four hand grenades, five detonators, four claymore stands, mobile phones, batteries and a stock of wire. The suspect, along with two companions was arrested by the Police.

  The Vavuniya Police recovered over four-kgs of explosives hidden in a barrel at the Sittambarampuram Internally Displaced Person camp on information provided by the same woman.

  Troops on search operations in the Ariyamankerni area of Trincomalee district one RPG bomb, two 60-mm mortar bombs, two LMG drums, 30 rounds of T-56 ammunition, 40 MPMG ammunitions, one 40-mm grenade bomb, two T-56 magazines and three hand grenades.

  Troops recovered 10-kgs claymore mine, one hand grenade, one grenade launcher, one anti personnel mine, 40 T-56 ammunition rounds, one anti personnel mine, two T-56 magazines, two hand grenades, one pouch and one pack from the Punani, Muttur, Pallikudiruppu areas of Batticaloa and Trincomalee district.

• July 1: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and more than 39 others injured as the troops confronted with the militants in the Ampandankulam East, Periyamadu North, Palamoddai, Navvi, Andankulam, Yalankulam, Echarakkai, Janakapura North, Kokkutoduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while 25 others wounded in LTTE-triggered explosions and firing during the clashes.

  Suspected LTTE militants shot dead a businessman in the Abepura Uppuveli area of Trincomalee district.

  One LTTE militant was killed and another injured by the security forces while they attempted to snatch the T-56 weapon of an airman serving the Air Force roadblock at Thambalagamuwa in the Kantale area of Trincomalee district.

  Unidentified militants opened fire at an Air Force helicopter flying across the Ampara area, said the Media Centre for National Security. The US-built Bell 414 helicopter made an emergency landing at Arugam Bay due to a sudden loss of fuel. The Air Force suspects that the helicopter had been fired upon while it was on its way from Ampara to Arugam Bay.

  A LTTE base for special and air training at Ampakamam, about seven-km north of Olumaduwai in the Mullaitivu district, was neutralised by the SLAF fighter jets.

• June 30: The SFs killed an LTTE militant ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The security forces engaged in the Wanni liberation operation, entered a decisive phase as the troops created the biggest ever military front to the LTTE in the western flank of Wanni with two Army divisions that independently operated in Mannar and Vavuniya linking together from southeast of Periyamadu.

  The LTTE has "lost their capability of fighting as a conventional army" because of the offensive the military is waging against them, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said.

  Five LTTE militants were killed while 11 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers were killed and two others injured in LTTE-triggered IEDs explosions at Palamoddai and Kovitkanchikulam in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed two LTTE militants and injured three others in an encounter in the Palamoddai and Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed while four others injured by the SFs in the Nagarkovil, Muhamalai and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district. One soldier was also injured in the clash around Kilaly.

  The dead body of the soldier who went missing during a clash with the LTTE militants in the Navvi area of Vavuniya district on June 29 was recovered by the troops from the same area.

  The SFs recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon, one LTTE dog tag, one radio set and four hand grenades from the Navvi area of Vavuniya district.

  The dead body of one more militant was recovered along with one T-56 weapon from the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  At Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, two soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE-triggered IEDs explosions.

  The MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF bombed an LTTE operation coordinating centre in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered two hand grenades from the Kumburupiddy area of Trincomalee district.

  The naval troops recovered the dead body of a suspected LTTE militant along with four hand grenades, four T-56 magazines, one pouch and a cyanide capsule from the seas off Pallimunai lagoon in Mannar district.

• June 29: The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured four others near the Navakkulam FDL in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in the LTTE fire.

  The 58 Division of the Sri Lanka Army operating on the Mannar successfully completed operation ‘Rice Bowl’ after capturing over 120 square kilometres, including 105 square kilometres of the most fertile land in the country. The 58 Division completed this almost nine month long operation to secure the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ killing 2,058 LTTE militants and inflicting injuries on 1,208. With the capture of this entire ‘Rice Bowl’, troops have reached four kilometres South of Vedithalthivu, the biggest Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) base on the North Western coast.

  10 militants were killed and 32 others injured when the troops attacked LTTE camps north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  Six more LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured during a confrontation with the troops in the area north of Navavi area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured. One more soldier was reportedly missing in the confrontation.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven LTTE militants and injured four others.

  The troops captured one LTTE bunker ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district killing four militants.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed and another wounded by the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs repulsed an LTTE attack towards Army’s newly established line in the area north of Janakapura. One soldier was killed while seven others injured in LTTE mortar fire and explosions of anti personnel mines and improvised explosive devices.

  Troops sniped and killed one LTTE militant in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in a confrontation with the LTTE militants in the Nedunkandal and Vilayathikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured another LTTE base in Parappakandattan, four-km north of Giant Tank in the Mannar district. Several tombs militants were also found in the general area of Alkaddiveli.

  The SFs arrested one suspected militant along with 160-gm of C4 explosives, one detonator and one fuse from the Lanka Patuna area of Trincomalee district.

  One hand grenade was recovered by the SFs from one lorry passing Magammana in the Homagama area of Colombo district.

  Police recovered 20 rounds of T-56 ammunition and a hand grenade from a vehicle belonging to the Jaffna branch of the HRC. Confirming the incident, Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said that the cache was found inside the vehicle while it was undergoing repairs inside a garage. He added that the driver of the vehicle along with the garage owner and two mechanics employed at the garage were taken into custody for questioning.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse expressed no interest in easing off his military's offensive against the LTTE. "There are calls for a cease-fire when the terrorists face defeat. I will not allow anyone to curtail the forward march of the troops," Rajapakse said.

  Amid claims of major advances into the LTTE- controlled territory in the Mannar district in the north, the Sri Lankan military reported influx of civilians from LTTE-held areas into the government-controlled side. In a statement in Colombo, the Defence Ministry said, "It is observed that Tamil civilians fleeing LTTE-held areas continuously reaching towards security forces seeing protection for their lives as they are living under severe life risk in LTTE areas. As the troops captured almost all the terror strongholds in Mannar front, an escalation of civilian movement towards government-controlled areas can be observed".

• June 28: At least 20 LTTE militants were killed and 13 others injured when troops opened fire on their positions in Ambaddankulam, Naddankulam, Navatkulam, Panichchanmadu, Naouarampu and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed and two others injured in the fight.

  One soldier was injured in an explosion of a terrorist anti-personnel mine during a clearing operation in the general area of Kilaly of Jaffna district.

  Police recovered one sniper gun, two radio sets, five rounds of 303 ammunition, 300 T-56 ammunition, two hand grenades, two T-56 magazines and one 303 magazine during a search operation at Kadakarachchena in the Muttur area of Trincomalee district.

• June 27: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as security forces captured the outfit’s strategic "54-Base", said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

  25 more LTTE militants were killed and two soldiers sustained injuries as the SFs engaged in operation ‘Rice Bowl’ on the Mannar Front fully captured the Andankulam area and 13 square kilometres surrounding it, an unnamed senior military official said.

  At least 20 LTTE militants were killed more than 40 others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Andankulam, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while two more sustained injuries in the confrontations.

  Another soldier was killed and one more got injured in a LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion in the Manthikai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops during a search operation recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant from the Janakapura area in Vavuniya district.

  At least 17 LTTE militants were injured in confrontations with the SFs at Echarakkai, Andankulam, Chapman and Uluvaneri in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured one LTTE camp at Oddupalan in the Vavuniya district injuring eight militants. One soldier was also injured in LTTE fire.

  Nine more militants were injured as the troops captured another LTTE camp at Pappamoddai in the Vavuniya district.

  Four soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE fire and explosions of APMs at Periyamadu in the Uluvaneri area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops observed an LTTE movement in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district and opened fire towards them forcing them to flee the area.

  The SLAF fighter crafts neutralised one more LTTE base in the Pirappavettuwan area, about 10-km north of Oddusudan in the Mullaitivu district where the outfit used to train their special force cadres.

  The troops recovered 100 Multi Purpose Machine Gun ammunition rounds, two 60-mm mortar bombs and one hand grenade from the Manalachchanai Periyavil area of Trincomalee district.

• June 26: Troops operating on the Mannar front captured two and half square kilometres of land between Chalampan and Marattikannaddi on the Andankulam-Vedithalthivu road in Mannar district. "Twelve Tiger cadres were killed during the confrontation between 8 am to 3 pm yesterday to capture this terrain," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "With the capture of this key location all supply routes from Mannar Northwards to the Pooneryn road has been totally cut off to the LTTE."

  Six LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the troops at Pandayan, according to Sri Lanka Army. Four soldiers were also injured during the clash.

  The troops also eliminated five LTTE militants and injured eight others in the Morathandaman area of Mannar district. One soldier was also wounded in the incident.

  The troops captured one more LTTE bunker in the Kanapputtukulam area of Mannar district and killed five militants while injuring six others. One T-56 weapon was also recovered from the incident site.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured in an encounter with the troops in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers also sustained injuries in action.

  Two soldiers conducting clearing operations in the north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district were killed in an LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosion.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and two others injured during separate confrontations with the troops in the Palaiveddumodai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  One more LTTE militant was eliminated and five others wounded by the SFs in the Mullikandal area of Mannar district.

  One militant was killed and another injured during clashes with the troops in the Janakapura north and Kiriibbanwewa areas Vavuniya district.

  The SFs recovered the dead body of an LTTE militant along with a dog tag bearing LTTE number 7296 from the Navavi area Vavuniya district.

  The SFs on search operations in the north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district recovered the dead body of one female LTTE militant.

  Six militants were injured as the troops captured another LTTE bunker at Balampan in Mannar district.

  Two civil members serving the Army and one soldier sustained injuries when the LTTE militants fired on the troops in the Alkaddivalikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralised an LTTE forward operation base at Marattikannaddi, two-km north of Andankulamwewa in the Mannar district. After about 10 minutes later, the SLAF fighter jets bombed an LTTE training facility located at a place, about three-km north of Wellankulamwwewa in the Mannar district.

  Troops of the 57 Division who entered the Periyamadu village in Vavuniya district on June 24 and consolidated its position by capturing seven square kilometres surrounding the village by June 26-noon.

• June 25: The troops killed five LTTE militants and injured more than 20 others in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and seven others got injured. Troops captured three trenches and recovered 3500 rounds of ammunition.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed and five soldiers received injuries during confrontations in the Sirumollakandi and Navavi areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured an LTTE camp with 120-mm gun positions at Kattikulam in the Vavuniya district killing three militants and injuring three others. LTTE transmissions later confirmed that one area leader was among the injured. One soldier also sustained injuries in action.

  The troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Kiraddikulam area of Vavuniya district killing two more militants. Two militants and a soldier were also injured in the clashes.

  During a confrontation between the two sides in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district, one soldier was killed while four others sustained injuries.

  Another confrontation in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district caused death to one LTTE militant.

  During a search operation in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district, the troops recovered the dead body of one militant.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the SFs ahead of Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district.

  Four soldiers were injured as the troops captured one LTTE camp in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  Another clash in the Veddayamurippu area of Vavuniya district caused injury to one more soldier.

• June 24: The troops operating in the Mannar front captured several key locations in the North and North East of Adampan securing Mavilakkandi, Minnanirachchan and Marattikannaddi areas, Military sources said. At least 10 LTTE militants were killed in the confrontation that erupted from early hours of the day. Five soldiers also sustained injuries during these confrontations.

  The SFs killed six LTTE militants and injured three others in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the incident.

  At least five LTTE militants were killed and 24 others injured during confrontation with the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier also died in an anti personnel mine explosion during the clash.

  The troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Mullikandal area of Mannar district killing three militants. One soldier was also killed in action.

  Two soldiers and an LTTE militant were killed during confrontations that erupted between the two sides in the Varani and Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops eliminated three LTTE militants in the Illamarudankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a group of LTTE militants in the area west of Periyamadu in Vavuniya district.

  The troops eliminated two LTTE militants and injured two others in the clash at Kiraddikulam in Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured in action.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised three LTTE bases in the south of Muhamalai, another bunker line and an artillery launching pad in separate incidents.

  The SLAF neutralised LTTE camps at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF jets neutralised an LTTE training base, located three-km north of Muthuaiyankaddukulam tank north of Oddusudan, in the Mullaitivu district.

  The Matale Police acting on a tip off raided a house at Palapathwala and arrested an LTTE suspect along with an unregistered motorcycle hidden inside the house for more than eight years. The 55-year-old suspect married to a Sinhala woman hails from Oddusuddan. Investigations revealed that their two sons are living in Oddusuddan. Matale Superintendent of Police Macarthy Perera said investigations are continuing to establish what type of contact the suspect had with the LTTE and see whether the motorcycle was kept for any subversive activity.

  The SFs recovered one claymore mine weighing two-kg, one anti personnel mine and one hand grenade from the Kahawaththamunai area of Batticaloa district.

• June 23: Three policemen were killed and another injured when suspected LTTE militants carried out a bomb explosion near the Aiyththamalai Police post in Batticaloa district.

• June 22: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and about 30 others injured as the troops captured an LTTE line of six bunkers built in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. Four solders were killed while seven others got injured in the clashes. One more soldier was reported missing in action.

  10 more LTTE militants were killed by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Chalampan, Veddayamurippu, Kiraddikulam and Kovitakunchu area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while one more received injury.

  The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the Muppankulam area of Vavuniya district on June 21-night and June 22-morning killing six militants and injuring a few others.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Mani Kindamalai and Veddankerni, the SFs killed three militants while inuring 30 others. Nine soldiers were also reported injured in the explosions of improvised explosive devices and LTTE fire.

  Two Police personnel were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Kaludaweli in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district. One civilian passer-by was also injured in the explosion.

  Two LTTE militants were killed while three others injured in two separate encounters with the troops in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these incidents.

  A civilian, identified as Ravi Tharoshan, was shot dead at his residence in Trincomalee by an unidentified motorbike-riding assailant.

  The STF personnel repulsed an LTTE attack towards a group of STF personnel on a search operation at Kaludaweli in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant along with two hand grenades and one cyanide capsule.

  One militant was killed when the troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Kattiaratan area of Jaffna district.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the SFs during a confrontation at Ponnar in Jaffna district.

  Army troops found one T-56 weapon and one S-84 type weapon hidden inside a three-wheeler speeding past Kotahena area in Colombo. The driver of the three-wheeler was also arrested.

  The European broadcasts of the Tharisanam Television - a major propaganda arm of the LTTE is to be suspended immediately, the service announced. It is believed the Television Service which has been used for a long period of time as an organ not only for LTTE propaganda but also as a tool to raise funds for the terrorist organisations much needed weapons and ammunition, that have been also used to harm civilians through their suicide bombers and claymore mines became a major cause for Israeli Government to bring pressure on the Israeli satellite company to suspend the broadcasts.

• June 21: Seven LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured during confrontations with the SFs in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Weddakulam areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in these clashes.

  The SFs captured three LTTE bunkers killing four LTTE militants while injuring two others in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE militants were killed as the Army troops serving in the Poovarasankulam area of Vavuniya district observed these militants, two males and two females, busy constructing a hut near a bunker.

  One soldier and an LTTE militant were killed as confrontations erupted between the two sides in the Mundipurippu, Navavi and Karukkakulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya district. One soldier and a militant were reported injured during these clashes.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosion in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was killed during an exchange of gunfire with the LTTE militants in the Kiraddikulam area of Vavuniya district. After about two hours, another LTTE attack mounted on the troops serving in the same area was repulsed by the SFs who confirmed at least two militants were severely injured in retaliation.

  The troops captured one LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district killing one militant while injuring at least four others.

  Clashes in the Andankulam and Mavilakkandi area of Vavuniya district caused injury to about seven LTTE militants. Two soldiers were also injured in the clashes at Mavilakkandi.

  The residence of Porathivupattu Pradeshiya Sabha (Village Council) Vice Chairman at Wellaveli in the Batticaloa district came under fire directed by an unidentified. Two TMVP members in the house were injured in the incident.

  One soldier was injured in a booby trap explosion while he was engaged in clearing operation at the Palamoddai area in Vavuniya district.

  The troops injured an LTTE militant at Navakkulam in Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured one LTTE bunker at Periyamadu in Vavuniya district. Troops also captured three LTTE bunkers in the same area during another operation.

  32 anti personnel mines were recovered by the SFs during a search operation in the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district.

  A sachet of explosives containing 800-gm of C4 placed near a column of the railway bridge at Nawayalathenna on the Kandy– Matale railway line was recovered and later defused by the security forces.

  A claymore mine weighing about six-kg was recovered from the Sebestian canal at Bodhiraja Mawatha in Colombo 10.

  One person believed to have maintained close contact with the LTTE was arrested in Colombo by a special Police team. Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspect, the manager of "Sooriyan Rest", No. 18, station road, Colombo 6, had provided accommodation to the LTTE suicide cadre who self-detonated an explosion targeting a Police vehicle near the Sambuddhaloka Temple on Lotus Road on May 16, 2008. A copy of the Identity Card of the suicide terrorist has been found by the Police from Room No. 23 of the lodge.

• June 20: Two LTTE militants were killed and at least two others injured during clashes between the two sides in the Palamoddai, Navavi, Periyamadu and Kiraddikulam areas of Vavuniya district. Five soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants and injured six others as they neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  During separate clashes between the two sides in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Kokkuthuduvai in Vavuniya district the troops injured six militants. Five soldiers were also reported injured in the LTTE fire.

  Three LTTE militants on board a tractor were observed by the troops while it was moving in the Pooneryn area of Jaffna district. Troops opened fire at the vehicle and later confirmed that all the militants aboard the vehicle were injured in the Army fire.

  Police, following information received from a Black Tiger arrested in Colombo recently, recovered 9.5-kg of C4 explosives, 1.5-kg of steel balls, eight detonators and some batteries. Further interrogation led to the arrest of another LTTE militant, impersonated as a film director, who was gathering intelligence on movements of VIPs participating in a function at the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), Colombo. Police found an invitation card enabling him to take part in the function at the BMICH and one Identity Card to prove that he was a film director from his possession. It was revealed that the arrested militant had also been involved in making explosive devices in one of his houses at Kotahena in Colombo.

  A sophisticated machine used for printing forged credit cards was recovered by a special CID team along with four suspects, sources said. A defence official told the Daily Mirror the machine was found after interrogating Neshanadan Muruganandan alias Anandan - the alleged mastermind behind an international credit card scam - arrested by the Special Task Force personnel in Wellawatta last week. The official, who declined to reveal the location where the machine was found however said it was found in a house in Colombo. He said the four arrested suspects were also having direct links with the LTTE and further investigations were underway to arrest more suspects. The main suspect had a large number of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) of credit cards and bank receipts issued by both local and foreign banks, amounting to more than SLR 100 million, in his possession at the time of the arrest. He also had local bank receipts on credit cards and receipts of goods bought from an electrical items shop during the past three weeks. He had cloned credit cards using PIN and card numbers obtained from unsuspecting original credit card holders in Britain, Singapore, Switzerland, Malaysia and Canada.

  Army troops conducting search and clear operations in the Dangeliyadda area of Batticaloa district recovered 15 anti personnel mines.

  Troops recovered one browser with the capacity of 3000 litre while it ad been abandoned at the Tractor junction in Batticaloa district.

• June 19: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 14 others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Vedamakilam, Periyamadu, Kayamunai, Nedunkandal, Eachalarakkai, Kuranchatalav and Andankulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Three soldiers were also killed while nine others sustained injuries.

  Six more soldiers were killed and more than twenty others injured in encounters with the troops in the Mankindamulai, Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers also sustained injuries in the LTTE fire and anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive devices’ explosions during the clashes. The troops also neutralized one LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura.

  Two Police Constables were shot dead by two motorbike riding LTTE militants at Kalmunai in the Samanthurai town area of Ampara district. The victims were identified as Mohammed Ismail Gazali and Sandanadan Ramesh.

  A group of LTTE militants moving ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district was fired upon by the troops. During the ensuing exchange of fire two militants were killed and three soldiers got injured.

  The SFs killed LTTE’s intelligence wing leader for Trincomalee, Soundrarajan alias Thangan, during a clearing operation at Manachchena in the east of Neelapola. He had been entrusted the clandestine operation since January, this year after his predecessor, Ari Chelvam was killed by the Army.

  A 60-kg consignment of 373 gelignite sticks concealed among gunny bags of rice was seized by the Police from a lorry at Pandulagama in the Nochchiyagama area of Anuradhapura district.

  Basil Rajapakse, the presidential advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse, admitted that the LTTE represented a ‘fair number of Tamils’ but ruled out any quick truce with the rebels.

• June 18: Seven LTTE militants were killed as troops attacked LTTE camps in the Kiraddikulam and Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

  Troops opened fire on an LTTE tractor moving in the Kovilpuliyankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant.

  The SFs captured a fortified LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura and killed two militants while injuring six others. Three soldiers were also reported injured in the incident. After about an hour, another group of militants in the same area launched a counter attack on the troops conducting clearing operations around the captured bunker. Troop retaliated and foiled the attack injuring six militants. One soldier also sustained injury in the LTTE fire.

  One soldier was killed during clashes with the LTTE militants in the north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa areas. 12 militants were reported injured in these clashes.

  One soldier was killed and a police man was injured when the LTTE militants opened fire towards an Army and Police combined check post in the Mannar district.

  Troops opened fire on a group of LTTE militants moving ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district and injured two of them. One soldier too was injured in retaliatory LTTE firing.

  A hand grenade was recovered from inside a private bus plying from Avissawella to Colombo.

  Italian Police said they have arrested 33 suspected members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in pre-dawn raids across the country. Police in Naples said the suspects were picked up in 10 cities including Rome, Genoa, Bologna, Naples and Palermo at the end of a two-year investigation. Some 200 police were involved in the operation which saw raids across the country including the island of Sicily, an official with the police counter-terrorism cell told AFP. Police believe the suspects, all Sri Lankan citizens, extorted money from their fellow nationals in the various cities and sent it home to finance the LTTE. Luigi Bonacura of the Naples police said the operation effectively dismantled the Tiger network in Italy. Tamil expatriates in Italy are forced to contribute money to the LTTE, Police said. The funds are taken out of Italy through Swiss banks. Three months ago the Italian authorities closed down an illegal Tiger propaganda TV channel operating from Italian territory. Neapolitan police team has also discovered a kind of intelligence service in the LTTE called TIG, which controls people from Sri Lanka of the Tamil ethnic group resident in Italy, holding detailed files and photos, both of supporters and non-supporters of the organisation. Reports on Italian TV speculated that the annual amount extorted from expatriate Tamils in Italy was around four million euros (6.2 million dollars).

  Malaysia launched an inquiry into an allegation that some persons in Malaysia had given instructions to LTTE in Sri Lanka to carry out bomb attacks in the capital Colombo and its suburbs. Malaysian Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said his Government would investigate the matter thoroughly, and take severe action against any Malaysians with links to the LTTE. The action has been taken following Sri Lankan media claims that six suspects, who were arrested in Wattala with explosives last week, were waiting for instructions over the phone from persons in Malaysia to carry out bomb attacks in Colombo. "I have checked the news report personally...Malaysia will never tolerate any type of terrorism. If it is true that some Malaysians are involved with the LTTE, we will take severe action," Home Minister said.

• June 17: At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and three others injured during confrontations with the troops in the Palamoddai, Karukkakulam, Kovitkanchikulam and south of Navavi areas in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Ethawatunuwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded at least six others. Three soldiers also got injured in the confrontations.

  Three soldiers were killed in a LTTE mortar fire targeting SFs in the Kayamodai Wanni area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more SF personnel were killed and two others received injuries when the LTTE militants fired artillery and mortars towards the troops in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district. Troops retaliated and neutralized the attack.

  The SFs eliminated two militants and wounded two others during confrontation with the LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed as the troops confronted with militants in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier received injuries in an LTTE mortar fire in the same Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

• June 16: A suspected LTTE suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up in front of a Police building in Vavuniya, killing 12 police personnel, including three female Police officers and wounding 23 others, the military said,. The suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the SSP office complex in Vavuniya targeting the Police personnel leaving the SSP office for their duties at around 7:10am (SLST).

  The Canadian Cabinet has outlawed the Toronto-based front organization of the LTTE, the WTM, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. "The Anti-Terrorism Act, passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, allows federal Cabinet to prepare a list of ‘entities’ whose activities are proscribed by Canadian law due to their involvement in terrorist violence," the report added. The directive issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions advised banks and insurance companies to notify the Royal Canadian Mountain Police or Canadian Security Intelligence Service if they held any accounts linked to the WTM.

  At least eight LTTE militants were killed and more than 10 others injured when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Echchalarakkai, Vannakulam, Pandiyankulam Periyamadu, Mullikkandy, Parappakandal, Palamoddai and south of Kovitkuchchikulam areas in Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were also injured in these confrontations.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and at least 24 others injured by the troops during confrontations in the areas north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others got injured in the LTTE mortar fire.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants and injured two others during separate clashes in the Muhamalai, Kilaly and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district. Three soldiers sustained injuries due to the LTTE mortar fire.

  One female LTTE militant was killed in confrontations with the troops in the Kovitkuchchikulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the slain militant’s dead body along with one T-56 weapon.

  One soldier was injured after LTTE cadres opened fire at Akkaraipattu in the Ampara district.

  An LTTE bunker was neutralised by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district. During subsequent search operation, the troops recovered two T-56 magazines and 1500 rounds of ammunition.

  During another search operation in the Periyamadduwana area of Batticaloa district the troops recovered six hand grenades.

• June 15: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured by the SFs as confrontations occurred between the sides in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ranabapura and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya district. Three SF personnel were killed while four others sustained injuries during the clashes. The SFs also recovered one hand grenade from the area north of Kiriibbanwewa.

  Six more LTTE militants were killed in clashes with the troops in the Navathkulama, north of Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. One soldier was killed while four others were injured in LTTE fire.

  The troops confronted with a group of LTTE militants and killed five of them in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in action.

  Three LTTE militants were eliminated by the SFs during two separate confrontations in the Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district. The SFs later recovered the dead bodies of the three slain militants along with two T-56 weapons.

  One soldier was killed and eight others received injuries in two separate clashes with the LTTE militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district and injured at least four militants. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  One soldier received injuries in an LTTE gunfire in the Kovitkanchikulam area of Vavuniya district.

• June 14: At least eight LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured as the troops in a fierce offensive operation captured a strategically important LTTE-held area in the Mannar district and brought the whole tank area under their control, the military said. Seven soldiers got injured in the confrontations. Capture of the entire perimeter of this strategically important tank area is a major setback to the LTTE, defence officials said.

  The troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Komankulam, Mundipurippu, Keevelikulam, Minukkal, Nedunkandal and Irathawelliyakulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts and killed four militants while injured four others. Two soldiers were also killed and five others received injuries during the clashes.

  During separate confrontations between the two sides in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa, Palaiya and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district, the security forces neutralized one LTTE bunker killing two militants and injuring 18 others. One soldier also got wounded in LTTE fire.

  Three militants were reported injured as the troops attacked LTTE camps ahead of Nagarkovil, Kilaly and Muhamalai FDLs in the Jaffna district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident.

  The SFs recovered four hand grenades, two RPG chargers, one 60-mm mortar charger, a pistol pouch, 267 T-56 live rounds, 25 9-mm pistol rounds and a 25 meters wire roll concealed under a tree at Kalikovilkulam in the Udappuwa area of Puttalam district.

  The troops on search and clear operations in the Pangasgodalla Watta north area of Trincomalee district recovered a Multi Purpose Machine Gun.

  Six LTTE suspects, including a female, was arrested by a special Police investigation team during an anti-terrorist raid conducted in Wattala area, a suburb of Colombo. The investigation team has also found C-4 high explosives weighing around 2.7kg in the possession of the suspects at the time of arrest. According Police spokesperson, Ranjith Gunasekara, Police is conducting further investigations.

• June 13: At least seven LTTE militants and four soldiers were killed during confrontations that erupted in the north of Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. At least 15 militants and five soldiers were injured during these confrontations.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Periyamandankulam, Palampiddi, Kovitakunchu, Nedunkandal, Alankulam and Vaddakkandal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts the troops killed five militants while injured eight others. Three soldiers were also reported killed and four others got injured. 500 T-56 ammunitions were recovered by the troops in the Palampiddi area.

  Suspected LTTE militants shot dead two Tamil prisoners who were being taken to the courts in Jaffna, the military said. Another prisoner sustained injuries in the incident. Sources said an armed group of three to four militants came in a van and stopped the Prison Department bus carrying the prisoners and shot at the prisoners using micro pistols. Police said the bus was travelling from Chunnakam to Point Pedro when the militants had stopped the vehicle at the old rail crossing at Chunnkam. The assailants had dropped a leaflet at the location with the message, "Death to those who betray the Tigers," Police added. The van was later found abandoned at a nearby location.

  The LTTE militants shot dead two soldiers at Parayanakulam in the Vavuniya district. The incident took place around 12.50pm (SLST) when the two soldiers were on duty at a picket point on the Parayanakulam- Madavachchiya road.

  The SFs confronted with a group of LTTE militants and injured two of them in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district. One soldier also sustained injuries in the LTTE fire.

  35 gelignite sticks being transported in a lorry was seized by the Police personal at the Madavachchiya roadblock in Anuradhapura district. Two suspects aboard the vehicle, travelling from Colombo to an undisclosed destination, were also arrested.

  The mastermind behind the international credit card fraud for funding the LTTE has been arrested by the STF while conducting a search operation in the Wellawatta area of Colombo. The suspect, Anandan alias Neshanadan Muruganandan, was in a super luxury apartment in Wellawatta at the time he was arrested by the special Police team. He had a large number of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and bank receipts issued by both local and foreign banks, amounting to over SLR 100 million, in his possession. He had cloned credit cards using PIN and card numbers obtained from unsuspecting cards holders in the United Kingdom. These funds were later transferred to the LTTE. British Police conducted several raids which proved that the cloned cards were being used in Sri Lanka to draw funds.

  The LTTE had released 27 more child soldiers, and contested a United Nations estimate that over 1,000 child soldiers were still in their ranks. The outfit said that they were also working to discharge 30 or so children who are still with them.

• June 12: The SFs killed five LTTE militants and injured six others during separate encounters in the Janakapura and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while six others received injuries during the clashes.

  At Kiraddikulam in Vavuniya district, the SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed three of them on the spot. Two more militants and one soldier received injuries in the incident.

  During another confrontation between the two sides, the SFs killed two LTTE militants and wounded at least five others in the Echchalarakkai area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was killed during a confrontation with the LTTE militants in the Murikkandal area of Mannar district.

  The SFs arrested and subsequently killed an LTTE militant, who attempted to lob hand grenades towards them, at Kanniya in the Trincomalee district. The militant was reportedly carrying one-kg of C-4 explosives, two hand grenades and a two-meter long detonator cord.

  Secretary General of the SCOPP, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, responding to a statement made by the LTTE’s ‘Peace’ Secretariat chief, Seewaratnam Pulidevan, that he wishes to meet with Norwegian peace-brokers, said that the team headed by Norway's Special Peace Envoy John Hansen Bauer, would, for now, not be allowed to visit the Wanni. Prof. Wijesinha dismissed the LTTE request as a meaningless propaganda exercise in the absence of a roadmap to ending the 25-year conflict.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse has asserted that in spite of the cost in lives and damage inflicted to Sri Lanka's tourist trade he would not resume peace talks with the LTTE until the organisation agreed to disarm. "When they are weak they call on the international community to arrange a ceasefire. During this period they train and rearm and then fight back. This time if they want to talk, they should disarm first," he said. Commenting on concluding a peace deal with Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE chief, he said, "This man and the three or four henchmen around him are blood-thirsty killers. They have no feelings. It is very difficult to deal with them."

  India cannot make 'any healthy, fruitful contribution' to resolving Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict until it changes its mind on the LTTE’s struggle for an independent State, K.V. Balakumaran, a senior leader of the outfit told an Australian Tamil radio. "Our regret is that the Indian policy makers are viewing (the) Tamil people's struggle through the lens of their country's political warfare. Until the Indian central government approaches this intellectually and recognises that ours is a struggle for survival by an oppressed people in the land of their birth, India cannot make any healthy, fruitful contribution," the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net quoted Balakumaran as saying.

• June 11: At least seven LTTE militants were killed in the Nedunkandal and the west of Navvi areas in Mannar district. Two LTTE bunkers were also neutralised in the Nedunkandal area.

  Five more LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured during clashes with the troops in the north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries, the troops captured one bunker in the fighting in Janakapura area.

  At least four LTTE militants and three sailors were killed as the SLN personnel foiled an LTTE attack on a SLN outpost at Erukkalampiddi in the Mannar Island. According to the defence sources, a group of outfit’s cadres who had come in six boats launched the attack at around 2.15 am (SLST). The SLN personnel defended the post effectively destroying a Sea Tiger boat in a counter-attack killing four militants, including their leader Sirimaran, sources added. However, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net admitting their loss said the outfit destroyed the camp and captured key weapons and radar equipment.

  The SFs recovered two T–56 assault rifle, eight packets of C–4 explosives each containing 2-kilograms, 40 detonators, 300-kilograms of TNT explosives, 10 rifle sling and large stock of ammunition from the Magastota area of Nuwara Eliya district. The Colombo Crime Division jointly with the Mount Lavinia Police raided a house at Soysapura Housing Scheme where explosives and bombs have reportedly been stored. The inmate who is suspected to be a leading member of the LTTE and involved in recent terrorist atrocities in the Colombo city had left the house when the Police entered it after braking open the door. According to police, the main suspect in the recent train blast at Dehiwala has revealed that this place was frequently visited by top LTTE members who have arrived in Colombo to carry out various terrorist attacks on civilians and VIPs and disrupt the public lives.

  A time bomb was recovered and defused by the SFs in the Anuradhapura city close to the main clock tower along Main Street opposite the People's Bank. The bomb was hidden in a parcel containing a pair of shoes in a barrel placed on the roadside near a hotel.

  The security forces recovered one 1.5-kg claymore and two magazines from the Track Junction area of Batticaloa district.

  The security forces are attacking Mullaitivu, the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran’s hideout, from several directions, said Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Commander Fonseka said the Army's aim is to capture Prabhakaran, who is holed up in a bunker, alive. He said the 56, 57, 58 and 59 divisions are taking part in the operations and Task Force 2 will also be inducted to expedite the operation. Troops are presently attacking the LTTE's 1-4 Base complex in a preliminary bid to reach Mullaitivu. Forces have already regained several hundred square kilometres previously under the control of the LTTE and they still need to march forward another 21 kilometers to achieve the final goals, he said.

  Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona called upon the EU to list the TRO and other LTTE front organisations, which have been clearly identified, including by the US Government, as raising funds for the LTTE. He said a request to this effect has recently been made by the Government to the European Union. French Ambassador in Sri Lanka Michel Lummaux representing the current EU Presidency held by Slovenia, who led the EU delegation, categorically expressed the opposition of the EU to a separate State for Tamils in Sri Lanka. He said the EU does not consider the LTTE to be the sole representative of Sri Lankan Tamils.

• June 10: At least four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during confrontations in the Periyamadu, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured during these clashes.

  Three ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE were gunned down during a Police and Army combined cordon and search operation at Pallikudiruppu in the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district. Reports said that a group of three militants had opened fire and lobbed a hand grenade at the SF personnel engaged in the search operation. The SF personnel had retaliated killing two militants on the spot while the other who had managed to escape was chased and shot dead later.

  The SFs captured one LTTE bunker and killed two militants in the Karukulankulam area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier died in an LTTE attack in the Karukulankulam area of Jaffna district.

  Troops recovered two T-81 weapons, 156 rounds of ammunition, four magazines and one ICOM radio set at Dalukana in the eastern Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa district.

  The troops recovered three boxes of T-56 ammunition from the Kaddamuruvikulam area of Batticaloa district.

  The SLAF fighter jets shelled the Muhamalai FDL of the LTTE in Jaffna district. The LTTE is linked through this FDL to Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and the Jaffna Peninsula.

  A little known Sri Lankan rebel group, Ellalan Force claimed responsibility for recent bomb attacks on transport vehicles as revenge for what it said were Government attacks and aerial bombings on Tamil civilians. The military said that the outfit is a LTTE-linked group.

  Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that the State intelligence sleuths have uncovered a LTTE plot to assassinate VIPs in the South by infiltrating public functions attended by them. The terrorist plan was to get their cadres to attend such functions unarmed as normal civilians and assassinate VIPs attending them after grabbing weapons from the SF personnel detailed to cover such events.

  The LTTE has vowed to attack government troops if they enter the outfit’s-controlled area. In an interview with a news agency, the LTTE Peace Secretariat Head, S. Puleedevan, has said, "Sri Lanka armed forces are losing a lot of soldiers. If they enter into LTTE area the losses will be much more. The heavy fighting is going on at the forward defence line and we have managed to inflict considerable damages to Sri Lankan armed forces. They are unable to gain any new territory." Puleedevan also blamed that the Government is not willing to have peace talks and is evident by denying access to international mediators.

• June 9: At least nine LTTE militants were killed as the troops stormed the outfit’s FDL in the Alankulam area, about 2-km north to the north bund of the Giant Tank, of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries during the clash that lasted nearly for four hours. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of three female militants from the area.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district the SFs inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE. Though exact details are awaited, reports said that one soldier was killed while another one got injured during the fight.

  The death toll in the fighting that erupted in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district on June 8 has increased to 25 with one more soldier succumbing to his injuries. While 28 soldiers have been inured so far, one soldier is reported missing. The SFs consolidating their position also recovered the dead body of another LTTE militant along with one Multi Purpose Machine Gun, one T-56 weapon, two Light Machine Gun links and three magazines.

  Sri Lankan Minister for Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication P. Chandrasekaran has said he had received positive signals from the LTTE to indicate that it would be open to talks. Claiming to be on a mission to meet political leaders in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi to create an atmosphere conducive for Indian intervention he said that India should play the role of a mediator to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. He also that the LTTE had also evinced interest in Indian intervention and favourable signals had emanated from the outfit in this regard.

• June 8: At least 17 LTTE militants and six soldiers were killed as the troops stormed the outfit’s One-Four base at five places and captured 500-600 meters stretch of land in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district. 35 militants and 18 soldiers also sustained injuries during the fighting which lasted for eight hours.

  At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 33 others injured by the SFs as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Manipullkulam, Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Wedimurippu, Thalaweddi and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while about 19 others received injuries during these clashes.

  The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the Muhamalai, Mankumban, Ponnar and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed an unspecified number of militants. Three soldiers were also killed during the clashes. Six soldiers and an equal number of militants were reported injured in the incidents. Some of the soldiers were injured in LTTE triggered remote-controlled blasts in the area.

  Five LTTE militants were killed and another five wounded by the troops during an encounter in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district. One soldier also sustained injuries during the clash.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed by SFs in another confrontation in the area east of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs eliminated two LTTE militants in the Karaveddivembu area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier received injuries in an LTTE mortar fire towards troop positions in the Koilmoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was wounded in a separate LTTE mortar fire in the Koilmoddai area of Vavuniya district.

  Acknowledging the contribution of Sri Lanka's armed forces in fighting international terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapakse has said giving democratic rights to the Tamils in the LTTE strongholds was vital for ending militancy in the region. He said it was not possible to win a war with weapons alone. For this it is necessary for the soldier who goes into battle to have trust and confidence in his leadership, he said. "We have the need to give the Tamil people in (the rebel stronghold) of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu their democratic rights, as we did for the people in the East," the President said.

• June 7: The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Navakkulam, Periyamadu, Cheddiyankulam and Periyapallemullkaduu areas of Vavuniya district and killed seven militants while injured two others. Five soldiers were also injured while the SFs recovered the dead body of one female LTTE cadre after clashes in Periyamadu.

  In similar confrontations that erupted between the two sides in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five militants and injured at least 19 others.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed and two others wounded by the troops destroyed an LTTE bunker in the area north of Ethawatunuwewa in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed one LTTE militant and injured five others during confrontations in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers also received in action.

  Troops confronted with the LTTE militants in the Wilpattu area of Anuradhapura district and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon and a communication set from the area.

  Eight soldiers were injured in LTTE fire and explosions of improvised explosive devices in the north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas in Vavuniya district.

  At Yodiyankaddu in the Batticaloa district, an LTTE militants opened fire at troops injuring one soldier.

  The troops recovered one Rocket Propeller Gun round, one hand grenade, three magazines, 450 rounds of ammunition and one Light Machine Gun link belt with 60 rounds of ammunition from the Arsanagar area of Trincomalee district.

  Troops recovered one binocular, two antennas, one T-81 weapon and two hand grenades from the Kattidankulam area of Trincomalee district.

  During another search operation in the Kandalkadu area of Trincomalee district, the SFs found one T-56 weapon, four magazines, one pouch and 109 rounds of ammunition.

  The death toll in June 6 bomb blast at Katubadda in the Moratuwa area of Colombo district rose to 22 as two of the injured persons died at the National Hospital in Colombo. Meanwhile, Police sources said 50 suspects arrested in connection with the bomb blast were produced at the courts on June 7-morning. The courts released 49 of them detaining the rest for further inquiries, he added. Another 18 suspects including students of Moratuwa University who attempted to have a sudden trip to Wanni were arrested at the Irattaperiyakulam road block in three separate occasions.

• June 6: 21 persons were killed and 40 others injured in a LTTE-triggered a powerful explosion on a public bus near Katubedda Shailabimbaramaya temple on the Katubedda – Piliyandala main road in Colombo. Eight women and 13 men were among the dead in the explosion in the bus which was proceeding to Mt. Lavinia from Kottawa.

  At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 21 others injured by the troops as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Ichchalankai, Nedunkandal, Periyamadu, Kovitkanchikulam, Itkanchikulam, Palamoddai, Alankulam and Kurukkallimotai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Nine soldiers were also reported wounded in the incidents.

  Troops conducting search and clear operations in the Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district killed four LTTE militants and injured at least 13 others.

  The SFs destroyed six LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai, Ponnar and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district, killing two militants and injuring six others. Two soldiers also received injuries in LTTE gun fire.

  The SFs recovered 1500 rounds of ammunition and 23 pouches from the Kumpanachchi area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE in the latest release by its Hero’s department has claimed that the outfit has lost 21,051 carders in the quest for a separate state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 21,051 cadres include 16,516 males and 4,535 females. The period cited for the deaths cover 26 years from November 27, 1982 to May 31, 2008. The LTTE lost their first cadre ‘Lt.’ Shankar on November 27, 1982, widely celebrated by the outfit as Heroes’ Day. The death list also include 348 Black Tigers (suicide cadres), of which 256 are males 97 females, with 102 being killed in land operations and 251 in sea operations. The release said the Sea Tigers (the sea wing of the LTTE) are considered an effective conventional arm of the LTTE, capable of crippling Sri Lanka’s sea operations. The Hero’s release also lists 279 auxiliary forces members, 47 Police personals who died on operational duties in the death list, and adds that another 490 civil society members who were killed by the Government forces or the Paramilitary forces for their commitment for the Tamil Cause have also been listed as Heroes. This includes 19 Mamanithar, a title often conferred posthumously by LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran. In the first five months of 2008, the LTTE lost 918 carders- 616 males and 302 females –the Hero’s release said, adding that since the current pace of the war intensified in 2006 the outfit has lost 1004 carders, of which 745 males and 259 and in 2007 they had lost 1196 carders including 1037 males and 159 females. The Hero’s Department also claimed they never hide the deaths of the LTTE cadres, announcing the heroes name over the radio broadcast, and updating figures on a monthly basis.

• June 5: 30 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured one kilometre stretch of the main defence line of the LTTE covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' by reaching the edge of the 'Rice Bowl' north of Adampan on June 4-evening, military sources said. "This was the first time the troops in Mannar front captured a stretch of LTTE main defence line stretching from Pappamoddai in the north of Manthai from the seaside towards Parappakandattan in the north of Giant Tank for more than 11 Kilometres covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl'," an unnamed senior military official said. The LTTE constructed this defence line with a six to eight feet high earth bund, a water canal and a trench line forcibly using the civilians living in the un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) a few months back to face the advancing troops.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and eight others inured during separate clashes with the troops in the Periyamadu, Periyamandankulam, Kopilkurunala and Villamadukulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while eight others received injuries during these confrontations.

  The SFs confronted the LTTE militants in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed four more militants. One soldier was also killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.

  One more LTTE militant was killed while another one sustained injuries in a separate clash in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were killed in a LTTE mortar fire in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  11 militants were injured when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Komankulam and Vedamakilam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Five more LTTE militants were injured and 300 rounds T-56 ammunition, one T-56 weapon magazine and two pairs of boots were recovered as the troops clashed with the militants in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  Another LTTE militant was injured in a separate clash in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  At Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the SFs attacked a group of LTTE militants and injured two them.

  One soldier received injuries during a clash that erupted in the Eluttumadduwal area of Jaffna district.

  The Army Bomb Disposal Unit recovered and defused a 2.5-kg time bomb near a crowded bus halt and a filling station at Alapitivala Mahabage road in the Ragama area of Gampaha district at 8.25 pm, just five minutes before it was set to explode at 8.30 pm.

• June 4: The SFs confronted with the LTTE militants in the Villattikulam and Navavi areas of Vavuniya district killing 11 militants while injuring at least 15 others. Three soldiers also received injuries in action.

  11 more LTTE militants were killed in confrontations with the troops in the Kaddupulan, Kurukkandai, Nedunkandal and Parappakandattan areas of Mannar district. Seven more militants and a soldier were reportedly received injuries during the clashes.

  As clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kokkutoduvai, Andankulam, Janakapura and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district the SFs killed five LTTE militants and wounded an equal number of them.

  At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead at least six militants and injured three others in two separate clashes.

  The SFs at Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district opened fire towards a tractor with LTTE militants on board and killed three militants while others managed to escape.

  One soldier was killed while another one got injured in an LTTE artillery fire from the Pooneryn area struck a soldier on duty in Mirusuvil area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs eliminated one LTTE militant who tried to infiltrate the troop’s defence lines in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  At least 17 persons were injured in a bomb blast along the coastal railway track at Dehiwala, a suburb of capital Colombo, police said. Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said that an unidentified assailant attempted to lob a parcel at the Colombo bound train from Panadura, but failed as civilians in the area prevented it by screaming. "After noticing that the people had seen him, the suspect had thrown the parcel towards the railway track and ran away from the scene," he added. The railway track was slightly damaged due to the blast

  Two soldiers were injured in two separate explosions anti personnel mines in the Alkaddivalikulam area of Vavuniya district while they were engaged in de-mining in the area.

  Two militants were reported injured as the SFs neutralised two LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered 840 T-56 ammunition rounds, two 60-mm mortar bombs, three 81-mm mortar bombs, three Rocket Propeller Grenades, three T-56 magazines, one electric detonator and 100g of C-4 explosives from the Navamillanawewa area in Batticaloa district.

  The security forces arrested the prime suspect, identified as Jatheesan Balasubramaniyam, who was behind the bomb blast along the coastal railway track at Dehiwala, a suburb of capital Colombo that wounded over 20 people in the morning of the same day. He was arrested near Irattaperiyakulama road block while he was attempting to pass through towards Vavuniya.

• June 3: 16 LTTE militants were killed and at least 10 others injured as the troops attacked several LTTE camps and bunkers in the Navathkulama, Periyamadu Kulam, Kowitkuchdu, Udaiyadi and Nedunkandal areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

  One soldier was killed and another injured in an LTTE-triggered IED explosion in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs clashed with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, killing one militant while injuring four others. Six soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  Two soldiers were injured during encounters with the LTTE militants at Periyamandankulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district while two others were wounded in IED and APM explosions at Kowitkuddu.

  The SFs retaliated to an LTTE attack and injured at least four militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The LTTE has said that the national question cannot be resolved by killing innocent civilians or political leaders. In an interview with BBC Sandeshaya, head of the outfit’s political wing, Balasingham Nadesan, said, "You cannot resolve the Tamil ethnic issue by killing the president or innocent civilians." He also denied any knowledge of killing civilians in the south and said that many other elements are operating in the south. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Government to initiate a fresh dialogue he accused the Government of launching military offensives against the LTTE and denied that the outfit is being defeated by the military in the north.

  He also denied media reports that head of organisation’s peace secretariat, Seevarathnam Pulidevan, has been arrested by the outfit’s leadership. Separately, denying media reports of his arrest Pulidevan himself accused the Sri Lanka military of ‘fabricating stories when they cannot achieve military victories’. He also dismissed reports of an internal dispute within the LTTE, insisting that the organization continued to function as usual. Pulidevan also ruled out the possibility of having peace talks with the Government without the participation of Norwegian facilitators and added, "The LTTE has no problems. Our only intention is to receive the Norwegians in Kilinochchi as they are the official facilitators. Till then we will not discuss anything."

• June 2: The TMVP Eravurpattu Pradeshiya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Aiyathurai Pushpanadan alias Kattan, and his bodyguard, Arsakoon Pullai Mohandas alias Amburaj, were shot dead by suspected ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE at Eruvur in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district.

  At least seven LTTE militants were killed and 17 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Chunnikadukulam, Koddeikulam, Mullikannady, Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. While two soldiers were killed and two others injured in the fighting at Janakapura, two more soldiers were reported wounded elsewhere.

  Seevaratnam Prabaharan alias Pulidevan, chief of the LTTE Peace Secretariat, has been placed under arrest on the direct orders of the outfit’s leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Defence Ministry said. "The arrest has been made as a result of a worsening internal dispute among key LTTE… An armed gang led by LTTE's intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman had made the arrest few days back," the statement said.

• June 1: Eight LTTE militants were killed by the security forces (SFs) during encounters in the Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Three militants were killed by the troops near Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs of Jaffna district.

  Troops confronted four groups of militants in the Vedamakilam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district and killed two of them.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed and 20 others injured as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Kokkuthuduvai, north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Troops also destroyed three LTTE bunkers during the clashes in the north of Kiriibbanwewa.

  During clashes in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district, the SFs killed two LTTE militants and injured three others.

  One soldier was killed and another injured during encounters with the LTTE militants in the Palamoddai and Kalvirumadu areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Seven soldiers were injured during clashes with the militants in the Mannar district.

  Another soldier was wounded in an anti-personnel mine explosion in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

• May 31: Three soldiers and two LTTE militants were killed during clashes that erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers and an equal number of militants were injured in the clashes.

  Five militants were killed and two others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Andankulam, Chandamandankulam, Panikkaneru, Periyamandankulam, Olumaduwai and west of Navavi areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed in encounters with the SFs in the Kilaly, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were injured in these clashes.

  Unidentified assailants lobbed a hand grenade targeting civilians near a private bank at Wellawatta town on the Colombo-Galle road in Colombo and injured 10 persons. Two of the injured persons died later.

  A businessman, identified as Selliah Selvarajah (31), was shot dead by an unidentified assailant at Horana in the Kalutara district.

  The SFs recovered one T-56 weapon, two magazines and 29 rounds of ammunition from Pethale in the Batticaloa district.

• May 30: At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and more than 15 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Kodikamam, Nedunkandal and Pullekyarkulam areas of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also killed while 10 others received injuries in these clashes.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and four others injured by the troops during encounters in the Navathkulama, Periyamadu Kulam, Periyamadu and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops clashed with LTTE militants in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district and killed three militants and wounded two others. One soldier was also injured in action.

  One soldier was killed and two others injured during clashes at Maruthamadu in the Vavuniya district.

  One trooper was wounded in an encounter with suspected militants at Himitillawa Kanda in the Moneragala district.

  An unidentified assailant fired at a member of the Civil Defence Force (CDF) and one Army soldier who was near Lamputhel bend on the Dehiwatta - Neelapola road in Serunuwara area of Trincomalee district. While the CDF trooper was killed in the incident, the soldier escaped unhurt.

  One LTTE militant was shot dead by the troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon from the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  One civilian and a soldier were injured in an LTTE attack in the Periyamandankulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district.

  The Police recovered a claymore mine from a Central Transport Board bus at Moratuwa bus-stand in the Colombo district. One detonator and few electrical batteries were also found along with the claymore mine.

  The Police recovered five LTTE suicide jackets from Maina Doopatha, an islet in the Puttalam district. Four of the jackets had been filled with high explosives. One person was arrested in this connection.

  The Special Task Force personnel found one trapped torch, 66 steel balls, stock of C-4 explosives and one electric detonator in the Wellaveli area of Batticaloa district.

• May 29: The SFs foiled a pre-dawn sea attack by the LTTE sinking three Sea Tiger boats and killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries during the clash between the LTTE and troops at the Chiraththivu islet of Jaffna district. A combined Army-Navy operation at the Chiraththivu islet of Jaffna district foiled an attempt by the LTTE to infiltrate the military detachment located between the Jaffna mainland and the Mandaithivu Island from the sea. Defence reports said that the Sea Tigers launched a second attack in six boats towards the same islet from the Pooneryn area. Troops repulsed the offensive sinking three boats and heavily damaging another which sank in the shallow waters at around 2am (SLT). The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net, however, claimed that 13 navy personnel were killed in the incident.

  14 LTTE militants were killed 42 others injured as SFs captured one of the outfit’s major strategic bases known as "Munnagam" in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Militants opened artillery fire towards Jaffna town centre from their bases in Pooneryn which struck 18 people sleeping in their houses. While six of the civilians died, 12 others were injured.

  Six LTTE militants were killed as the SLN launched an attack on two Sea Tiger boats transporting fuel barrels to un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) via the seas off Uddimukkanthurai in the Mannar.

  Six militants were killed and more than 20 others wounded as the troops launched attacks in the jungle areas of Periyamadu Kulam, Palamoddai, Andankulam, Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident at Andankulam.

  Three persons, including a woman, were killed by the LTTE militants at the Zone 18 village in Anuradhapura district.

  The LTTE militants triggered an explosion targeting a police vehicle patrolling the area between Pampaimadu and Chekkadipilaw in the Vavuniya district, injuring three constables.

• May 28: 11 militants were killed and seven others injured during clashes with the SFs in the Olumaduwai, Periyamadu, Sinnamalayankaddu and Kappankulam areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district, the SFs killed four more militants while injuring three others.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured in clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Paramarupasingham Devakumar, the Jaffna area correspondent for SIRASA, MTV and SHAKTHI TV channels, and his associate Mahendran Varathan, employee at the Jaffna District Secretariat, were hacked to death by suspected LTTE militants in the Navali area of Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were killed while four others sustained injuries during clashes with the LTTE militants at Periyamadu, Mundipurippu and Pinnamanayaikaddu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device explosion in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

• May 27: The SFs killed seven LTTE militants and wounded 14 others during encounters in the Janakapura, Andankulam, Punnankulam and Palaiandankulam areas of the Vavuniya district.

  The troops clashed with two groups of LTTE militants in the Nelukkulama and Mundipurippu areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed and 20 others sustained injuries during encounters with the troops in the Kuddeadi, Alankulam, Karankuddi, Piriyanweli, Veddayamurippu, Minnukandi and Mankadu areas of Mannar district.

  The death toll in the May 26 LTTE-triggered blast inside a train at Dehiwala Railway Station, near capital Colombo, has increased to nine as one more civilian succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, the Head of Forensic Division, W.D.G.S. Gunawardana, said that a 1.5 kg plastic time bomb was placed on the rack of the train. "It was a purely high explosive time bomb used without ball bearings. If balls bearings were used, the casualty might have been high," he said.

  Three soldiers were injured in an LTTE attack and explosions of anti-personnel mines in the Periyamadu, Periyakulam and Madukulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Prapaharan (Prapa) Thambithurai, a Canadian citizen based in Toronto, has been charged with allegedly raising money for the LTTE. "The funds were allegedly raised for the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers) which is a listed terrorist organisation in Canada,'' said the Royal Canadian Mountain Police. Thambithurai who was arrested on May 23 in Vancouver has been charged with providing or making available property or services for terrorist purposes. Police allege the funds were being collected from members of Vancouver's 6,000-8,000 strong Sri Lankan community.

• May 26: At least eight passengers, including four women, were killed when a LTTE parcel bomb with a timer exploded in a crowded train near Dehiwala, a suburb of capital Colombo, at around 4.50pm (SLT). More than 70 persons were injured in the explosion which occurred in the fifth compartment of the Kalutara district-bound train, Senior Superintendent of Police R. Gunasekara said.

  At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and a dozen others were injured in sporadic clashes between the militants and troops in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Clashes were reported from Palamoddai, Vedamakilam and Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district and Mundipurippu, Velankulam, Mampulikulam, Thampamoddai and Nedunkandal in Mannar district. Seven soldiers were wounded in the clashes.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the area north of Janakapura and Andankulam jungle areas in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  The IED expert of the LTTE in Mannar, identified as Dhora, was killed in an air strike carried out by the SLAF MI-24 fighter craft in the area north of Adampan in the Mannar. An explosive dump of the LTTE was also destroyed in the attack.

  The SLAF neutralised LTTE camps at Andankulam in the Mannar district.

• May 25: 10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Mundipurippu area of the Vavuniya district on May 25. The SFs later recovered 10 IEDs, 10 anti-personnel mines (APMs), one Arul bomb, 400 T-56 ammunition rounds, 400 Multi Purpose Machine Gun ammunition rounds, eighteen 60-mm mortar fuses and 11 APM fuses from the incident site.

  10 militants were killed and a dozen others injured during clashes with the troops in the Kurukkandai, Paleipperumalkadu, Pediyaarippu, Nedunkandal, Maravitikannadi and Welioya north areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Seven soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  In clashes between the two sides in the Palampiddi, Arsamadu and Periyamadu areas of the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six militants and injured three others.

  The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the area north of Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district and also recovered three T-56 weapons.

  An LTTE cadre moving ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district was killed by the troops.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion near the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was injured in an APM explosion at Perankulam in the Mannar district.

  Three LTTE suspects, who were arrested by the British police for conspiring to procure equipment to the LTTE, have been granted bail by the British Courts. Reports said that a fourth man was not released as he has not applied for bail. Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan alias Muralee Tharan, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan alias Vithy Tharan, Murugesu Jegatheeswaran alias M. Jegan and Shanthan are charged with conspiring to receive equipment for terrorist purposes between January 2003 and December 2006. Shanthan was granted bail with a large financial security and on condition that he contacts the police by phone daily through voice recognition equipment.

• May 24: Five LTTE militants were killed and 14 others wounded by the troops during clashes in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries in the clashes.

  During encounters between the two sides in the Mundipurippu, Veddayamurippu, Malikaittidal and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts, the troops killed two more LTTE militants and injured eight others. One soldier was reportedly killed while another was injured in the incident.

  Another soldier was injured in an LTTE-trigged anti-personnel mine explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The security forces (SFs) neutralized 11 LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The SFs observed a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats, probably on a reconnaissance mission, in the Nagarkovil area and opened artillery fire.

  The SFs defused a time-bomb with C4 explosives from inside a passenger bus with passengers on board near Seylan Bank Branch at Rawathawatta in the Moratuwa area of Colombo district.

  They SFs defused another time-bomb with C4 explosives from a private bus proceeding towards Kirillawala in the Gampaha district.

  The Wattegama Police recovered a time bomb near an electricity transformer at Madawala Junction in the Kandy district.

  The STF personnel during a cordon and search operation recovered two T -56 assault riffles, three T -56 magazines, 80 T- 56 live ammunition and one hand grenade from the Sathurukanda area of Batticaloa district.

  The STF personnel recovered five 40-mm grenade launcher rounds from the Thikkode area of Ampara district.

• May 23: 16 civilians, including six children comprising of four girls and two boys, were killed in a SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU)-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting a Hiace van returning from Muzhangkaavil hospital to Kilinochchi on the Murikandi - Akkaraayan Road at around 2:15pm, claimed pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net. Earlier, Assistant Director of Fisheries in Mannar, J.G.Jujin, and another civilian were killed when a DPU triggered claymore mine explosion targeted an ambulance of the Kilinochchi hospital at Muzhangkaavil at around at 8:00 am. The SLA, however, denying its involvement and said that the areas alleged lie about 100-km away from the northern most Omanthai Entry/Exit point and defence lines under the Government control in Vavuniya.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and more than a dozen injured by the troops during separate encounters in the Periyamadu, Navathkulama, Nedunkandal, Wedimurippu and Kurukkandai areas of Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

  The LTTE militants triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting troops on foot patrol along the road in the Bakmitiyawa area of Ampara district, injuring one soldier who died later.

  One police constable was injured in the LTTE carried out suicide attack on the Police bus near Sambuddhaloka Viharaya at Colombo-Fort on May 16 died of his injuries raising the death toll to 15.

  The SFs neutralised 13 LTTE bunkers during separate attacks in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Two soldiers and three militants were reported injured in the clashes.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralised a LTTE command centre in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district.

  The MI – 24 fighter craft of the SLAF bombed an LTTE camp East of Adampan, 1-½ km a head of the Mannar FDL.

  The SLAF fighter jets shelled an LTTE boat hiding place at Chundikulam in the Jaffna district and an LTTE camp south of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs recovered nine T-56 weapons, 13 magazines, six hand grenades, 25 detonators and 2-kg of C-4 explosives kept concealed in the bushes and trees at Peraru in the Trincomalee district.

• May 22: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed and about 12 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa and surrounding areas of Welioya in the Vavuniya district.

  Two members of the TMVP and three civilians were killed and four other people were wounded by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents. "Two TMVP cadres, including the party's chief organiser for Katankudi, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen around 11.15 a.m. In a separate incident, also at Arayampathi in Katankudi area, three Muslim civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen around 12.45 p.m.," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

  At Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district, troops neutralised an LTTE bunker line and killed at least five militants while injuring four others. Three soldiers were also wounded in the clashes. Another soldier got injured in an LTTE laid APM explosion in the same area.

  Five LTTE militants were killed during an encounter with the troops in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district.

  The SFs eliminated one more LTTE militant while he was attempting to infiltrate the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were injured in two separate LTTE–triggered APM explosions in the Konakkarankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  A member of the EPDP, identified as Ranaiyya Devan, was shot at and injured by suspected LTTE militants at the Mannar Town area. He was distributing an EPDP published newspaper at the Mannar bazaar area, sources said.

  One soldier was injured when the LTTE militants detonated two claymore mines targeting an Army route picket point in the Komari-Urani area of Akkaraipattu in the Ampara district.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade towards an Army point near the Duraiappa Stadium in Jaffna injuring one soldier.

  Another soldier was injured when the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants at Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs recovered three hand grenades during a search and clear operation in the Kalaoya area of Anuradhapura district.

• May 21: At least 17 LTTE militants were killed and 26 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Four dead bodies of female militants were recovered from the area.

  The SFs killed three LTTE militants during encounters in the Mundipurippu and Palamoddai areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

  The LTTE militants opened artillery fire towards the SFs in the Palampiddi area of Mannar district and killed one soldier and injured two others.

  One more soldier was killed in an LTTE attack in the Nedunkandal area of Mannar district.

  The SFs captured an LTTE trench line in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and also recovered two hand grenades, 72 anti-personnel mines, 29 booby traps and two LTTE assault rifles.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 fighter crafts neutralised a LTTE camp, about 2½-km ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The French police detained two LTTE leaders who evaded arrest in 2007 and fled the country when police closed in on them during the major round up of top outfit’s leaders operating in Paris. The Sous-Directorate Anti-Terrorism of France announced that the duo, Subramanium Muhundan and Yogarasa Sivarasan, were arrested in Paris on May 13 after investigations lasting several months. They were heading the LTTE political and finance units since the arrest of 26 LTTE cadres, including top leaders of all the divisions of the outfit, on April 1, 2007.

• May 20: At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during an encounter with the troops in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. The troops later recovered the dead bodies of two militants.

  Five more LTTE militants were killed and 15 others sustained injuries during clashes with the troops in the Palaiandankulam, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Thunukkakulam and Pattankulam areas of the same district. Three soldiers were wounded in LTTE-triggered anti-personnel mine (APM) explosions in the areas north of Janakapura and Pattankulam.

  A senior ‘commander’ of the LTTE, identified as "Brigadier Balraj", who had led several attacks against the Sri Lankan military earlier died of a heart attack in Kilinochchi, the LTTE announced. Quoting the outfit’s headquarters, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net said Balraj was the "first commander of the LTTE's conventional fighting formation, Charles Antony Brigade, established in 1991."

  Suspected LTTE militants shot dead a Police Constable in the Mamakkama junction area of Batticaloa district.

  Seven soldiers were injured when the LTTE militants opened fire towards SFs in the Mundipurippu area of Mannar district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the Thunnikaddukulam, Palamoddai and Minnukandi areas of Vavuniya district, injuring three SF personnel.

  Three policemen were injured in an LTTE attack on the police post at Chettukulam on the Medawachchi – Mannar road.

  The LTTE militants opened fire targeting the Rupaskulam STF camp in the Ampara district, injuring one STF trooper.

  An explosion occurred near the Railway Bridge in the Katugasthota area on the Kandy – Matale railway line. The explosive device, believed to have contained about one kilogram of explosives, had been set against one of the supporting pillars of the bridge but the explosion only resulted in slight damages.

  The French police detained two LTTE leaders who evaded arrest in 2007 and fled the country when police closed in on them during the major round up of top outfit’s leaders operating in Paris. The Sous-Directorate Anti-Terrorism of France announced that the duo, Subramanium Muhundan and Yogarasa Sivarasan, were arrested in Paris on May 13 after investigations lasting several months. They were heading the LTTE political and finance units since the arrest of 26 LTTE cadres, including top leaders of all the divisions of the outfit, on April 1, 2007.

• May 19: Four LTTE militants were killed and 20 others injured by the troops during separate incidents in the Kokkuthuduvai, Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district on May 19, reports SLA. The troops also recovered one communication set from the Janakapura area.

  During an encounter in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed two militants. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

  The SFs clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of the Vavuniya district and killed three of them. One soldier was wounded in the incident.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops at Kasawalpuliyankulam in the Omanthai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  ‘Pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE shot dead one civilian, identified as Karthilagesu Balachandran, inside the New Maill Wedge Hotel in Vavuniya town.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries during an LTTE attack in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  A home guard, Sumith Sanjeewa, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while he was on duty at the 38th mile post along the Buttala- Katharagama main road in the Moneragala district.

  Two soldiers were wounded in separate clashes between the troops and militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were injured during encounters with the militants in the Manipullkulam, Weeayamurippu and Minnukandi areas of Mannar district.

  A soldier was injured in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion in the Periyamadu area of Mannar district.

• May 18: At least 26 LTTE militants and five soldiers were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries as the troops foiled two attempts by the militants to capture SFs defence line at Nedunkandal in the Mannar district. The first attack of the militants occurred at 3.00 pm which was repulsed by the troops killing 11 cadres of the outfit. Three soldiers were also injured in the attack. Again, the militants attempted to break the defence line around 5.45 pm and lost 15 of their cadres in troop’s retaliatory fire. Five soldiers were also killed while three others got injured.

  SFs captured a LTTE bunker line at Kurukkandai in the Mannar district killing seven militants. Four soldiers were also killed in the clash while three others sustained injuries in the incident. Three more soldiers went missing during the clash.

  During clashes in the Navakkulam, Marudhakulam, Palamoddai, Mundipurippu and Kallikulam areas of Vavuniya district, troops killed 10 militants while injuring at least six others.

  Seven militants were killed while more than 12 others injured in confrontations with the troops in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district. One soldier was killed while another got wounded in the confrontations.

  At Ampaddankulam in the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed six militants.

  Three militants were killed while 13 others reported injured during confrontations that erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries in action.

  Two soldiers were killed and another wounded in an LTTE mortar fire in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was killed and four others got injured in LTTE-triggered IEDs explosions in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. Troops also recovered ten 60-mm mortar bombs, two pouches, 180 anti personnel mines and twenty one IEDs.

  One trooper was killed during confrontation with the LTTE militants in the area northeast of Periyamadu in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs eliminated one LTTE militant. One soldier was also killed while four others sustained injuries in the clashes with the militants.

  The troops in a retaliatory fire killed one more LTTE militant while injured two others in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Five LTTE militants were injured when a tractor carrying militants was attacked by the troops in the Kayankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The death toll in the suicide bomb blast by the LTTE in capital Colombo on May 16 has increased to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo National Hospital. According to hospital sources, nine police officers and four civilians have died so far.

• May 17: The troops captured Palampiddi junction in the Mannar district. The troops have so far recovered the dead bodies 13 LTTE militants along with 11 T-56 weapons, one MPMG and four communication sets from the area. The Palampiddi junction, is strategically important as it connects Vedithalthivu in northwest, Madhu in south, Mullikulam in southeast and Nedunkandal in northeast.

  The troops killed seven LTTE militants and injured more than 10 others in the clashes at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and areas north of Murunkan, Devolkandan, Veddayamurippu, north of Uyilankulam and Periyakulam in the Mannar district. Two soldiers were injured during the clash in the north of Uyilankulam. Two soldiers were wounded in LTTE-triggered APM explosions at Devolkandan. The troops also recovered 25 APMs during subsequent clearing operations.

  Six more LTTE militants were killed and three others wounded by the security forces during clashes at Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Also, one soldier was injured in a separate clash between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura.

  The death toll in the May 16 suicide attack at Colombo Fort increased to 11 as one more civilian, identified as Abdul Kadar Mohommed, succumbed to his injuries at Colombo National Hospital. Eight Policemen, including three woman Police Constables, and three civilians have so far been killed in the suicide attack.

  At least 17 civilians, including two children and six females, were injured when the LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade at the bazaar street in the Vavuniya town.

  Another soldier was injured in an LTTE attack at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

• May 16: 10 persons, including seven police personnel, were killed and 95 others were injured as a LTTE suicide bomber on a motorcycle laden with explosives rammed into a bus carrying police officers around 12.05 pm at the Colombo Fort. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that around 50 police personnel in three buses were targeted by the suicide bomber at the junction between Hilton Hotel and Sambodhi Viharaya. 10 other vehicles were badly damaged during the incident. Reports indicated that the LTTE may have aimed to sabotage the swearing-in of the newly elected Eastern Provincial Councillors at the nearby Presidential Secretariat through this attack. But the event was held as scheduled.

  The troops on clearing operations in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and later recovered the dead bodies of seven militants, including six women militants, along with one MPMG, one T-81 weapon, five T-56 weapons.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Periyamadu, Palampiddi and Palamoddai areas the troops eliminated five militants. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the militant’s gunfire.

  One police constable, identified as Asanka, was shot dead by ‘pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE at Nochchimunai in the Kaththankudy area of Batticaloa district.

• May 15: 18 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate clashes in the Vairapuliyankulam, Vilakkavatti Kulam, Palampiddi, Periyamadu and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while three others sustained injuries in these clashes.

  Nine more LTTE militants were killed in encounters with the troops in the Alankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district. One soldier was injured in the clashes.

  During a series of clashes with the LTTE militants in the areas north of Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district the troops killed seven more militants. One soldier who was injured in the explosion of an LTTE laid improvised explosive device in the area died later.

• May 14: Approximately 14 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate clashes in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Welioya in Vavuniya district.

  The SFs attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least six militants.

  During another encounter between the two sides in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed four more militants while one soldier died during the clash.

  Troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants killing three of them while injuring three others in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district. While four soldiers were wounded in the incident, one soldier reportedly went missing.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

  A woman was killed and a youth sustained injuries when unidentified assailants shot at them in the Uppuveli area of Trincomalee district.

  One soldier was killed when the LTTE militants fired seven 60-mm mortars, rocket propeller grenades and small arms towards Kilaly FDL areas in the Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was killed in an LTT-triggered anti-personnel mine explosion at Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed another LTTE militant in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops following an armed clash with the LTTE captured a trench line and a hideout of the outfit in the Minukkal area, about 2.5-km north of Adampan in the Mannar district. While the exact loss of life is yet to be ascertained, soldiers recovered the dead body of one militant along with one T-56 weapon, one RPG weapon and one RPG bomb from the area.

  The SFs attacked an LTTE trench line in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, killing one female militant. The SFs later recovered the dead body of the slain militant along with one T-56 weapon, two hand grenades, 95 rounds of ammunition, three dog tags and two belt orders.

• May 13: Four LTTE militants were killed and 11 others injured during clashes with the troops in the Andankulam, Vadukkanari and Janakapura areas of the Vavuniya district. Five soldiers were reportedly injured during these clashes.

  Four militants, including a female cadre, are reported to have died and five soldiers were wounded during continuing clashes in the Sivarayankulam, Mundumrippu, Navvi, Chinnavahayankaddu, Nedunkandal and Palamoddai areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

  A senior leader of the EPDP, Maheshwari Velyanthan, was shot dead by the LTTE militants at her residence at Karaweddi in the Nelliadi area of Jaffna district.

  Another LTTE militant was killed by the troops during an encounter in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  A soldier sustained injuries in an LTTE triggered anti-personnel mine explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  At Eluttumadduwal in the Jaffna district, the troops killed one LTTE militant and also recovered a claymore mine and 25 hand grenades from the area.

• May 12: ‘Pistol gang’ militants of the LTTE fired upon two policemen on duty in the Arasady junction area of Batticaloa district. While one constable died on the spot, the other was admitted to Batticaloa hospital with injuries.
  
  Five militants were killed in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district as the troops destroyed four fortified LTTE bunkers.

  The SFs killed five LTTE militants in the Periyamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs also killed one female LTTE militant in the Pikkulam area of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers were injured in separate clashes with the LTTE militants in the Kaddupulan area of Mannar district.

  The SFs attacked a group of LTTE militants moving in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  At Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked two LTTE bunkers using Rocket Propeller Grenades and small arms.

• May 11: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and more than five others injured during separate clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai, Palampiddi and Periyamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate encounters in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas, north of Welioya in Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries during the clash in Janakapura. SFs also recovered the dead body one female militant along with one Icom set and one T-56 weapon following the Kiriibbanwewa clash.

  The SFs captured an LTTE trench line in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district injuring at least two militants. One soldier was killed in the incident.

  A soldier was killed during an encounter between the two sides in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

  At Muhamalai in the Jaffna district, the SFs foiled an LTTE attempt to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under government control) and killed one of the militants.

• May 10: At least 18 LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked the outfit’s hideouts in the areas north of Palampiddi, Vedamakilam, Kurukkandai, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  An underwater explosion occurred at an empty merchant vessel that was moored at the Trincomalee harbour. The Sri Lankan navy said the MV Invincible A-520 logistic vessel sank due to the explosion adding that the LTTE bombed the 213-foot cargo ship with an underwater explosion at about 2:15am. "No lives were lost due to the explosion," the Defence Ministry said. The LTTE, meanwhile, claimed their Sea Tigers (the sea wing of the LTTE) launched a pre-dawn attack while the ship was loaded with explosives to be transported for troops operating in the island's north.

  The death toll in the parcel bomb blast in Ampara Town has gone up to 12 as one of the wounded persons succumbed to his injuries at hospital.

  Some LTTE militants fired seven rounds of mortar fire from an undisclosed hideout to the north of Ampara towards Pannalagama, a remote village in one corner of the Ampara district. Four villagers, including one child, were injured in the firing.

• May 9: The military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the SFs captured one square km. area in Alankulam of Mannar district. "33 LTTE cadres were killed and 40 injured in the confrontation", Nanayakkara stated. One soldier was killed and five others wounded in the clashes. Five soldiers were also reported missing in action.

  The troops captured the strategic Adampan town in Mannar district. The LTTE reportedly retreated from its positions in Adampan town in the face of heavy firepower from the SFs. "At least 15 LTTE cadres were killed and many others injured when troops marched forward and confronted the Tiger cadres resulting in the capture of the Adampan junction and it’s liberate from the LTTE’s grip at around 8.30 a.m.", military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "The Security Forces launched an offensive attack at around 4.30 a.m. and the confrontation lasted till the Adampan town fell into the troops’ hands at around 8.30am." Two soldiers were killed and seven others injured in the incident.

  At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and several others injured during a clash with the troops in the general (area under Government control) of Vavuniya district.

  11 persons, including two women, were killed and 29 others injured in a bomb blast at the City Cafe Hotel near the Ampara Clock tower in Ampara town. According to Deputy Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon, the hotel’s second level collapsed and adjacent buildings were badly damaged due to the explosion. The blast occurred at around 5.40pm on the eve of the commencement of voting for the Eastern Provincial Council Elections on May 10. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said "The hotel was reportedly frequented by senior politicians involved in electioneering from the morning.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed 12 militants. Three soldiers were reportedly injured in the clashes.

  In Mannar, clashes erupted between the two sides in the Manipullkulam, Nedunkandal and Mantota areas in which 11 militants were killed and five wounded. Troops also captured two bunkers connected to LTTE trenches during clearing operations in the Manipullkulam.

  Two soldiers were injured in LTTE laid booby trap explosion in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district. The injured soldiers died later.

• May 8: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed as the Army captured a two square kilometer stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory, about 5-6 km south of Adampan town in the Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while another was wounded in the incident.

  During clashes with the LTTE militants in the Vedamakilam, Alkaddivalikulam, Palampiddi, Villiyakulam and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants while injuring five others.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and nine others wounded by the troops in the Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. Troops also captured one bunker and recovered 16 hand grenades and two boxes of T-56 ammunition containing 1500 ammunition rounds from these areas.

  The British police have charged four men with conspiring to support the LTTE, Scotland Yard said. The four were arrested under anti-terrorism laws and are accused of owning computers, radio equipment and high-power magnets for terrorist purposes, AFP reported from London. The four men were identified as Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias AC Shanthan, 51; Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan alias Muralee Tharan, 46; Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan alias Vithy Tharan, 39; and Murugesu Jegatheeswaran alias M Jegan, 33. An unidentified fifth man has also been charged in connection with the investigation, Scotland Yard said.

• May 7: During intermittent clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Parappakandal, Kathankulam, Alankulam, Chalampaikkulam, Nedunkandal and Adampampekkulam in the Mannar district, the SFs killed at least 12 militants. Six soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured by the SFs in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops shot dead two LTTE militants in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  An unidentified assailant shot dead a civilian and injured another in the Poonthottam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops repulsed several LTTE attacks and neutralised one bunker in the jungles off Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. While three soldiers were injured in the clashes, the SFs recovered 264 anti-personnel mines and eight booby traps.

  At Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, the troops launched several attacks and destroyed two bunkers. While the extent of damages to the LTTE is yet to be ascertained, one soldier was reportedly injured.

• May 6: The troops captured about 400-600 square metres stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory of Alankulam in the Mannar district and killed seven militants while injuring 10 others. Five soldiers were also injured in the operation. Also, the troops foiled an LTTE attempt to re-enter into the same area later and during the ensuing encounter killed six more militants.

  The troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants through a jungle path in the area north of Periyamadu in Vavuniya district killing six militants aboard the vehicle.

  The SFs attacked a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palampiddi area and neutralised six bunkers. Six militants were killed and a soldier injured during the incident.

  The SFs in the Manthotam area of Mannar district in two separate attacks destroyed three LTTE bunkers killing five militants. 10 militants and two soldiers were reported wounded in the confrontation.

  In the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, SFs opened fire towards a tractor carrying three militants and killed all of them. One LTTE bunker was also neutralised in the area.

  Two civilians were killed and other sustained injuries in a LTTE-triggered remote controlled claymore mine explosion in the general area (area under Government control) of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs killed two LTTE militants at Meegasgodalla in the Sittaru area of Trincomalee district. However, two others managed to escape from the incident site. Three soldiers were injured in the incident.

  During the clashes in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, the troops injured 13 militants and recovered dead body of one militant. Four soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

  At Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district, the SFs eliminated one more LTTE militant while injuring another.

  The troops launched an attack in the Kurukkandai area of Mannar district and captured the Kurukkandai main road. Three soldiers were injured in the operation. The LTTE casualty is yet to be ascertained.

  The troops captured the Palampiddi Bridge in the LTTE-held area of Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district following a fierce gun-battle. Providing support to the ground troops the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed an LTTE target located one-km north of Palampiddi junction in the same area. Citing intercepted LTTE communication, defence sources said the outfit suffered heavy casualties though the details are yet to be ascertained.

  Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias A. C. Shanthan (51), the de-facto leader of the LTTE in the United Kingdom, was re-arrested in connection with terrorist funding and procurement activities. Wiltshire Police sources said that Shanthan was arrested by the anti-terrorist units of the metropolitan Police together with Wiltshire Police at Swindon in the Wiltshire Constabulary on May 6 in a pre-dawn raid. He was re-arrested after three more people were detained for questioning on April 29. Shanthan was earlier arrested on June 28, 2007, before being released on bail on November 22, 2007. Shanthan was alleged to have been operating with Anton Balasingham very closely to build up the outfit in London.

  The RCMP counterterrorism investigators in Toronto have seized a letter signed by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran directing Canadian Tamils to send him Canadian $3-million, according to police files released on May 6 by the Federal Court. The letter, found during a search of the Toronto office of the World Tamil Movement, discusses the need to "intensify the struggle" and ensure that Tamils are "strong enough" to fight "with our full breath," according to the newly unsealed files. Prabhakaran also said that he looks "forward to receiving substantial contribution from the displaced people of Tamil Eelam" and advises the "Canadian office" to provide 15 of the 100 "crores" he needs.

• May 5: At least nine LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured in intermittent clashes between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Palampiddi and Maruthamadu areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops clashed with LTTE militants and killed five of them while injuring 12 others in Welioya area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were reportedly injured in the clash.

  The SFs in Mannar killed five LTTE militants when they launched an operation and captured one square kilometer of land in the Chalampaikkulam area.

  In the Kurukkandai area of Mannar district, the SFs killed two more militants.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries in an LTTE mortar attack in the Palali area of Jaffna district.

  At Nagarkovil in Jaffna district, the troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants and injured one of them.

  Some more clashes occurred between the troops and militants in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district. However, no casualty was reported.

  Ten LTTE militants, including two area leaders, were killed and 52 others injured by the security forces when a fierce fight erupted between the two sides at the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in the LTTE attack. One soldier, meanwhile, was reported missing.

  The SFs repulsed an LTTE attempt to launch an attack on the Kondampiddy Army and Navy combined security point on the Mannar coast. A small flotilla of Sea Tiger boats opened fire towards the SFs point manned by Army soldiers and Navy sailors. As the troops opened retaliatory fire, the militants fled further towards the north east with their casualties onboard the sea craft that became targets of ground troops supported by artillery. One soldier was injured and another was reported missing during the incident.

  A vehicle carrying a sick Buddhist monk, Kahatagasdigiliye Chandrananda Thero, from Mannar junction to Yaya-7 in the Vilachchiya area was targeted by the LTTE with a claymore mine explosion. While the monk escaped unhurt, the driver of the vehicle was wounded.

  Sri Lanka appealed to the international community to help stop arms supplies to the LTTE. The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam told the UN Security Council in New York last week that Government efforts to achieve sustainable peace have failed primarily as a result of the illicit arms flow to the LTTE. "Unbridled violence and abominable terrorist acts can be stopped only if supply and access to such weapons can be halted immediately," he urged.

  A RCMP affidavit, made public on May 2 by the Federal Court, has revealed the Canadian operations of the LTTE. The affidavit describes the WTM as a "foreign branch" of the LTTE.

• May 4: Two soldiers were injured in an LTTE triggered improvised explosive device explosion in the area south of Muhamalai in Jaffna district. Both the soldiers later succumbed to their injuries.
  
  During clashes between the SFs and LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs killed three militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and more than 20 others wounded by the troops during clashes in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Nikawewa areas of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were injured in the clashes.

  The troops neutralised three LTTE bunkers in the Weeayamurippu area of Mannar district, injuring at least eight militants. One soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.

  Another soldier was killed and two others wounded in an LTTE attack in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• May 3: At least 15 LTTE militants, most of whom were from the "Imran Pandian regiment" – said to be LTTE’s most acclaimed regiment - were killed in an offensive launched by the troops in the Chettiyarkattaiadampan area, southeast of Giant Tank in the Mannar district. The outfit is reported to have lost some of their vitally important areas such as Veppankulam, Kallikulam, Pikkulam and Karukkandal during most recent confrontations with the troops who have already established their positions to the extent of 8.5 sq km, northwest of Giant Tank.

  At least 12 LTTE militants were killed and 10 others were injured during clashes with the troops in the Palampiddi, Adampan and Nedunkandal areas of the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. One soldier was also killed while six others sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The troops captured about 1.5 sq km stretch of land in the LTTE-held territory of Periyakulam in the Mannar district killing 10 militants while injuring 10 others. Two soldiers were wounded during the clashes.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district, the SFs killed seven militants while more than 20 others were injured. Two soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries in the incident.

  The SFs clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in the Ethawatunuwewa, Kokkuthuduvai, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district and killed four of them. Five soldiers were also killed in the incidents while three others were wounded.

  The troops retaliated and injured an unspecified number of LTTE militants when they were fired upon by the latter in the areas ahead of Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Six soldiers were injured in the LTTE attack.

  One Special Task Force soldier and a Civil Security Officer were injured when the LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine using a remote controller at Kelepuliyankulama in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.

  The LTTE militants triggered another claymore mine explosion targeting a team of CSOs on foot patrol in the Aluthhalmillewa area on Palamoddai – Bogashandiya road without causing any casualty. The CSOs opened fire towards the militants who managed to escape.

• May 2: An unspecified number of LTTE bunkers in the Veddayamurippu, Allikulam, Palamoddai, Manthai and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts were captured by the troops during confrontations in which 19 militants were killed and about 15 others got injured. Two soldiers were also killed while three others were injured in the clashes.

  At least two militants were killed as an LTTE hideout in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district was attacked and destroyed by the troops.

  One soldier was killed and another got injured when an army vehicle hit an LTTE laid claymore mine in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  One militant was killed while four others wounded by the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in the clashes.

  SFs recovered the dead body of an LTTE militant in the Somapura area of Trincomalee district.

• May 1: Advancing troops captured the LTTE-held Karukkakulam town in the Mannar district, killing at least 15 militants. One soldier was killed in the incident.

  The SFs neutralized four LTTE bunkers and killed 11 militants while injuring an equal number of them during separate attacks in the Navathkulama, Muttiramadittakulam and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya district.

  During a clash between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa, the SFs killed at least five militants.

  At Veddayamurippu in the Mannar district, the troops neutralized a LTTE bunker line killing five militants and injuring seven others.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal and Veddayamurippu areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

  Troops in Jaffna killed two LTTE militants and destroyed one of their bunkers in the area south of A–9 road in Muhamalai.

  Two soldiers were injured in APM explosions in the Velankulam and Kandaperiyakulam areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers engaged in clearing operations were injured in an explosion in the Pullekyarkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One SF personnel was injured in an APM explosion in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district.

• April 30: At least 40 LTTE militants, including a leader, were killed and several others wounded as the troops captured the outfit’s 18-Base in the Veppankulam and Kallikulam areas of Mannar district. Six soldiers were injured in the operation. Subsequently, two MI-24 fighter crafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force providing aerial cover to the advancing ground troops bombed two LTTE camps in the Karukkakulam and Chalampaikulam areas.

  11 militants were killed and 21 soldiers injured in fighting between the two sides in the LTTE-held areas of Periyakulam, Karukkakulam and Kathankulam in the Mannar district.

  The SFs retaliated as one civilian was injured when the LTTE militants operating in deep jungles, north of Janakapura, in the Vavuniya district opened artillery fire towards a civilian settlement at Tissapura in the Padaviya area.

  One soldier engaged in clearing operations was injured in an IED explosion in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

• April 29: Seven LTTE militants, including six senior cadres, were killed when the troops neutralized two bunkers which have been reportedly used by senior cadres of the outfit in the Manipullaukulam area of Mannar district.

  The SFs attacked an LTTE camp in the Muttlamadittakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed six militants while injuring four others.

  The troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Muttlamadittakulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four of them. One soldier died while another sustained injuries in the exchange of fire.

  At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized an LTTE bunker and killed three militants.

  Troops shot dead two LTTE militants ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district when both of them were trying to infiltrate cleared areas (area under Government control) through one end of the FDL.

  Soldiers killed a militant in the Chinnavalayankaddu area of Jaffna district and later recovered 25 APMs.

  London's Metropolitan Police arrested three suspects in London and Wales for allegedly supporting the LTTE in Sri Lanka as a part of an investigation into the funding of the terrorist group. Two suspects, aged 46 and 39, were detained in the Welsh county of Powys, while a 33-year old man was arrested in London's Mitcham area by the Metropolitan Police.

• April 28: One civilian, identified as U. Jayawardhana, was killed when his motorbike hit a LTTE laid claymore mine at Yakawewa in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE building complex, adjacent to the Iranamadu air strip of the outfit.

  The police recovered a powerful bomb from the central bus stand at Galgamuwa area in the Kurunegala district.
  
  Three LTTE militants were killed when the troops launched attacks towards the outfit’s bunkers in the Kaddupulan and Kattikulam areas of Mannar district.

  During a clash between the two sides in the areas north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, the SFs killed two militants while injuring six others. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and two of their bunkers were destroyed by the SFs near the Nagarkovil FDL in Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE attack in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district.

  Unidentified assailants lobbed a hand grenade at a house of a candidate, contesting from the Eeleawar Democratic Front in the provincial council elections in the Eastern Province scheduled to be held on May 10, in the Pooncholai area of Batticaloa district. Three persons, including two women, inside the house sustained injuries due to the explosion. However the candidate was unharmed.

  Three soldiers engaged in clearing operations were injured in an LTTE-triggered APM explosion in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district.

• April 27: An LTTE light aircraft bombed military FDLs in Welioya, the military said. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said three bombs were dropped by the LTTE at the military FDLs in Welioya but caused no damages to property or personnel. "At about 1:35 a.m. they came and dropped three bombs on the Welioya Forward Defence line. Nobody was hurt, and no damage to any property," he stated.

  At least 14 LTTE militants were killed and several others injured during clashes that erupted between the troops and the militants at several places in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were also killed while four of them sustained injuries.

  The security forces killed five militants in the area north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district area and recovered a large number of anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive devices. 12 soldiers were injured in these clashes.

  Five more LTTE militants, identified as Yavili, Malarini, Wellappan, Malarmadhi and Manalan, were killed by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.

  The troops in an ambush in the Palampiddi area of Mannar district killed four LTTE militants.

  The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  One soldier was killed in explosions of mines and improvised explosive devices in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Chinnavalayankaddu in the Vavuniya district, the SFs shot dead one LTTE militant while he was trying to infiltrate the general area (area under Government control).

  The troops also killed one militant in the Minukkap area of Mannar district.

• April 26: 21 militants were killed and several others injured when the troops retaliated to an LTTE attempt to storm the SFs defence lines in the area north of Janakapura in Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers were also reported killed in the clashes.

  At least 25 militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when clashes erupted between the troops and the LTTE militants at several places in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. 11 soldiers were reported wounded in the clashes.

  The troops eliminated four LTTE militants who were moving ahead of the security forces FDLs in the areas south of Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in Jaffna district.

  The troops attacked a group of LTTE militants in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

• Aril 25: 26 civilians, including 17 males and seven females, were killed and 40 others injured when the LTTE militants detonated a bomb inside a Ceylon Transport Board bus parked at the public bus stand in Piliyandala suburb of Colombo, at around 7:00 pm on April 25. The explosion took place when the bus stopped at the bus stop during the evening rush hour and was about to leave the bus stand. It was an IED explosion detonated through a time device.

  At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and several others wounded when the troops attacked several LTTE hideouts and captured their trench lines at different places in Mannar and Vavuniya districts. Four soldiers were also reported injured in the clashes.

• April 24: At least 27 militants were killed and about 12 others injured as heavy fighting erupted between the LTTE and the troops in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district when the troops attacked and captured outfit’s fortified bunker line and a trench line. Three soldiers were also killed and seven more injured in the clashes. At least bunkers were neutralised in the operation.

  At Parayanakulam in the Mannar district, the SFs attacked a LTTE bunker with small arms and killed four militants.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and 12 others wounded during confrontations with the troops in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were also injured in these incidents.

  The troops attacked several LTTE hideouts in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district and recovered the dead body of one LTTE female militant, 270 anti personnel mines, six trapped 81-mm mortar bombs, one 60-mm mortar bomb, one T- 56 weapon, one hand grenade.

  One more LTTE cadre was killed by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.

  Two LTTE militants were injured after the SFs opened fire in a group of five militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was also injured in an anti personnel mine explosion in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  SFs after regaining control over the sacred Madhu Church asserted that they have no intention to deploy armed troops to provide security for the Church premises. "Our only intention is to hand over the Church to the relevant Church authority ensuring the security of the Church by deploying our troops out of the sacred area," Lt. Colonel Senerath Bandara, Brigade Commander of the 372 Brigade told the Daily News, adding, "Our next objective is to carry out a proper de-mining programme to clear all anti-personnel mines and booby traps the LTTE."

• April 23: 169 militants and 43 soldiers are reported to have died in a fierce gun-battle between the SFs and the LTTE cadres in and around Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district. While 120 soldiers were wounded in the encounter, 33 soldiers were missing till last reports came in. "LTTE terrorists came and attacked our forward line this morning, we have retaliated and captured about 400 to 500-metres of LTTE area in Muhamalai," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

  At least 16 LTTE militants were killed and more than 31 others injured during encounters in the area north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries during the incidents.

  Five LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters in the Navakkulam, Thachchanamarudamadu, Kirichchuddan and Palampiddi areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. One soldier also received injuries in one of the clashes.

  Nine more militants were killed and three others were wounded during encounters in the Veddayamurippu, Mantota, Mankadu and Pullekyarkulam areas of Mannar district.

• April 22: The SFs killed six LTTE militants at different places in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district. Over 20 militants and five soldiers were injured in these clashes.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed by the troops in separate encounters in the Adampan, Malikaittidal and Adaimurippu areas of Mannar district.

  Clashes were reported from the Palampiddi, Maruthamadu, Pinnawalayankulam and Umayarasawarankulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts in which one LTTE militant was killed while two others were injured.

  The SFs neutralized nine LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed one militant while injuring two others. Five soldiers involved in the attack sustained injuries in explosions of APMs and booby traps planted by the militants around the bunkers.

• April 21: The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the LTTE main operation base in Mannar, codenamed "Lima-3", located east of Kathankulam. A stretch of about 1,300 meters also came under the troops’ control while seven militants were killed in the operation. Four soldiers were wounded in the incident.

  The SFs shot dead a LTTE militant who attempted to infiltrate into the cleared areas (area under Government control) in the Thiriyaya area of Trincomalee district. The SFs later recovered the dead body of the slain militant along with a T-56 weapon and 31 rounds of live ammunition.

• April 20: 13 LTTE militants were killed during separate encounters with the troops in the Kathankulam, Veddayapiru, Veddayampuramkulam, Adampan and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district.

  MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE mortar location and one of the outfit’s forward command posts in the area east of Adampan in the Mannar district. Reports confirmed that 12 militants were killed and an equal number of them wounded in the attack.

  The troops captured two LTTE trenches and shot dead at least five militants during separate clashes in the Andankulam and Puttankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  One Grama Niladhari (village officer) for Pandirippu in the Ampara district, Kandaiyah Nagarasa, and his wife Kanagaratnam Anandi, were shot dead by suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militants inside their home. Kanagaratnam Anandi was also a Grama Niladhari. The 16-year-old daughter of the victims, who was also at home, was left unharmed.

  A Roman Catholic priest and human rights activist, Father Karunaratnam, chairperson of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights, was killed in a roadside bomb blast at Ambalkulam in the LTTE-held territory while he was travelling towards Kilinochchi on April 20, reports Colombo Page. The LTTE in a statement accused the Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lankan Army for the attack. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, however, rejected the outfit’s claims denying any involvement in the event and said the military is not responsible for what is happening in the LTTE controlled areas.

  The SFs launched an attack on an LTTE base in the jungles, north of Kokkuthuduvai, in the Vavuniya district, killing one militant and injuring 11 others.

  Three more groups of LTTE militants moving separately in the jungles north of Kiriibbanwewa were attacked by the troops, killing or wounding at least 19 militants.

• April 19: Four militants were killed when clashes erupted between the LTTE and SFs in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

  The SFs killed two more LTTE militants and injured 16 others in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in the Navathkulama jungle area of Vavuniya district. Two militants were killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops neutralized another LTTE bunker at Illamarudankulam and killed at least two militants in the Vavuniya district. Two more militants were reported wounded in the incident.

  Troops following an encounter with a group of LTTE militants in the Thachchanamatarathamadu area of Mannar district conducted a search and clear operation and recovered the dead body of a female militant along with three T-56 weapons, one radio set, four hand grenades and 38 APMs.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Madhu area. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  The LTTE-triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting a police route clearing patrol in the Pokurani area on Kanniya – Thambalagamuwa road in Trincomalee district.

• April 18: 13 militants were killed and three others injured as the troops launched attacks on LTTE hide outs at Kathankulam and Malikaittidal in the Mannar district. One soldier got wounded in the incident.

  The troops confronted with LTTE militants in the area east of Madhu in the Mannar district and killed 12 militants while inuring eight others.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and 21 others received injuries by the troops during confrontations in the area north of Janakapura, north of Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district. One of the seven injured soldiers died later.

  Five LTTE bunkers were neutralised by the troops in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district. Details are awaited. One soldier, however, was reported injured in the exchange of fire.

• April 17: The troops during clashes with the LTTE in the Andankulam east area of Vavuniya district killed four militants and injured eight others. Two soldiers were also killed while five more sustained injuries in the clashes.

  Six more LTTE militants were killed by the troops in a separate incident in the Andankulam east area of Vavuniya district.

  During another clash between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the SFs killed at least four militants. One trooper was also killed while another was wounded in the clash.

  Four more LTTE militants, including two female cadres, were killed by the troops in the Kattikulam and Tenvadaiyan areas of Mannar district.

  Two Tamil civilians were shot dead by LTTE militants at separate locations in the Jaffna district, Ministry of Defence Website reported. According to Jaffna Police sources, a civilian was shot dead by the militants who stormed into a privately owned communication centre at Browns Road in the Kalladi area. Similarly, another civilian was killed by the militants near the Sinnakaddai market area in Gurunagar.

  The LTTE opened fire towards SFs in the Sulanamaratumadu area, north of Madhu in the Mannar district. The SFs retaliated and killed two female militants.

  At least six militants were killed or injured when the troops attacked groups of LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries during a clash between the two sides in the same area. Two more soldiers were injured in an LTTE triggered improvised explosive device explosion in the Palamoddai area of Mannar district.

  A woman, identified as Vinayagamoorthi Rajeswari, was injured and five houses were badly damaged in the artillery fire triggered by the LTTE, from un-cleared (area not under government control) areas of Palali and Sorampattu, towards the civilian-dominated Ushan village in Jaffna district.

  The troops destroyed an LTTE trapped 81-mm mortar bomb, two 60-mm mortars and several LTTE bunkers during separate clashes in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Andankulam and a few areas to the north of Welioya in the Vavuniya district.

  The Sri Lankan Government said that it will be ready for talks with the LTTE if they eschewed terrorism but has not made any formal contact with the Norwegian peace facilitators on resuming the process of stalled negotiations.

• April 16: The troops killed six LTTE militants and injured nine others during clashes in the Andankulam, Palampiddi, Vinayakankulam, Palamoddai, Kanne Karappu and Periyakulam areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while eight others sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The SFs killed five LTTE militants while injuring 47 others during clashes in the Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district. Nine soldiers were also wounded during the clashes.

  During more clashes between the two sides in the Kaliaddanchan, Manthotam and Vediya Murippu areas of Mannar district, the SFs killed four LTTE militants and injured three others. Two soldiers were injured in these incidents.

  One more LTTE militant was killed and six others wounded when the troops attacked LTTE hideouts near the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers were wounded in the incident.

  One civilian, Yoganadan Wasanthan, was shot at and injured by a suspected LTTE militant in the Sinnakaddai area of Jaffna district.

  Suspected LTTE militants are reported to have destroyed two power transformers in Kandy. The transformers supply power to Yakgahawewa and Panwila areas in Kandy covering over 25,000 households.

  During a routine search conducted on vehicles in the Pethavadiya area of Puttalam district, the police seized a vehicle carrying 663 bags of explosives, each containing 150-gm and seven rolls of 35 ft-long detonator codes. Two persons aboard the vehicle were arrested.

• April 15: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Paleipperumalkadu, Kaddupulan, Vettukkuly, Veddayamurippu and Veppankulam areas of Mannar district. One soldier sustained injuries in one of the clashes.

  Three militants were killed when the troops clashes with LTTE militants in the Navakkulam, Narrikkulam and east of Madhu areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.

  Two soldiers were killed and 12 others sustained injuries in an LTTE artillery and mortar fire attack towards troops in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa, north of Janakapura and Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants in separate incidents near the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district.

  At least 30 LTTE militants were injured during an encounter with the troops in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district.

  Two civil security officers were injured in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district.

• April 14: The SFs launched attacks on a few LTTE hideouts in the area east of Madhu in the Mannar district. Seven militants were killed in one of these attacks.

  During another clash between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura and north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district, five LTTE militants were killed while 11 others were injured. Two soldiers were also killed and seven others sustained injuries in the incident.

  The troops neutralised four LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of the Jaffna district, killing one militant while injuring two others. One soldier was also wounded during the clashes.

  Four soldiers were wounded in an LTTE attack and anti-personnel mine explosions in the Palampiddi, Karampaivillu and Madhu camp areas of the Mannar district.

  The SFs neutralised four LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district, killing one militant while injuring two others. One soldier was also injured in the clashes.

  The Canadian Government issued a Federal Court restraining order against the World Tamil Movement (WTM), a non-profit organization for Canadian Tamils, Canadian media reports said. Counterterrorism police in Quebec and Ontario on April 11 reportedly shut down the WTM office in Montreal alleging that the organization has been raising money to finance terrorist activities in Sri Lanka after a Federal Court judge has issued an order to seal the office. According to the Canadian media, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has accused the WTM of collecting "war taxes" from Canada's large ethnic Tamil community and financing the LTTE war machine in Sri Lanka.

• April 13: The troops killed two LTTE militants in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries in an LTTE mortar fire attack at Ilantaivan in the Mannar district.

  The troops neutralised eight LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed one militant. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them while eight militants were wounded.

  One more LTTE militant was killed while two others wounded by the troops in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  In another encounter, six LTTE militants were injured in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

• April 12: The troops extended their defence line in the areas north of Giant Tank, north Kathankulam, south east of Adampan and Periyakulam in the Mannar district after fierce confrontations with the LTTE. At least 66 militants were killed while over 50 others sustained injuries in the clashes. 10 soldiers were also killed and 20 others got injured in the incident.

  Five LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in clashes with the SFs in the Villattikulam, Vinayagapuram, north of Madhu and Chinnavalayankulam areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Two soldiers were wounded in the incident.

  SFs killed two LTTE militants and wounded over 14 others in clashes in the north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops moving ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district neutralised two LTTE bunkers killing two militants and injuring five others.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade targeting troops at Nelliadi in the Jaffna district, killing one soldier while injuring another.

  One more LTTE militant was killed and two of the outfit’s bunkers were neutralised by the troops during two encounters in the area north of Welioya in Vavuniya district. Three soldiers and two militants sustained injuries in the attack.

  Three more soldiers were wounded in an LTTE attack and the explosion of an anti-personnel mine in the area north of Welioya in Vavuniya district.

  April 11: The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three of them.

  The troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops confronted another group of LTTE militants in the Vinayakankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed two of them.

  A suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militant killed a civilian, identified as Kunam, in the Chiruppiddi area of Jaffna district.

  Another LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  The SFs attacked an LTTE bunker in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district and killed one militant.

  Three soldiers were injured in an encounter with the LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier was injured in the Sulanamaruthamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  Four militants were injured in another attack by the troops in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured two trenches in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring three militants.

  Two more militants were injured in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  At Muhamalai in the Jaffna district, the troops attacked an LTTE bunker and injured three militants.

  LTTE militants and sympathizers who have surrendered are putting pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to arrange for overseas jobs for them, fearing assassination for having deserted the outfit. "We always fear for our life by the LTTE though we have been put up in well guarded buildings," an unnamed former LTTE militant told a group of journalists in Jaffna recently.

• April 10: Five LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised outfit’s bunkers at Udaiyadi in the Mannar district.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the SFs neutralised an unspecified number of outfits’ bunkers, killing three militants while injuring 14 others. Five soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The SFs confronted with a group of LTTE militants in the Ilampiddi area of Mannar district and killed three militants while injuring seven others.

  The troops attacked an LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants. Three more militants got injured in the incident.

  Two more LTTE bunkers were neutralised by the troops in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district, killing three militants.

  The troops attacked and captured one LTTE bunker and two trenches in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One militant was killed and three others got injured in the confrontation.

  Five soldiers of a route clearing team advancing from their new defence line in the Madhu camp area of Mannar district sustained injuries due to the explosion of LTTE laid anti personnel mines and IEDs.

  One soldier was injured when the LTTE militants fired mortars at the troops in the Ramathankulam area.

  Two LTTE militants fired on an Army foot patrol near Nallur town in the Jaffna district, injuring one soldier.

• April 9: The troops killed at least seven LTTE militants during clashes in the Janakapura jungles and Kiriibbanwewa.

  During another encounter between the two sides in the Adampan and areas north of Parappakandal in the Mannar district, the security forces (SFs) killed at least four LTTE militants. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the clashes.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Madhu camp and Sirukulam areas of the same district.

  SFs in the Muhamalai, Kilaly, Ponnar and Eluttumadduwal areas of Jaffna district destroyed several LTTE bunkers, killing at least two militants. One soldier sustained injuries during the clashes.

  One soldier was killed and another wounded in two LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosions in the Madhu area of Mannar district.

  Armoured tanks deployed in and around Ariyalai point in Jaffna after observing the presence of about seven Sea Tiger boats directed 100-mm fire rounds on April 9-morning between 10:20-10:30am, causing one of the boats to explode. The boats were reportedly on a reconnaissance mission with loaded explosives. Less than an hour later, the troops detecting one more LTTE boat in the Jaffna lagoon area opened heavy fire on it. However, troops restrained from further firing since the LTTE boat managed to creep into fishing boats in the seas. Later, the dead body of a suspected LTTE militant was found washed ashore.

  Three soldiers were injured in an LTTE mortar attack in the Sirukulam area of Mannar district.

  Another soldier was injured in an LTTE attack in the Madhu area of Mannar district.

  The troops neutralised LTTE hideouts in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district killing or injuring three militants.

  The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered four hand grenades, two bags and some civil clothes.

  Police recovered a large stock of TNT explosives from Nilagammana in the Kandy district. Approximately 110 pounds of TNT explosive slabs were found on information obtained from an LTTE militant arrested recently who swallowed a cyanide capsule following the arrest. The militant is presently undergoing treatment at the Peradeniya hospital.

  The SFs arrested an LTTE militant along with a hand grenade from Vavuniya town.

  The largest ever 'anti-LTTE' petition, sponsored by the Sri Lanka United Nationals Association, with 1,068 signatures from the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher communities from the Sri Lankan expatriates, was submitted to the House of Commons by Art Hanger, Member of Parliament of Conservative Party.

• April 8: Seven LTTE militants, including two females, were killed by the SFs in the Madhu, Adampan and Veddayamurippu areas of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers and a civilian were killed and one soldier was wounded when a team of army soldiers on a patrol were wrongly identified to be LTTE militants and fired upon by the STF personnel at Komari in the Ampara district.

  At least two LTTE militants were killed and 20 others injured when the troops launched operations in the Kokkuthuduvai, Kiriibbanwewa, Janakapura and Puttankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Eelamaruttankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant while injuring two others.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant and injured two others in an ambush at Ilamaruththankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers engaged in clearing operations in the Madhu and Palampiddi areas of Mannar district sustained injuries in explosions of anti-personnel mines and Improvised Explosive Devices.

  The troops captured a major LTTE camp consisting of six underground bunkers with overhead protection, in the Kokkuthuduvai area, injuring at least five militants. The huge underground base where over 60 persons could be accommodated at a time has been connected to another area with the support of a 15 feet long tunnel. The troops later recovered two claymore mines, three mortar bombs, four water cans, 30 ration containers, 12 milk powder packets and some personal belongings of the militants. It is believed that militants were using this base as a operating point before they directed attacks on the troops.

  The troops neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Eluttumadduwal, Nagarkovil, Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. LTTE bunkers in the Adampan, Palampiddi east and areas north of Madhu camp in the Mannar district were also neutralised by the troops.

  In the Periyakulam area of Mannar district, the SFs destroyed a heavily fortified house occupied by armed LTTE militants. However, no loss of life was reported.

  The troops captured two LTTE trenches in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

• April 7: The LTTE-triggered a claymore mine explosion targeting a STF route clearing patrol at Urasari in the Vavuvathivu area of Batticaloa district. The STF personnel, however, escaped unhurt and in retaliation killed the two militants involved in the explosion.

  The Washington Times reported that the LTTE’s political wing has established its branches in at least 12 countries, including the United States. Citing federal law-enforcement authorities, the report said that the LTTE have quietly established a presence in the US to help bankroll and equip its secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka. "As part of a global expansion to purchase millions of dollars worth of anti-aircraft weapons, automatic rifles, grenade launchers, ammunition and other military equipment, the LTTE has set up its branches," it reported, adding, the expansion includes operations in Maryland, New York and New Jersey.

  Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in the Palampiddi area of Mannar district.

  In another ambush at Chennmaniattuaru, the troops killed four LTTE militants.

  The troops killed three LTTE militants, including one female, in two separate incidents at Thirukethiswaram and Perankulam areas of Mannar district.

  The SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  At Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops captured one LTTE bunker and killed two militants. One soldier was injured in an IED explosion during the operation.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and another sustained injuries in an ambush by the troops at Chinnavittu.

  During another clash that erupted between the two sides in Welioya area of Vavuniya district, one soldier was killed while three others were wounded.

  The SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them. Two other militants were reportedly injured in the incident.

  The troops captured another LTTE bunker in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing or injuring two militants.

  In the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted another group of LTTE militants and injured three female militants. One soldier sustained injuries in the clash.

  Four more LTTE militants were injured when the troops attacked an LTTE hideout in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralized three LTTE bunkers in the Thirukethiswaram and another in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district. Later, one soldier engaged in a reconnaissance mission in the area was injured in an APM explosion.

  Another soldier was injured during a clash with the LTTE militants at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  One more soldier was wounded when an APM exploded in the Chinnavittu area.

• April 6: Sri Lanka Highway Minister and chief government whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 13 others were killed in a suicide attack carried out by the LTTE at a sporting event in the Weliweriya area, about 25-km north of capital Colombo, of Gampaha district. Fernandopulle was about to inaugurate a marathon when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber disguised as a marathon runner blew himself up, killing the Minister and at least 11 others, including National Athletic coach Lakshman De Alwis and Olympic marathon runner and national record holder K.A. Karunaratna. Over 90 people were injured in the blast.

  At least 21 LTTE militants were killed and nine others injured by the troops during separate clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed at least eight LTTE militants in the Adampan, Manikilmarichchi, Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

  Four LTTE militants, including two females, and a soldier were killed clashes between the two sides in the Madhu camp area of Mannar district. One soldier was injured during one of the clashes.

  The troops neutralised three LTTE bunkers and killed four militants in the Malikaittidal area of Vavuniya district.

  During another encounter between the two sides, the SFs killed three LTTE militants in the Chanakakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Karampaikkulam in the Mannar district, the troops killed one LTTE militant.

  Two persons were injured in an LTTE triggered claymore mine explosion at Halmillawetya in the Kebithigollewa area of Anuradhapura district that targeting a combined route clearing team of the Special Task Force and Civil Security Officers.

  Two Ceylon Electricity Board electric transformers at 8th milepost of Arambepura, on the Kandy – Matale road, in the Kandy district were blown up with explosives by suspected LTTE militants.

• April 5: The troops clashed with several groups of LTTE militants in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed at least 14 militants. Four soldiers were injured in these clashes.

  11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Palampiddi, Madhu, Mundipurippu, Nedunkerni and Thirukethiswaram areas of Mannar district. Five soldiers sustained injuries in these clashes.

  An unspecified number of LTTE militants were injured in an encounter with the troops at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district. During three separate attacks in the Muhamalai area, the troops destroyed five LTTE bunkers.

• April 4: The troops neutralised an unspecified number of LTTE bunkers at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed eight militants.

  Army troops with the support of Sri Lanka Air Force attacked several LTTE hideouts at Alankulam and neutralised them. Two militants were killed while eight others were wounded in the attacks.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant and injured three others in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed and another sustained injuries in the incident. Separately, troops operating in the Adampan area of Mannar district killed one LTTE militant.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries in an LTTE-triggered anti-personnel mine explosion in the Madhu and Puliyankulam areas of Mannar district.

  The troops neutralised seven LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• April 3: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

  During another clash between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district, the troops killed four LTTE militants. One soldier also died of gunshot injuries while four others sustained injuries.

  The troops shot dead three LTTE militants near the Omanthe Entry/Exit point area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area. One soldier was killed during the operation.

  The SFs confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed one militant while others managed to escape. The SFs later recovered one T-56 weapon, three T-56 magazines and one harness kit from the possession of the slain militant who had a cyanide capsule around his neck.

  Priests at Madhu Church in Mannar transferred the Sacred Statue of Our Lady of Madhu to a safer place following a virtual takeover of the Church premises by the LTTE, reports from un-cleared areas (area not under government control) said.

  Three LTTE militants surrendered to the troops at Kattaiadampan camp in the Mannar district.

• April 2: The troops advanced another 800 metres into the LTTE-held territory neutralising the outfit’s FDLs in the Kaliaddanchan village of Mannar district, said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. "The fierce fire fight lasted for an hour and a half and troops advancing on the LTTE frontlines gained 800 meters of Tiger territory in the confrontation. Thirteen Tiger cadres were injured in the confrontation", he added. One soldier was also killed while 12 others were injured during the clashes.

  The SFs in the newly captured Sinapandivirichchan area of Vavuniya district foiled an attempt by the LTTE to re-capture one of their bunkers in the area. In retaliatory action, the troops killed at least 11 militants and injured five others. Two soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries during the encounter.

  The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Nikawewa area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring two others.

  Three militants were either killed or injured by the troops when they attacked an LTTE hideout in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  Suspected LTTE militants killed a man and his son when they had gone to collect firewood in the Anuradhapura district.

  The troops, after heavy resistance, captured an LTTE bunker and one of their trenches in the deep jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured during this incident.

  The SFs foiled an attempt by the LTTE to attack the troop’s positions in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Suspected LTTE militants reportedly stormed a grocery in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and looted 10 milk packets, 15 bottles of soft drinks, 44 biscuit packets, 30-kgs of rice and 30 coconuts after threatening the shop-keeper, the Palamoddai Police said.

  The LTTE had employed its cadres to give threatening calls to certain leading Colombo businessmen to extort money, Colombo Crime Division (CCD) officers informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate. The CCD report said the anonymous callers had asked businessmen to provide accommodation to their operatives in their houses or to pay money to the LTTE.

• April 1: At least 21 LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a bunker line of the outfit at Pikkulam in the Mannar district. 12 soldiers were injured during the operation.

  21 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops at Puthukulam in the Mannar district.

  The troops in the Sulanamaruthamadu and other areas of Vavuniya and Mannar district killed 12 LTTE militants. Five soldiers were injured due to the explosion of LTTE laid booby traps.

  The SFs neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Malikaittidal area of Vavuniya district and killed at least five militants.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the area north of Manthai in the Mannar district, the troops killed four LTTE militants.

  One LTTE militant was killed and eight sustained injuries when the troops neutralised a bunker line of the outfit in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Eight soldiers were wounded in the LTTE mortar fire during the operation.

  The troops neutralised four LTTE hideouts in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Six militants were injured in the incident.

  Five LTTE militants were injured when the SFs neutralised LTTE bunkers in the Maruthamadu area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE opened 120-mm artillery fire at the Murunkan hospital causing heavy damage to the building, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. However, no casualties were reported.

  Catholic priests at the Madhu Church have reportedly confirmed that the LTTE had directed mortar fire to the Church premises twice.

  The SLAF jets bombed and neutralized an LTTE base camp at Pyramidal in the Mullaitivu district.

• March 31: A tractor carrying LTTE militants was fired upon by the troops in the Mundimurichchikulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops confirmed that six militants were killed in the incident.

  Four militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, at least four female LTTE militants were killed by the troops.

  Two soldiers were killed while an equal number of them were wounded in APM and IED explosions in the Periyavalayankadu, Karampaivillu and Karampaivillu areas.

  The troops captured two LTTE bunkers in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district, killing two militants.

  The SFs also shot dead two militants in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district.

  SFs neutralised 17 LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, killing one militant.

  Three soldiers were wounded in APM and IED explosions triggered by the LTTE in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE mortar fire at Kattikulam.

• March 30: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during three separate encounters in the Malikaittidal, Veddayamurippu and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

  The troops destroyed an LTTE bunker in the north of Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed two militants. Two militants were also injured in the incident.

  The troops shot dead an LTTE militant, identified as Iravendran, in an encounter in the area east of Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Periyavalayankadu area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE-triggered APM explosion in the area northeast of Madhu in the Mannar district.

  Another explosion of an LTTE laid APM in the area northwest of Kiruchuddan Kulam in the Vavuniya district injured one soldier.

  A soldier sustained injuries when LTTE militants opened fire on the troops in the Kathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter carried out an aerial attack and neutralised a Sea Tiger base at Chilawatta in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu district.

  Prapa Thambithurai, a 45-year-old satellite dish installer who emigrated from Sri Lanka two decades ago and now living in a suburban duplex north of Toronto in Canada, is alleged to be a bagman for the LTTE. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested Thambithurai on March 14-night in New Westminster. Police seized more than $1,000 in cash as well as pledge forms, Thambithurai told the National Post in his first public comments since his arrest. The RCMP said in a press release that he was "targeting residents of the Lower Mainland of Tamil heritage to make cash donations to support the LTTE."

• March 29: At least 11 LTTE militants were killed during separate clashes with the troops in the Madhu area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while four others were injured in these clashes.

  At least 10 LTTE militants were killed as the troops captured an area of about 700-metre in the Ilantaivan region of Mannar district. Two outfit’s bunkers were also neutralised in the incident.

  Three soldiers were killed and four others injured during clashes with the LTTE militants in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district. One militant was also killed while an unspecified number of them sustained injuries during the clashes.

  The troops observed a movement of a group of LTTE militants in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district and opened fire. Four militants were confirmed killed in the troop’s firing.

  Deputy Chairman of the Moneragala local council, A. Muththulingam, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. According to the sources the victim, who was a doctor, was at his clinic in the Moneragala town when he was assassinated.

  An LTTE women music group has cut a disc titled 'Sparks of earthquake' that highlights through a song the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka. The cassette was released recently at Kilinochchi. The CD was released in the institute, named after Sencholai, one of the earliest female militant to die in the battle field. The first cassette was presented to Shankar, whose two brothers were killed while fighting with the Sri Lankan army, the report said.

• March 28: Nine militants were killed during two separate clashes that ensued after the troops confronted two LTTE movements in the Kaduruvitankulam and Periyathampane areas of the Vavuniya district.

  During two separate confrontations between the two sides in the Nagarkovil and Eluttumadduwal areas of Jaffna district, the troops killed seven militants. One female militant was among the slain militants, troops at Eluttumadduwal confirmed.

  Another militant was killed in an encounter in the Thirukethiswaram area of Mannar district.

  At least eight LTTE militants were injured when troops opened fire towards an LTTE hideout in the Puttankulam area of Mannar district.

  The troops advanced towards the LTTE-held areas in the Kilaly region of Jaffna district and inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit, though the details are awaited. One bunker was reportedly neutralized by the troops.

  Five soldiers sustained injuries in an LTTE attack in the Mannar district.

  Two soldiers on clearing operations in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district sustained injuries due to the explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap.

  The troops repulsed an LTTE attack in the Iramtyankulam area and subsequently recovered one T-56 mark III weapon, two hand grenades, one T-56 magazine, 30 rounds of T-56 ammunition, two solar panels, one DC electricity storage system box, a few rechargeable batteries and one LTTE pack from the area.

• March 27: At least nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. One army officer was also killed while three soldiers got injured in the incident.

  The troops neutralised an LTTE hideout in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district, killing four militants. One soldier was also killed while three others were injured in the incident.

  Five more LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised an LTTE bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured.

  The troops retaliated to an LTTE attack in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed at least three militants. Two of the outfit’s bunkers were also destroyed in the incident.

  Two civilians were killed while another sustained injuries when suspected LTTE militants opened fire towards them in Ampara.

  At the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district, the troops neutralised two LTTE bunkers and killed two militants while injuring four others.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants during an encounter in the Madhu area of Mannar district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards troops and killed one soldier in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was killed due to the explosion of an LTTE laid booby trap in the area south of A-9 road in the Kilaly region of Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were injured in two separate LTTE-triggered APM explosions in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district..

• March 26: The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed seven of them. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  Four soldiers were killed and eight others sustained injuries following accidental APM explosions in the Sulanamaruthamadu, Adampan and Koilmoddai areas of Mannar district while they were clearing the areas.

  At Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted two groups of LTTE militants and killed at least two of them. Two soldiers were killed while three others sustained injuries during the clashes. The troops later recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants along with one T-56 weapon.

  The SFs retaliated and rescued eight fishermen when they detected a group of people trying to come out of a jungle patch three-kilometre east of Omanthai in the Vavuniya district under heavy small arms fire by the LTTE militants. Three of the escapees were killed while another three sustained injuries in the LTTE attack.

  The troops shot dead three LTTE militants at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured an LTTE bunker, killing at least two militants at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops captured an LTTE bunker in the at Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and during subsequent search operation recovered one decomposed dead body of a LTTE militant along with one T-56 weapon and six hand grenades.

• March 25: The 11 sailors who went missing when a locally–built fast attack craft of the Sri Lanka Navy was caught in a LTTE-triggered sea mine explosion in the Nayaru Sea off Mullaitivu coast on March 22, are reported to have died.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  The troops naturalised a LTTE bunker in the jungles north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing at least four militants who were inside the bunker.

  Air Force Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya reiterated that intelligence sources confirmed three LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in an air raid carried out by the SLAF at the Sea Tiger Coordinating Centre located in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district on March 22.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed two militants. Two other militants were injured in the incident.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants who were trying to infiltrate into the troop held areas in the west of Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The SFs recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE militants from the Kattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured due to the explosion of a LTTE booby trap in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  A cluster of LTTE boats launched form the Nayaru area in Mullaitivu district proceeding towards Pulmude was intercepted and attacked by naval craft. The LTTE boats thereafter retreated under heavy gunfire towards Nayaru. The intercepted communication among senior LTTE militants revealed that one boat was heavily damaged and was towed to the Nayaru lagoon. Nayaru, an active LTTE hideout for Sea Tiger movement, has been used by the militants in the last several years to direct attacks against the security forces.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE arsenal and equipment storage in the Udayankattu area, west of Mullaitivu.

  Police arrested five LTTE suspects along with four kilograms of C-4 explosives, 10 electric detonators and four time devices from a house in the Aluth Mawatha area in Colombo district.

  Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara informed that more than 501 LTTE militants have been killed in the last 20 days and that an unknown number of militants and 223 soldiers have been injured in clashes from March 5 to March 24. 50 soldiers died during this period. Nanayakkara also said military operations were continuing in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna district's Muhamalai area. "The Security Forces have been successful in capturing 31 square kilometres of territory south of the A14 road in Mannar," he added. He said so far this year some 115 bodies of militants have been handed over with 11 more bodies to be delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

• March 24: Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers were injured in the incident.

  The troops neutralised four LTTE gun positions and killed one militant in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  Three soldiers were injured in an LTTE-triggered anti-personnel mine explosion in the Ramanathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops extended their FDL, north of Kiriibbanwewa by about 500-meters forcing LTTE militants operating in the area to further northward. At least five militants were injured in the incident.

  Troops attacked LTTE positions on A-9 road in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and destroyed at least five bunkers.

  The Vavuniya police foiled an LTTE attempt to abduct the area manager of a leading local insurance company for ransom. The victim, Sugath Prasanna, was on his way to attend a function in Thirunaikulam when he was abducted by LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militants. Police later arrested four militants from Niddur in the Pampaimadu area and also seized two motorbikes, one hand grenade, one pistol and one magazine with seven rounds of ammunition from the possession of the militants, one of whom unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide swallowing the cyanide capsule.

  The troops killed seven LTTE militants in the area south of Madhu in the Mannar district.

  The Colombo High Court Judge, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe issued notice on the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, Intelligence Wing leader Pottu Amman, Charles Master and Komadee Manimekala in connection with the assassination (August 12, 2005) of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

  Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake stated that the LTTE maintains links with international terrorist groups such as the PKK and certain affiliates of al Qaeda. He also said that certain reports mentioned about Tamil youths receiving training in Palestinian camps in Syria and Lebanon.

• March 23: Two LTTE militants trying to launch an attack on the troops were shot dead in the Kathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  10 LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during clashes in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. Six of the slain militants were inside a bunker when the Rocket Propeller Gun fire completely destroyed it.

  The troops killed at least six LTTE militants during intermittent fighting that erupted in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed five LTTE militants in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district.

  During an encounter in the Malikaittidal area of Mannar district, the troops killed one LTTE cadre.

  The troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the area south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district and killed one militant who was trying to infiltrate.

  At Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead one LTTE militant.

  The troops on search and clear operations in the Sirukulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district recovered one decomposed dead body of an LTTE militant.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries due to APM explosions in the Ramanathankulam, Koilmoddai and Karampaikkulam areas of Mannar district.

  Another soldier was wounded when a booby trap exploded in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops foiled an attempt by the LTTE to infiltrate the security force’s FDL in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district after overrunning six of the outfit’s bunkers.

  An LTTE van laden with explosives was seized by the STF personnel from the Kanchkudichchiaru area of Ampara district.

• March 22: At least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured as the troops successfully responding to heavy resistance by the militants moved forward and captured an area of about one square kilometer in the Periyakulam and Ilantaivan regions, north of Uyilankulam in the Mannar district. Four soldiers were also killed while 16 others sustained injuries.

  At least 13 LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the areas southwest of Madhu and Kallikulam in Mannar district.

  Seven more LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by the troops during clashes between the two sides in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were killed while seven others sustained injuries during the incident.

  During two separate encounters, the troops killed four LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district.

  At Kokkuthuduvai and Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three LTTE militants.

  The troops in an encounter killed two more LTTE militants in the area south of A-9 road in the Jaffna district.

  During another encounter between the two sides at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, one soldier was killed while two others were injured.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant in the area north of A-9 road in the Jaffna district.

  In three separate incidents in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district, four soldiers were wounded.

  A locally–built fast attack craft (FAC) of the SLN was caught in a LTTE-triggered sea mine explosion in the Nayaru Sea, off Mullaitivu, when the SLN was conducting a sea patrol in the area. The SLN troops later rescued six sailors while a search was on to trace the 10 other sailors who were aboard the damaged FAC. Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net claimed that the navy boat was sunk after a suicide attack by the outfit.

• March 21: The troops attacked and captured a LTTE strong point and bunker complex north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, killing three militants. Six soldiers were also injured in the confrontation.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed and 22 others injured during another confrontation between the two sides in the Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were killed and six others injured when an army vehicle carrying troops was caught in an explosion of an LTTE pressure mine in the South Bar area of Mannar district.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants near the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Two more LTTE militants, including a female cadre, were killed by the troops in two separate incidents in the area north of Kiruchuddan and Pandivirichchen in the Vavuniya district.

  One soldier who was wounded in an APM explosion in the area south of Malikaittidal area of Mannar district later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital.

  Four soldiers were wounded in small arms fire and explosions of IEDs and APM in the Villattikulam, Periyavalayankadduvankulam and Mantota areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured in an IED explosion in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

• March 20: The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Pandivirichchen area of Vavuniya district and killed at least four LTTE militants.

  During another attack in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed at least four more LTTE militants.

  The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them while injuring three others in the area of north of Janakapura. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed while two others sustained injuries when the troops attacked another group of militants in the Veddayamurippu area of Mannar district.

  The troops observed a LTTE militant near a bunker in the Navakkulam area of Vavuniya district and shot him dead.

  Another LTTE militant was killed by the troops in an encounter in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  One army officer and a soldier were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE planted IED in the Pandivirichchen area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops observed two LTTE militants near the Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and opened fire, injuring the duo.

  One soldier got injured in an LTTE laid IED explosion in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier got injured due to the explosion of an IED in the Ramanathankulam area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier sustained injuries due to the explosion of an LTTE laid anti personnel mine in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  One more soldier was injured in a LTTE fire in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has ordered its proxy political party, the TNA, not to contest the forthcoming Provincial Council elections in the Eastern Province. Meanwhile, the LTTE political wing leader B. Nadesan ordered the TNA parliamentarians to agitate at diplomatic missions in Colombo and complain that the government was violating human rights and also to speak against the ongoing conflict.

• March 19: Eight LTTE militants were killed and two of their bunkers destroyed in an ambush carried out by the Army Special Infantrymen at Kottakkarankulam, West of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Soldiers also destroyed two LTTE bunkers and killed another three militants, he added.

  The troops repulsed an attack by the LTTE in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants. Three other militants were injured in the incident.

  The troops ambushed a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three more militants.

  Two more militants were killed in an encounter by the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Kokkutoduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked another group of LTTE militants and killed two of them while injuring two others.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant about 100-meters ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The troops laid an ambush and observed three militants who were trying to evacuate the dead body of their slain colleague. Troops later opened fire towards them killing or injuring two of the militants.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant and injured another near the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  SFs killed one LTTE militant about 150-meter ahead of the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  The SFs attacked a LTTE bunker in the Kirchudankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant.

  The troops attacked another LTTE bunker in the area north of Kallikulam and killed one more militant, identified as Sriralan, and wounded two others.

  At Adampan in the Mannar district, SFs killed one LTTE militant.

  At Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district, the SF personnel attacked LTTE militants with RPGs and small arms. At least two to three militants were either killed or wounded.

  Two LTTE militants were wounded when the troops opened fire towards them in the Silvayankulam area of Vavuniya district.

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

• March 18: At least four LTTE militants were killed and several others injured when the troops attacked and neutralised a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops attacked two LTTE camps in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants while injuring another.

  The troops observed movement of LTTE cadres in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district and subsequently killed two militants while one soldier was injured.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE attack in the Munkilmurichchan area of Mannar district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in an encounter at the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district.

  The troops recovered decomposed dead bodies of nine LTTE militants, including five females, from dense jungles in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the troops engaged in liberating the Wanni front launched an attack on the LTTE front-lines in Periyapanndivirichchan on March 8.

• March 16: At least 12 LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate encounters in the Pandivirichchen, Villattikulam, Kallikulam, Kappankulam and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya and Periyakulam area of Mannar district. A few LTTE bunkers used for artillery, RPG and mortar firing were also destroyed during the clashes.

  The troops attacked and captured a LTTE camp in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district, killing five militants and injuring 20 others. Two soldiers were also killed during the clashes while eight others received injuries.

  The troops foiled two infiltration attempts by the LTTE towards the second line of the defense of the troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants.

  Three militants were killed as clashes erupted between the troops and a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a separate encounter in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  One police constable was shot dead by a LTTE ‘pistol gang’ militant in the Periyakulam area of Mannar district.

  One soldier was killed in a LTTE fire at Periyakulam in the Mannar district.

  The troops sniped a LTTE bunker in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, killing one militant.

  Two soldiers were injured in a LTTE fire at Adampan in the Mannar district.

  Another soldier sustained injuries due to the explosion of a LTTE IED at Sinapandivirichchan.

  The troops retaliated a LTTE fire in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Similarly, troops retaliated another LTTE fire in the same area. Details of the incidents are yet to be ascertained.

  One LTTE cadre was arrested from the eastern jungle terrain at Buddhangala in the Thonigala area of Ampara district.

• March 15: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during a confrontation in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Four soldiers were reported killed and three others injured during another confrontation between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed four LTTE militants during confrontations in the Adampan and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar district. One soldier also sustained injuries in the Malikaittidal incident.

  The troops having observed four LTTE militants in the Navakkulam and Kirchudankulam areas of Vavuniya district opened fire and shot them dead.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops in an encounter killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was also injured in the confrontation.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed by the troops at Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured.

  An army vehicle came under LTTE claymore mine attack while it was moving in the Murukattapallai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was killed and four others received injuries in the blast.

  One soldier was reportedly injured during confrontation with the LTTE militants at Kambiliwewa in the Vavuniya district. During the subsequent search operation, the troops recovered the dead of one LTTE militant.

  Troops shot dead a LTTE militant at the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  An unidentified gunman shot dead an ex-LTTE militant in the Kanniya area of Trincomalee district.

  The troops recovered a decomposed dead body of a LTTE militant from Udayanathankulam area in the Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF fighter jets neutralized an LTTE training base in the jungle area northeast of Vishvamadu in the Iranamadu region of Kilinochchi district. A statement by the SLAF said, "The enemy target had been under constant surveillance and latest air reconnaissance information has revealed intensified terrorist activity in the area. The LTTE training facility was left in rubble as pilots returned following the precision air sortie at around 6.10 a.m. The LTTE is yet to reveal casualty figures."

• March 14: The troops during two separate attacks captured four LTTE bunkers and killed four militants in the Kallikulam and Malikaittidal areas of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were injured during the clashes.

  The troops attacked an LTTE strong point in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit. Thought the exact detail of the outfit’s casualties are yet to be ascertained, the troops confirmed that three soldiers were killed while seven others got injured in the ensuing gun battle.

  The troops confronted another group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  One LTTE was killed by the troops at the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops in the Welioya area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and during subsequent search and clear operation recovered the dead body of militant.

  Five soldiers sustained injuries due to the LTTE Rocket Propeller Grenade and mortar fire in the areas north of Karampaikkulam in the Vavuniya district and Adampan in the Mannar district.

  The troops retaliated and inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE militants when they opened fire towards the troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district. However, details of the incident area yet to be ascertained.

  The troops attacked a group of LTTE militants who were moving in the Thirukeshwaram area of Mannar district.

  Troops arrested one LTTE militant from the Parakaramapura area in the Trincomalee district and recovered several items from his possession, including one cyanide capsule, clothes and food items.

• March 13: Eleven LTTE militants were killed during several clashes between the troops and militants in the Karukkakulam, Nedunkandal, Vannakulam and Ilantaivan areas of Mannar district.

  Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another confrontation that occurred in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants during an encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The STF personnel observed a group of LTTE militants moving in the Rottekulam area on the Siyabalanduwa - Pothuvil road of Ampara district and fired on them. During the subsequent search operation in the area the STF personnel recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant along with one night vision, two radio sets, one pistol and some ration packets.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries due to the explosion of LTTE anti personnel mines in the Koilmoddai and Karampaikkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured due to the explosion of LTTE anti personnel mines at Periyakulam in the Mannar district and north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

• March 12: Nine LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured when the troops attacked three bunkers of the outfit in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries.

  The troops fired on a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district and completely destroyed the tractor, killing six militants.

  Four LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a gun position of the outfit in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops killed three LTTE militants during an encounter in the Karampachchikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Janakapura in Vavuniya district, the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants who were taking cover behind a bunker. In the ensuing gun battle the troops neutralised the bunker and killed three militants.

  Troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Sivarayankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least two militants.

  At Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked a LTTE base injuring or killing at least nine militants and also recovered three claymore mines.

  During another attack on a LTTE bunker in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district, the troops either injured or killed at least 3-4 militants.

  Troops during clearing operations at Karampaikkulam in the Vavuniya district recovered a highly decomposed dead body of a female LTTE militant along with one Icom set and one T-56 weapon.

  10 militants were inured when the troops attacked a LTTE strong point in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  A soldier got injured due to the explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  A group of Tamil fishermen are alleged to have been abducted and held captive by the LTTE, while fishing in waters off Vedithalthivu, North of Mannar. Four fishermen out of five who have gone fishing were reportedly abducted by the militants.

  Police arrested a teacher in Kandy who is alleged to have had connections with the LTTE intelligence wing. The teacher is suspected to have received training from the outfit and is reported to have attended the funeral of the outfit’s political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvam who was killed in an air strike in November 2007.

• March 11: The troops in a pre-dawn attack captured the immediate surroundings adjacent to the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates under their control after advancing about 500 meter to the east. Four militants were killed while three soldiers sustained injuries in the fight.

  The troops operating ahead of the Maruthamadu FDL in the Vavuniya district killed five LTTE militants.

  The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants, including the team leader Tallavan.

  Three more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers were wounded due to the explosion of an improvised explosive device in the Karampaikkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  An LTTE suspect was arrested in connection with the Wellawatte bomb blast on March 10-morning, which killed a civilian and injured six others, including four school children, said Officer in Charge Wellawatte (Colombo) Mangala Dehideniya.

  A case was filed against LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, its Intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman and another three former outfit cadres before the Colombo High Court in connection with the former Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar assassination. The Attorney General filed the case against Velupillai Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman alias Shiva Shankar, Charles alias Charlis Master, Komadee Manimekala alias Madee, Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu for conspiring with another LTTE member Vinothan to assassinate Minister Kadirgamar and committing the murder as a result of the conspiracy.

• March 10: One civilian was killed and four others were injured in an IED explosion in the Wallawatta area on Colombo-Galle road.
  
  At least 26 LTTE militants, mostly females, were killed and three others injured by the troops during clashes in the Puliyankulam area of Mannar district. One soldier was also killed while 13 others were wounded during the clashes.

  The troops attacked a LTTE camp in the Karampaikulam area of Mannar district and neutralized two of their bunkers and cleared a few trenches. Army’s artillery and mortar fire is reported to have inflicted heavy casualties to the outfit, though the exact details are yet to be confirmed. However, ground troops confirmed that four soldiers were killed while two others sustained injuries during the clash.

  The LTTE militants directed 60-mm mortar fire on troop positions in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring two soldiers. In the retaliatory fire, the troops killed at least four militants.

  At Navathkulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants and killed at least one militant.

  One soldier was injured due to the explosion of an LTTE mine the Periyavalayankadukulam area of Mannar district.

• March 9: The LTTE released two pictures of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran paying his respects to the TNA parliamentarian K. Sivanesan, who was killed in an explosion on March 6, at an undisclosed destination in the outfit’s-controlled Wanni area.

• March 8: The troops killed 13 LTTE militants during confrontations in the Udayanatankulam, Karampaikkulam, Palaimoddai, Palaikuli, Periyavalayankaddukulam and Perankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  10 LTTE militants were killed and several others injured during a fierce gun battle with the troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and four others got injured in the incident. The SLAF also participated in the operation.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kilaly and Muhamale areas of Jaffna district. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the encounters.

  Three soldiers were killed during clashes with the LTTE militants at Udayanatankulam, Sulainamarutamadu and Ampan areas of Mannar district.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and one of their gun positions and two bunkers were neutralized by the troops in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed during encounters with the troops in Welioya region of Vavuniya district.

  Three soldiers were injured the explosion of an LTTE claymore mine on the old Buttala road in the Hambantota district. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  Four soldiers were injured due to LTTE fire and anti personnel mine explosions in the Karampaikkulam and Udayantankulam areas of Mannar district.

• March 7: Six LTTE militants were killed during sporadic clashes in the Veddamkulam, Karampikulam, Madhu camp area, Periyawalandykulam, Tiruketishwara in the Mannar district.

  Four LTTE militants were reported killed during an attack by the troops at Kollmoddai in the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries after being attacked by the LTTE militants at Pebbankulam and Adampan areas in the Mannar district.

• March 6: The TNA parliamentarian K. Siwaneshan, representing the Jaffna district was killed in an explosion in the Kanagarayankulam area on the Mankulam-Mallavi road of Kilinochchi district. The pro- LTTE Website Tamil Net, however, alleged that K. Siwaneshan was killed in a claymore mine attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army’s Deep Penetration Unit on A-9 road, 30-minutes after he crossed into Vanni through Oamanthai / Puliyangkulam entry point. His driver was also killed in the attack. The military, however, said no operations were being carried out there at that time.

  The troops operating on the Mannar front captured an area of 1.8 kilometre held by the LTTE in the Parappakandal region between Giant tank and Uyilankulam Andankulam road. According to sources, the troops captured this area without any casualties as LTTE militants abandoned their positions with the advance of the troops into the territory where more than eight heavily fortified bunkers were located.

  At least 12 LTTE militants were killed during a fierce gun battle that erupted between the two sides in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also killed while 10 others sustained injuries.

  12 more LTTE militants were killed and their trench line destroyed by the troops during their operation to capture Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

  The troops during confrontations with group of LTTE militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan, Kallikulam and Mundimurippu areas of Mannar district killed seven militants.

  Four more LTTE militants and two soldiers were killed when the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were also injured during the clash.

  The troops attacked and destroyed one LTTE bunker ahead of their FDL (at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district and killed three militants.

  Six soldiers were injured during separate confrontations between the two sides in the Adampan and Kaduthaddamalai areas of Mannar district.

  Another soldier was injured due to LTTE anti personnel mine explosion while the troops were conducting clearing operations in the areas closer to the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district.

• March 5: The troops attacked an identified LTTE bunker in the Manthota area of Mannar district and killed five militants. One soldier was also killed while three more sustained injuries in the incident.

  The troops attacked another LTTE bunker in the Periyapantichchan area of Vavuniya district and killed five more militants. One soldier got injured in the incident.

  The troops killed four more LTTE militants during a confrontation that occurred in the Karampaikulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also received injuries during the clash.

  During another confrontation between the twos sides at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  At Karampaikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed two militants. Two soldiers and two militants also sustained injuries during the confrontation.

  One more LTTE militant was killed when the troops operating at the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district opened fire at a group of militants who were constructing bunkers in their defence line.

  The troops on a search operation recovered the decomposed dead bodies of two LTTE militants from the Pallekkuli area of Mannar district.

  One soldier was killed and another sustained injuries in an LTTE-triggered improvised explosive device explosion in the Eluwankulama sector of the Puttalam sector.

  In an encounter between the two sides in the Nochchikulam area of Mannar district, the troops killed one militant.

  Two policemen were injured when LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine targeting police personnel who were engaged in a route clearing patrol at Madukanda in the Vavuniya district. The explosion also damaged the high-tension power distribution line providing electricity to the area.

  Two soldiers were injured due to the explosion of a LTTE IED in the south of Muhamalai region in the Jaffna district.

• March 4: Army troops took under control Pallaikuli east and a LTTE cross-loading point on the Uyilankulam-Andankulam road in Mannar district (about 2.5 sq km in total). Troops reportedly broke into the LTTE dominated Pallaikuli east area and killed seven militants, including three women cadres, and injured five others.

  The troops attacked a LTTE bunker in the Palaimodai area of Mannar district and killed at least three militants.

  The troops neutralized another LTTE bunker in the Vilattikulam area of Vavuniya district, killing three militants.

  The troops destroyed a LTTE fire position in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed one militant.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Vedamakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Karamakkulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Super Sonic jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed the Kalmunai point in Pooneryn in the Jaffna district and its surrounding LTTE hideouts, from where militants used to direct artillery and mortar fire.

• March 3: The troops neutralized a LTTE bunker in Chettikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed five cadres. Four soldiers are reported to have been wounded in the incident.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops near a bunker in the jungles in Navathkulam in the Vavuniya district.

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

  In another encounter in Udayanatankulam of Vavuniya district, two militants were killed and two others were injured.

  Three soldiers were wounded in a LTTE mortar attack at Kovilmoddai and in an anti-personnel mine explosion in Karampaikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Fighter craft of the Sri Lankan Air Force bombed an LTTE transmission center at Kulamirippu, about six km northwest of Oddusuddan junction in the Mullaithivu district. According to Air Force sources, the transmission centre with its tower was completely destroyed in the attack.

• March 2: Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in a clash that occurred in the general area of Kokkuthuduwai in the Vavuniya district. Two soldiers were killed while 10 others sustained injuries during the clash.

  The troops at Kallikulam in the Mannar district attacked a LTTE hideout with Rocket Propeller Grenades and killed at least six militants. One soldier was also killed in the incident.

  Troops attacked a group of militants in the Kovilmadu area of Vavuniya district and killed five of them. At least nine more militants were reportedly wounded in the incident.

  One soldier was killed when the LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting the troops in the Pampaimadu area of Vavuniya district.

  At Vilatikulam in the Vavuniya district, security forces killed one LTTE cadre.

  10 persons, including six civilians, two police personnel, two Civil Defence Force members were injured when the LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine at Sanasa junction on the station road in the Vavuniya district. The claymore mine had been fixed on a pushbike placed near a wayside shop in the densely populated area.

  One soldier was injured in a LTTE mortar towards the troops at Periyapantrichurichchan in the Vavuniya district.

• March 1: Nine LTTE militants were killed by the troops during separate confrontations between the two sides in the Navakkulam, Mullikulam and Kallikulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Kilaly, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed five militants. One soldier was also killed during the confrontation.

  During another clash that erupted between the two sides in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district the troops killed two LTTE militants. One soldier was killed while another sustained injuries during the incident.

  The troops launched an attack on an LTTE strong point in the area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed two militants. During exchange of fire, one soldier was killed while four others sustained injuries.

  Two more clashes erupted in the Sirukulam and Adampan areas of Mannar district in which the troops killed two LTTE militants. One soldier also got injured in the incident.

  The troops attacked an LTTE point closer to Madhu junction in the Mannar district and killed at least one militant.

• February 29: Seven LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes that erupted in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops neutralized four LTTE bunkers in the Kokkuthuduvai and Andankulam areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  The troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter at Vallaikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and destroyed eight bunkers killing five militants.

  In a separate attack, the troops neutralized eight more newly-erected LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants.

  Seven persons, including three police officers, were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up when police knocked on a house door during an operation targeting LTTE militants in capital Colombo. One of the injured police officers died later. One LTTE suicide jacket, six claymore mines, four hand grenades and one suicide belt were recovered by the police from Modera area of Colombo district couple of hours before the blast.

  Two LTTE militants were killed during another clash between the two sides in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  The troops killed two LTTE militants in the Manthai area of Mannar district.

  During another confrontation that occurred between the two sides at Kommodai in the Mannar district, one soldier was killed and two others got injured.

  The Special Task Force troops killed a LTTE militant in the Wellaveli area of Batticaloa district.

  The LTTE suspect who was responsible for a spate of criminal activities and transformer explosions in the Mundalama and surrounding areas in the recent past was arrested by the police from the Narakkuliya area of Puttalam district.

• February 28: The troops captured the Sinnaodaippu sluice gates and its adjacent areas north of Giant Tank in the Mannar district after an encounter erupted between the security forces and LTTE militants. At least 14 militants were killed and six T-56 weapons were recovered during the incident. Two soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed in three separate attacks carried out by the troops in the Navakkulam and Periyapantrichurichchan areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops attacked two more LTTE targets in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district and killed two militants.

  One soldier was injured due to the explosion of a LTTE booby trap during clearing operations at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed and neutralized an LTTE artillery command centre and an underground bunker at Karampaikkulam, three kilometres southeast of Palali, in the Jaffna district.

  The Kalpitiya police recovered three huge claymore mines, seven hand grenades and one remote controller from a shrub near Kalpitiya lagoon in the Puttalam district.

• February 27: During intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Perankulam, Parappakandal, Karukkakulam, Adampan and Mannar town areas of Mannar district, the troops killed at least 14 more LTTE militants.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralised LTTE bunkers and killed eight militants.

  The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district and killed at least four militants. One soldier is reported to have died in the incident. An LTTE leader, identified as Pandiyan Annayan, was killed by the troops in an encounter in the same area.

  The troops conducting a search in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district recovered the dead body of a female LTTE militant along with one 81-mm mortar trap.

  Six LTTE militants were injured when the troops attacked their bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  After observing a movement of LTTE militants in the same area the troops opened fire towards them and injured one militant leader terrorist leader, identified as Kaveri Malan.

  One soldier was injured in an LTTE attack in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district.

  Another soldier was injured due to the explosion of a LTTE planted APM in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district.

  The Defence Ministry in a report said that the person arrested by police in the Pettah area of Colombo district was a number one LTTE militant allegedly involved in many civilian massacres carried out by the LTTE in the South. The suspect, identified as Muththusami Ilankoowan alias Sami, was arrested on February 25 from a hotel on Kadireshan Road. The suspect owns a shipping line which he uses to promote the LTTE’s cross border terrorist activities and had come to Sri Lanka in 2007 to promote terrorist activities in the South, the report added.

  The military said that since 2006, a total of 6,486 LTTE militants, 1196 military personnel and 982 civilians have been killed, estimating there are now only around 5,000 militants still alive. "Certainly they reflect the forward march of the Forces," said government defence affairs spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

• February 26: 44 detainees having confessed that they were either connected to LTTE or have directly or indirectly aided and abetted the outfit’s cause in the Jaffna peninsula consented to receive rehabilitation after they reached security forces headquarters in Jaffna prisons. During January 2007-February 2008, a total of 317 men and women - 291 males and 26 females - some of who claimed themselves to be LTTE cadres have turned up at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna and wanted to seek protection saying that they were very much harassed, disgusted with the LTTE or exposed to LTTE conscription attempts.
  
  Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Troops also neutralized at least six bunkers of the outfit.

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

  Two motorbike-riding gunmen, suspected to be LTTE militants, shot dead a former Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Council) member, Gopal Koneswararaja, in the Uppuveli area of Trincomalee district.

  One soldier was killed when the LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops carried out a raid on a LTTE bunker in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant while injured another. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  At Muhamalai in the Jaffna district, troops killed one LTTE militant who was moving about 300- m ahead of his own FDL (Forward Defence Line).

  Troops after observing the movement of a LTTE militant, about 600-m ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna disrict, opened fire and shot her dead.

  The troops in Muhamalai area of Jaffna district gunned down one more LTTE militant when he was about to trigger his weapon towards them.

  The troops killed one more LTTE militant in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops retaliated when the LTTE militants opened fire towards them in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The troops destroyed one LTTE bunker and recovered one T-56 weapon and one radio set from the inside of the destroyed bunker in the Perankulam area of Mannar district.

• February 25: At least six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during clashes in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  During another clash that erupted between the two sides when the troops launched an attack on three LTTE bunkers at Koilmoddai in the Mannar district, six combatants, including five militants and a soldier were killed. Two soldiers and two militants were also injured.

  Three LTTE militants were killed during clashes between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed in an LTTE triggered APM explosion at Karampaikkulam in the Mannar district.

  The troops after having observed an LTTE movement in the Thampanai area of Mannar district opened fire at them using small arms. One militant was killed in the firing.

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

  At Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, one soldier was wounded in a LTTE-triggered APM explosion.

• February 24: The troops operating in the Mannar battle front advanced further into the LTTE-held territory on three fronts from Thiruketheeshvaran, Uyilankulam and Pallikuli, an unnamed senior Army official said. "At least 15 to 20 Tiger cadres were killed in these confrontations," the official added. The troops for the first time advanced further North of Thiruketheeshvaran and captured nearly 800-metre stretch during a two-day battle on February 23-24. Also in the Uyilankulam sector troops captured a stretch of more than one-kilometre close to the Uyilankulam tank bund area.

  At least 17 LTTE militants were killed when the troops overran their line of bunkers in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Six soldiers were killed and 16 others sustained injuries in the clashes.

  The Naval intelligence have revealed that three senior Sea Tiger [sea wing of the LTTE] women leaders, including self-styled ‘Lt. Colonel Kalai Arasi’, a woman Sea Tiger instructor and six others had been killed in the air raids carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeting women’s Sea Tiger training camp at Kiranchi in the Kilinochchi district. "Kalai Arasi is also the custodian of the LTTE Sea Tiger fighter craft called "Surali". Many LTTE fighter crafts had been damaged by Air Force bombing," the Media Center for National Security said. It also said that another two senior female Sea Tiger leaders ‘Major’ Thuwarika and ‘Lt.’ Senthamani were killed and nine were wounded due to the air strike. Naval intelligence has also revealed that this location covering 2-km area has been declared by the LTTE as a high security zone prohibited for civilians. The LTTE, as reported earlier, had claimed the air raid killed eight civilians, including three young children, the allegation denied by the SLAF.

  The troops launched an operation to capture LTTE bunkers in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district that killed five militants and injured two others.

  Five LTTE militants were killed during intermittent clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Villattikulam, Chanakakulam and Periyapanndivirichchan areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two TMVP cadres were killed as a LTTE suicide cadre blew himself opposite the Kali Kovil (Temple) in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district. The suicide cadre had apparently jumped onto the motor bike on which the two persons were travelling near Satyavilan road, some 17- kilometres from Batticaloa town. The police spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police N.K. Ilangakone said that police confirmed the persons have been killed due to a suicide blast. "A woman passing by was also admitted to the hospital after sustaining injuries in the incident," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. The TMVP spokesperson Asad Mawulana said the victims were canvassing for the party when they were attacked. The TMVP had organised a public meeting at Kalavanchchikudy, which a few TMVP candidates were due to attend.

  The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets carried out an air strike targeting a LTTE base, used by area leader, five-kilometres north of Giant Tank in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district. "This is believed to be the base of the Mannar area LTTE leader. We are yet to receive confirmation about the damages caused to the LTTE base in the air strike," the Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

• February 23: The troops stormed LTTE bunker line ahead of them in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district and killed at least 11 militants while destroying three bunkers. Five soldiers were also reported injured in the incident.

  At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops stormed one of the outfit’s strong points in the jungle north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. Eight T-56 weapons, two cyanide capsules, one Icom radio set and three hand grenades were also recovered along with dead bodies of the slain militants.

  The troops launched several attacks on LTTE bunker line at Mullikulam and killed seven militants while neutralising a number of their bunkers. An unspecified number of militants and five soldiers were also injured in the clashes.

  The troops stormed a line of LTTE bunkers in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya district and killed seven militants. One soldier was also injured.

  The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants on two occasions in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and one of their bunkers was neutralised by the troops in the Perankulam area of Mannar district. One T-56 weapon was also recovered from the area.

  The troops during an encounter in the Adampan area of Mannar district killed four LTTE militants.

  At Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops attacked LTTE bunkers ahead of them and killed two militants. One soldier who sustained injuries in the incident died later.

  Troops operating in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district shot dead three LTTE militants.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed three of them in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops in the Sulanamaratumadu area of Vavuniya district.

  18 passengers, including an 18-year-old girl, seven women and 10 men passengers were seriously injured in a LTTE-triggered parcel bomb inside a private bus at the centre of Mount Lavinia junction in the Galle district at about 11.15am.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed and neutralised an LTTE military base, 11-kms north east of Oddusudan, in the Mullaitivu district.

• February 22: A fierce gun battle erupted between the two sides when the troops assaulted a group of LTTE militants who were manning a bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. At least seven militants were killed and three others were seriously injured in the incident.

  Six LTTE militants were killed when a fierce gun battle erupted between the two sides in the area north of Welioya sector in the Vavuniya district. Subsequently, the troops recovered dead bodies of the six slain militants along with a Multi Purpose Machine Gun, five T-56 weapons and two radio sets.

  In the Mankindamulai area of Vavuniya district, troops over ran a line of LTTE bunkers while killing at least five militants. One soldier who sustained gun shot injuries succumbed later.

  Troops attacked another LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. One soldier was also injured.

  One more attack on a LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district area by the troops resulted in the death of four more militants. Several T-56 magazines were recovered after the incident.

  Troops in the Mantota area of Mannar district launched an attack on a LTTE strong point in the jungle and gunned down four militants.

  Two LTTE militants who were moving away from a secret hide in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district were gunned down by the troops.

  A soldier was killed in a LTTE mortar attack towards the troops in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  One LTTE militant was killed in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district by the troops.

  One LTTE militant was killed in an encounter by the troops in the area south of A-9 road at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed an inland Sea Tiger base in the Kiranchi area of Kilinochchi district, the SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said. "The target was precisely taken by pilots based on information from ground intelligence sources and air surveillance," Wing Commander Wijesuriya said, adding, "The LTTE was using the inland Sea Tiger base to plan and carry out their activities against the Security Forces." Meanwhile, the LTTE alleged that eight civilians, including three pre-school children, were killed and 10 others were injured, four of them critically, when the SLAF bombed a coastal civilian settlement in the Kiranchi area in Poonahari in the Kilinochchi district. However, the SLAF said it bombed "carefully identified" LTTE targets.

  President Mahinda Rajapakse asserted that following the local government elections due to be held shortly in the East, his government will also take steps to establish democracy and rights to all communities in the land, inclusive of those in the North, according to Daily News. He stressed the importance of providing a political solution, political freedom and then paving a way for development for the people in the North and the East, after its liberation from the LTTE, for a government which is fully committed to fulfil the aspirations of all communities.

  Virtually suggesting a difficult war ahead for Sri Lanka against the LTTE, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake said in an interview to a television programme that the outfit’s chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has proved himself to be "adept and resilient" and that he was not sure whether Prabhakaran could be captured alive. "Prabhakaran has survived now since the late seventies. He has shown himself to be very adept and very resilient, and I think continues to be so," he pointed out and added, "We certainly do not have any great affection for Prabhakaran. But we think that the ultimate answer lies in a political solution (to the Tamil problem) and that is why we are encouraging the (Sri Lankan) government to pursue that path."

  On being asked about Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s comments that he wants his military forces to actually capture Prabhakaran alive so that he could be extradited to India to stand trial, Blake said: "The LTTE leader is supposed to be responsible for former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. He (Prabhakaran) is widely believed to have been responsible for the assassination of Rajeev Gandhi, so certainly I think that would be fine. I am sure that he would get a fair trial in India. We would have no concerns about that. The question is: are you going to be able to capture him alive or not? And I am not sure if that is possible or not." On being asked whether the US supports a "sharp, strategic" war against the LTTE, Blake said, "I don't think that such an outcome is possible. I don't know what that means exactly. We don't believe that a military solution really is possible".

• February 21: At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops neutralised a bunker of the outfit in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured while three T-56 weapons and one Icom radio set were recovered from the incident site.

  During another attack launched by the troops targeting a heavily fortified LTTE bunker in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, four militants were killed while several others got injured. Two soldiers were also killed while four more sustained injuries in the gun fire.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in two different attacks in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  Four LTTE militants were killed as a group of outfit’s militants attempting to infiltrate newly captured areas in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district were attacked by the troops.

  Troops attacked another group of LTTE militants moving in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.

  The troops attacked a few LTTE bunkers in the Mantota area of Mannar district and killed three militants.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops in separate encounters in the Kokkuthuduvai and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

  Troops on ambush in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district eliminated two LTTE militants and subsequently recovered dead of one of the slain militants.

  At Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead one more LTTE militant and later recovered one booby trap and four APMs from the area.

• February 20: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and five others injured during encounters with the troops in the areas west of Parappakandal and north of Pallikuli in the Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed in the LTTE attacks.

  At least 13 LTTE militants were killed when the troops launched an attack towards a group of militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also killed while five others sustained injuries in the incident.

  The troops attacked another group of LTTE militants in the area north of Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed eight militants. Three militants and a soldier were injured in the gun fight.

  At Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops neutralized a LTTE bunker and killed six militants.

  Three soldiers were killed when the LTTE militants opened fire on an Army picket point at Dambakote in the Buttala district. Troops retaliated and injured at least one militant.

• February 19: A police constable, identified as Kandaih Dharmalingam, on duty at Thalavar Street in the Akkaraipattu area of Batticaloa district was shot dead by the by the militants of the LTTE.

  Two LTTE militants lobbed hand grenades towards police personnel on duty in the Sivampuram area of Vavuniya district. Police personnel retaliated and killed on of the militants while the other managed to escape. One pistol and a hand grenade were recovered after the incident site.

  Troops foiled an LTTE attempt to dislodge consolidating troops in the newly captured Sirukulam area in the Mannar district. In the gun-battle that started around midnight and continued for about four hours troops inflicted heavy casualties on the militants forcing them to retreat. The exact details of the casualties are, however, yet to be ascertained, though it is believed at least 35-40 militants have either been injured or killed. Five soldiers were reported injured in the gun-battle. Top LTTE leaders, identified as Swarnam and Laksman, reportedly commanded the attack.

  Supply of electricity to many residential areas of Mundalama in the Puttalam district was disrupted when suspected LTTE militants destroyed a wayside transformer using explosives.

  An unidentified mob stormed the house of a person, who had been allegedly hired by the LTTE to assassinate Deputy Minster of Finance Ranjith Siyambalpitiya, at Adurupana in the Kegalle district and set it ablaze after removing the residents, police sources said, adding, the suspected hired assassin was an army deserter. Police recently arrested the suspect along with four others on the suspicion of undertaking a contract worth of two million rupees from the outfit to assassinate Minister Siyambalapitiya.

  Three people, all Muslims from the Kathankudy area were arrested alongside printed material which had been used to issue death threats on candidates, a police spokesman in the Batticaloa district said. The candidates from the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party had complained of death threats received allegedly from the LTTE. The Batticaloa district is scheduled to hold elections on March 10 to appoint local councillors to nine local councils.

  An intelligence operative of the LTTE, identified as Thangarajah Shiwakumar, was arrested by the police at Wanathawilluwa in the Kalpitiya area of Puttalam district. The suspect a resident at Olumaduwai in the Mannar district had come to the Kerathivu area three days ago in order to gather information necessary for a terror attack in the Kalpitiya, Wanathavilluwa or Puttlama areas, police sources said.

  Sri Lanka has said a proposal for providing a safe haven for the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has been there "for some time", but felt he would be apprehended by India the moment he leaves the island country. "Yes, that is his problem. If he (Prabhakaran) leaves Kilinochchi, then India will get him for sure," Sri Lankan foreign secretary Palitha Kohona told the online Asian Tribune. He stressed that it will be difficult for Prabhakaran to get past India, adding, "It will be difficult. You know that an Indian court wants him. India is a very legalistic country. You know that they regularly send us notes for Prabhakaran’s extradition. And keep on reminding us to extradite Prabhakaran, as he is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case." When asked whether peace broker Norway was making arrangements to provide safe haven to Prabhakaran, Kohona said: "That is a good idea, no?" It is a solution that has been proposed for some time, the ‘Idi Amin Solution’," he revealed, without elaborating. Idi Amin, who seized power in Uganda in January 1971 in a military coup, fled to Libya in 1979 after the Uganda-Tanzania war. He relocated himself in 1981 to Saudi Arabia, where he died in 2003.

• February 18: Troops advancing into the LTTE held areas in the eastern part of Mannar district, captured an area of about 600 square metre with an LTTE defence line and a strongly-built bund in the Andankulam area. 10 militants were killed and an equal number of them sustained injuries in the attack. One soldier was also killed while four others received injuries in the fighting.

  An army troop carrier unicorn vehicle was caught in an LTTE laid pressure mine when it was passing the general area of Mahakachchikudi. The explosion caused injuries to three soldiers.

• February 17: Suspected LTTE cadres -night shot dead a pastor near YMCA junction at Ampara. Father Samson Neil Edirisinghe died instantly and his wife. Shiromi Edirisinghe and their one-and-half year old infant escaped with injuries when the gunman opened fire on them.

• February 16: Reacting to the frequent claims by the Sri Lankan government that the LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has been injured in a military raid, the outfit’s political head B. Nadesan told the Tamil Daily Thinakkural in an interview, "A false propaganda saying our leader Prabhakaran is injured is being carried. Nobody can approach our leader. People of Sri Lanka will realise the futility of such a claim in times to come." He accused government of trying to sideline the Norwegian mediators besides contradicting the United Nations.

• February 13: At least 13 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops confronted a group of the outfit’s militants in the Parikariperiyakulam and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district. A soldier was injured during the confrontation.

  The troops clashed with the LTTE militants in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed at least seven militants.

  Four LTTE militants were killed by the troops when clashes erupted between the two sides in the Thaddankulam area of Mannar district.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers destroyed when the troops stormed the LTTE bunker line in the Sirukulam area of Mannar district.

  The troops killed three LTTE militants and injured nine others in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting a group of soldiers who were on a route clearing operation in the Thaddankulam area of Vavuniya district, injuring two soldiers who died later.

  The troops shot dead two more LTTE militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two more LTTE militants were killed in an encounter by the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops later stormed an LTTE bunker being built in the area killing one militant while injuring two others.

  One LTTE militant was killed while two soldiers received injuries in two separate clashes that broke out between the two sides in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in Vavuniya district, the troops opened fire towards LTTE hide-outs and injured nine militants.

  Two soldiers were wounded due the explosion of an LTTE laid anti-personnel mine in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  One soldier was injured when a LTTE militant opened fire towards him in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Bottom Line reported that the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran lives in a sprawling air-conditioned bunker complex located 30 feet below the ground, and comes up to the surface only at night to avoid detection. The report has a sketch of the alleged bunker. Prabhakaran’s extravagant underground bunker constructed as per his instructions and equipped with power generators is divided into two sectors. It has a tunnel which connects to a similar bunker complex, and his room is tucked away in the lowermost floor with two exits, the sketch shows. "From a powerful radio set, Prabhakaran gives instruction to his field commanders though he himself would not talk directly, and asks his confidante to do the talking. If he thinks that communications are not secure, he would insist on communicating through satellite phones at night," it said. "Three doctors attend to Prabhakaran and they continuously monitor his health conditions as he suffers from hypertension. His blood pressure is checked twice during the day," it said.

• February 12: During an encounter between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district the troops killed at least seven LTTE militants and subsequently recovered the dead body of one of the slain militants.

  Six soldiers were killed and 10 others injured when LTTE militants fired artillery shells at the densely populated Thalladi town damaging the St. Sebastian Church in Mannar. Troops retaliated with heavy gun fire towards identified LTTE artillery positions in the non-liberated areas north of Mannar, security sources said.

  Four LTTE militants were killed when the troops opened fire towards them in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops clashed with some infiltrating LTTE militants killing at least three of them while injuring six others.

  Troops advancing into the jungle area of Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district assaulted a group of LTTE cadres involved in the construction of bunkers. At least two militants were killed in the attack while others managed to escape.

  At Koilmoddai in the Mannar district, the troops attacked another group of LTTE militants trying to enter the cleared areas (area under government control) with weapons and killed two of them.

  One more LTTE militant was killed by the troops during an encounter in the area north of A-9 road in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district. Seven anti-personnel mines were recovered from the incident site.

  Three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of a LTTE laid booby trap in the Udayanathankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The troops neutralised three LTTE bunkers during an attack in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district. One soldier sustained injuries during the pre-dawn assault.

  The LTTE militants stormed several shops and houses in a housing complex in the Trincomalee town, built for Tsunami victims and looted food stocks commodities and other essentials. The militants carrying weapons looted those items at gunpoint and threatened the occupants with death, if any screaming or complaining was done, according to the victims.

  The LTTE are reportedly among six blatant violators of human rights singled out by the UN for recruiting underage children in armed conflict and using rape and other forms of sexual violence against them. The UN Security Council criticised the continuing recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and deplored the systematic use of rape and other forms of sexual violence against them.

• February 11: Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during two separate confrontations between the two sides in the area south of A-9 in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district.

  Two police personnel, one Sub Inspector and one Constable, were killed due to the explosion of an LTTE claymore mine at Suduwendrapilaw in the Irattaperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants opened fire targeting a STF trooper in the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district. The STF got injured in the incident. However, a 14-year-old boy, Sinnarasa Seedaran, passing by the area was killed in the firing.

  The LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a police route clearing patrol in the Palleadyirakkam area north of Madhu Junction. One police sergeant received injuries in the incident.
  
  At least 13 LTTE militants and 10 soldiers were killed during a gun-battle between the two sides in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. The troops destroyed 12 LTTE bunkers and also injured an unspecified number of militants. 25 soldiers were reportedly injured in the incident.

  At Udayanathankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked and neutralised a LTTE bunker, killing at least eight militants.

  The troops killed five LTTE militants during an encounter at Periyapandirichchan in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants in the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district and killed five of them.

  The troops during a raid on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district killed four militants.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, during a clash with the LTTE cadres the troops killed four militants while destroying one of their bunkers.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Mullikulam in the Mannar district, the troops killed three LTTE militants. One soldier was wounded in the incident.

  The troops opened fire towards a group of another militants hiding inside a bunker in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district and killed two of them while recovering one 60-mm mortar with a base plate, one T-56 weapon, one icom set and a claymore.

  Three soldiers were wounded in a LTTE mortar fire towards the troops in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier sustained injuries in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district due to the explosion of an Improvised Explosive Device.

• February 10: 11 LTTE militants were killed during separate confrontation with the troops in the Sirukulam, Karampaikkulam, Adampan and Parappakandal areas of Mannar district.

  The troops killed eight more LTTE militants and destroyed two of their bunkers during another confrontation at Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops operating ahead of the Mullikulam FDL in the Mannar district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them.

  Troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Sivarayankulam area of Vavuniya and killed three militants.

  One LTTE militant was killed when the troops attacked the outfit’s positions ahead of the FDL in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also injured.

  The dead body of a soldier who went missing during operations was found by the clearing troops from the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

• February 9: 15 LTTE militants and three soldiers were killed during a gun battle between the twos sides at Periyapantrichurichchan in the Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers were also injured.

  Six militants were killed during three separate incidents at Mullikulam in the Mannar district.

  The troops launched an attack towards a group of LTTE militants constructing a bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants.

  Troops killed four LTTE militants during separate encounters in the Chettukulam, Ittikandal and Nedunkandal areas of Vavuniya district.

  During another confrontation between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed three militants.

  Three LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops during separate encounters in the Koilmoddai and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops shot dead three LTTE militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan and Umayaratuvarankulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  The troops launched two separate attacks on the LTTE militants at Periyapantrichurichchan areas of Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

  Three separate attacks launched by the troops at LTTE militants operating in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district caused the death of three militants.

  One soldier was killed and five others wounded during a confrontation with the LTTE militants in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  The Special Task Force personnel confronted a group of LTTE militants at Kodamadu in the Kalawanchikudi area of Batticaloa district and subsequently recovered the dead body of one militant.

  Six soldiers were wounded in the explosion of an LTTE laid APM and one booby trap in the Mullikulam and Talaivankulam areas of Mannar district.

  Three more soldiers were injured due to LTTE mortar fire directed towards the troops at Kattikulam area in the Mannar district.

• February 8: The Army captured a one-square kilometer area to the south of Adampan Tank in the Mannar district after confrontations with the LTTE militants. 12 militants and two soldiers were killed during the clashes. Five more soldiers sustained injuries in the operation.

  Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an ambush in the Sinnapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  Eight more LTTE cadres were killed by the troops during a gun-battle between the two sides at Andankulam area of Vavuniya district. Three soldiers were injured in the incident.

  Five LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops in the Sirukulam, Kallikulam and Adampan areas of Mannar district.

  Two LTTE militants moving ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district were fired upon and killed by the troops.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district. One soldier was killed and three others sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

  Troops after observing a group of LTTE militants constructing a bunker in the area south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district fired small arms and Rocket Propeller Grenade towards them. Troops later confirmed that one militant was killed and the bunker was destroyed.

  Troops killed another LTTE militant a few meters ahead of the Nagarkovil FDL in the Jaffna district.

  At Kattiaratan in the Jaffna district, another LTTE militant was killed by the troops.

  The troops destroyed an LTTE bunker in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant. Three soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  The LTTE militants launched mortar attacks on the densely populated Sampathnuwara village in the Vavuniya district, injuring one woman and a Home Guard.

  Troops on duty at Kerathivu in the Thanankilappu area of Jaffna district foiled an attempt by the LTTE militants aboard four boats to attack them as they opened fire towards the militants destroying one of their boats with four militants on board. Three remaining boats managed to escape towards Pooneryn lagoon. Details are awaited.

• February 7: Troops confronted another group of the LTTE in the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district and killed at least 10 militants.

  Five LTTE militants, including an area leader, were killed and 10 others injured by the troops during a gun battle between the two sides in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas along the A-9 road in the Jaffna district. One soldier was killed and five others sustained injuries during the clash. The troops also neutralized several bunkers of the outfit.

  At Periyapanndivirichchan in the Vavuniya district, the troops attacked a LTTE bunker and killed four militants while injuring six others. Two soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

  Two LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a gun battle between the two sides in the Janakapura area Vavuniya district. 10 militants and a soldier were also injured during the gun battle.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an encounter at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district. Three soldiers also sustained injuries during the confrontation.

  Troops after observing a movement of LTTE militants in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district opened fire on them, killing two militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by naval troops in the jungles of Peraru in Trincomalee district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of the two slain militants.

  Troops moving ahead of their defence line at Kilaly in the Jaffna district destroyed one LTTE bunker and killed two militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by Army snipers in two separate incidents in the Sirukulam and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar district.

  An army captain, a soldier and a Buddhist monk were arrested for having close links with a top LTTE leader named Ramesh alias Charles, who was reportedly involved in the recent bomb blasts in Colombo and the suburbs, police said. A senior police official said that Ramesh, who was arrested along with three other LTTE suspects in the Mattakkuliya area, had revealed the connection with the captain and other two arrested persons, who are all Sinhalese. It was revealed that these three Sinhalese suspects had been promised seven million rupees by Ramesh if they helped the LTTE to carry out bomb blasts in Colombo and the suburbs. The arrested monk, who is from Colombo, had reportedly given shelter to LTTE militants, who were in Colombo to carry out attacks.

  The Sinhala woman, identified as 48 year old P.G. Hemalatha, who had brought the bomb which exploded in a private bus at Dambulla on February 2, was arrested by Dambulla police, while she was undergoing treatment for burn injuries at the Dambulla hospital. Police also said that this bomb had exploded in the bus by accident. It had been intended for a target in Anuradhapura.

• February 6: 12 LTTE militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when the troops deployed at the FDLs in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district stormed the outfit’s bunkers at about 5.30am. Five soldiers were also injured during the clash. Troops with the assistance of T-55 battle tanks completely destroyed 30 bunkers - four in the Nagarkovil area, 10 in the area north of A-9 and 16 in the Kilaly area.

  At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when troops confronted a group of militants in the Welioya and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district.

  Six SLN personnel were killed and one was rescued when the Sea Tigers [cadres of the sea wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)] attacked the SLN vessel in the seas off Thalaimannar, an unnamed defence official said. "Six Navy sailors have died and one has been rescued in an attack by the Sea Tigers off northern Thalaimannar," he said adding, the LTTE could have fired from a boat that disguised as an Indian trawler.

  Two groups of soldiers who were on an ambush in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district shot dead four LTTE militants and injured at least nine others. At Kokkuthuduvai, the troops killed four more LTTE militants during another clash.

  Army Snipers killed three LTTE militants in two separate incidents in the Parappanikulam and Sirukulam areas of Mannar district.

  Troops shot dead two LTTE militants during an encounter in the Andankulam and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Andankulam and Welioya areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the clashes.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also inured in the militant’s fire.

  Troops confronted another group of the LTTE militants in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them. Three soldiers were also reported injured in the clash.

  In two separate incidents in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district, troops shot dead two more LTTE militants and injured six others.

  The SLAF fighter jets 6 carried out an attack on a secret hide-out of LTTE top leaders at Thiruwei Aru, about 1-km northwest of Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi district. "The gathering place was frequented by Tiger leaders to plan and discuss attacks to be carried out against the Security Forces," said the SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya.

• February 5: The troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district and killed nine militants. At least six more militants were reported injured in the confrontation.

  Troops after observing the movement of another group of LTTE militants in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district opened fire towards them. In the ensuing gun battle four militants and three soldiers were killed while 14 other soldiers sustained injuries.

  During another clash between the two sides at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, the troops shot dead at least six militants. One soldier sustained injuries during the clash.

  At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops attacked and captured a LTTE bunker killing five militants.

  The troops stormed the LTTE trench line in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  Two soldiers and a militant were killed when clashes erupted between the two sides at Adampan in the Mannar district.

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

  Two soldiers were killed during clashes that erupted between the two sides in the Pokkaravani and Umayarathuwankulam areas of Vavuniya district. The troops inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE. The details, however, are yet to be ascertained.

  At Umayarathuwankulam in the Vavuniya district, two soldiers sustained injuries as troops confronted a group of LTTE militants. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  A soldier was killed due to the explosion of an LTTE planted IED in the Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops during another confrontation killed one LTTE and injured another at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district. Seven soldiers were also injured in the clashes.

  The troops killed one more LTTE militant in the Pudakkadu area of Vavuniya district.

  Another LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops also neutralized one bunker and injured another soldier.

  One soldier was injured in a confrontation with the LTTE militants at Manthai in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE cadres blasted an electricity transformer in front of the Rajakadaluwa Christian Church in the Arachchikattuwa area of Chilaw. However, no casualties were reported.

• February 4: Troops in a series of confrontations with the LTTE militants at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district killed at least 12 of them. An unspecified number of militants were reported injured in the clashes that continued for a couple of hours.

  Troops killed at least six LTTE militants during intermittent clashes in the Andankulam, Kaddutaddamalai and Kokkutoduvai areas of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the clashes.

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district. In the ensuing gun battle two soldiers and a militant were killed while another soldier sustained injuries.

  Troops overpowered and killed two LTTE militants at Navathkulama in the Vavuniya district.

  During another confrontation at Manthotam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed two LTTE militants. One soldier was also reported injured in the incident.

  Troops killed two LTTE militants during separate encounters at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops at Vedamakilam in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

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

  In the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district, troops on search and clear operations killed one LTTE militant and wounded two more in a confrontation.

  During another clash in the Manthotam area of Vavuniya district, three soldiers sustained injuries.

  An attempt by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel to drive away a large flotilla of Indian fishing vessels poaching in the seas north of Thalaimannar pier in the Mannar district was threatened with small arms fire, confirmed to have been directed by the LTTE militants disguised as fishermen. Naval coastal guards upon observation of nearly 400 Indian fishing vessels poaching in the seas despite repeated warnings closed in on those fishing vessels in order to drive them away from Sri Lankan waters but at least 4-5 Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) boats who have infiltrated the flotilla posing off as Indian fishermen have opened fire on the coast guard vessel, sources said. "We suspect Tigers had taken the cover of Indian fishermen to attack the naval craft," an unnamed official said.

• February 3: Three LTTE militants and a soldier were killed during a gun battle in the Periyapanchurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  In the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district, troops during a search and clear operations confronted the LTTE militants and killed four of them.

  Four more LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Madu area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops killed four LTTE militants who were roaming in the jungle areas of Karampaikkulam and Adampan in the Mannar district.

  Troops on a search operation shot dead four LTTE militants in the Koilmoddai area of Mannar district.

  At least three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers destroyed by the troops during two separate clashes in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Troops killed two LTTE militants and inured another during a confrontation at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the jungle areas of Kallikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops foiled an LTTE infiltration attempt in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant.

  At Uyilankulam in the Mannar district, troops shot dead one LTTE militant who tried to escape from Army cordon and search operations.

  In the Mullikulam area of Mannar district, three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of a trapped LTTE mine.

  One soldier was inured in a LTTE fire at Pandivirichchen in the Vavuniya district.

  At least 12 persons were killed and around 100 injured, 10 of them critically, when an LTTE female suicide militant blew herself inside the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The bomber who apparently arrived at the railway station in a train blew herself opposite the station cafeteria on platform number three at 2.10pm. The head of the suicide cadre was lying on the platform along with a cellular phone connected to a handsfree kit. "They (LTTE) would have targeted Security Forces personnel who were returning to their bases after rehearsals at the Galle Face Green," an unnamed military official said.

  Earlier in the day, at least seven civilians, including two children, were injured in a low intensity grenade explosion inside the Dehiwala Zoological Garden on the outskirts of Colombo.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and three of their bunkers were neutralized by the troops during two separate attacks in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier received injuries due to the explosion of an in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

• February 2: At least 20 passengers aboard a bus were killed and 50 others injured when the LTTE militants detonated an explosive device at Dambulla bus stand in the Matale district. The bus was to play on the Kandy - Anuradhapura road. Initial reports quoting Dambulla police said that many Buddhist devotees on a pilgrimage to the sacred Anuradhapura city were among the dead and injured.

  Troops killed 16 LTTE militants during separate confrontations in the Sirukulam, Andankulam and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya. Two soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation at Kokkuthuduvai.

  10 LTTE militants were killed during confrontations with the troops in the Parappakandal and Vannakulam areas of Mannar district. Troops also neutralized three bunkers of the outfit.

  Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  During another confrontation between the two sides in the Periyapanchurichchan and Navakkulam areas of Vavuniya district, troops killed seven LTTE militants.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was also injured during the confrontation.

  Two soldiers were killed and an equal number of them sustained injuries when a gun battle erupted between the two sides in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district following LTTE fire towards the troops. Troops repulsed the attack and killed one militant.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops at Sirukulam in the Mannar district.

  Two soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an APM in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district.

  A soldier was injured due the explosion of an APM in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district.

• February 1: Troops killed 10 LTTE militants and neutralized 10 of their bunkers in an attack at the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. Two soldiers were killed six others were injured in the incident.

  At least eight LTTE militants were killed when the troops attacked a group of the outfit’s militants in the Andankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops attacked two LTTE bunkers in the Janakapura and Kokkuthuduvai areas of Vavuniya district and killed four militants.

  Troops in the Sirukulam and Chettukulam areas of Mannar district during an encounter killed three militants.

  Two civilians were killed by the LTTE militants in the Kachchai and Kodikamam areas of Jaffna district.

  Troops recovered the dead bodies of four LTTE militants lying in shrubs in the Vavuniya district.

  Five soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE booby trap at Mullikulam in the Mannar district.

  Three soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an anti personnel mine at Mullikulam and Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

  Nine LTTE militants surrendered to the troops at Murunkan in the Mannar district. Eight of those militants were active in the jungles surrounding Mannar while the remaining one was active in the Vavuniya district.

• January 31: At Navakkulam in the Vavuniya district, troops observed the movement of some LTTE militants along a jungle foot path and killed two of them.

  Two LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops during an encounter in the Wadukkodai area of Jaffna district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops during another clash in Kattuwankumale. Another militant was killed by the troops in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  A LTTE suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself at Thinnaveli in the Jaffna district killing three civilians and injuring 17 others, the military said. Authorities, however, said that the explosion was premature since there was no target in the area.

  At Navakkulam in the Vavuniya district, troops observed the movement of some LTTE militants along a jungle foot path and killed two of them.

  Two LTTE militants were shot dead by the troops during an encounter in the Wadukkodai area of Jaffna district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops during another clash in Kattuwankumale. Another militant was killed by the troops in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  A soldier sustained injuries due to the accidental APM explosion in the Pilimagala area of Hambantota district.

  The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused the LTTE and its breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna of recruiting children from North and the East in a report looking at Children in War. The UN Secretary-General's latest report on children and armed conflict, covering the period from October 2006 to August 2007, said the LTTE had recruited or re-recruited 339 children. It says that 41% of them were from Batticaloa. The UNICEF has also received confirmed reports that 246 children had been recruited or re-recruited by Karuna group during the reporting period.

• January 30: The SFs captured the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilali FDLs of the LTTE in the Jaffna district destroying 35 bunkers of the outfit on January 30. 30 militants were killed and an unspecified number of them were injured during the operations in which seven soldiers also sustained injuries. "Around 12.45 am the Security Forces advanced from their FDLs in the Muhamalai area and smashed the LTTE bunkers in their first attack," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, adding, "In the pre-emptive attack the Security Forces overran 35 Tiger bunkers, physically 20 bunkers were destroyed and around 20 LTTE cadres killed." The LTTE withdrew to the second FDLs and the SFs advanced on this too forcing the LTTE to flee the area. The SFs launched another attack on the LTTE’s second FDLs in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil with T-55 tanks and destroyed 10 bunkers while killing 10 militants. "Vehicles of the fleeing Tiger cadres with their injured were also fired at by the Security Forces. LTTE communication intercepts confirmed that 10 LTTE cadres were killed in the skirmishes", Brigadier Nanayakkara said. In a subsequent search operation troops recovered a 60-mm mortar bomb, an RPG and a large stock of ammunition.

  At least 10 LTTE cadres were killed during an encounter with the security forces in the Adampan area of Mannar district. The location, believed to be one of the outfit’s command posts, had been heavily fortified with a three-layer concrete slab.

  Troops opened fire on a group of LTTE militants in the Kallikulam area of Mannar district and killed at least five cadres and injured several others.

  Three civilians belonging to the same family were shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres at Chawakachcheri, defense sources said. The outfit had earlier issued death warrants to the civilians who it accused of acting as security forces’ informers. The Sri Lanka Army report identified the victims as B. Thalikalan (30), K. Baleshwari (28) and B. Pradeepan (17).

  Three soldiers were injured in an APM explosion at Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers received injuries in an APM explosion in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE have urged the UN to recognise 'Tamil sovereignty' to end the 25-year-old ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, accusing the Sri Lankan government of committing excesses against the minority community in the country. The LTTE political head B. Nadesan in a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that the Sri Lankan army was involved in the attack on January 28 at Madhu in the Mannar district that led to the death of 18 civilians, including 12 school children. He also accused the Sri Lankan military of being responsible for aerial bombing of a village in Mullaitivu in which seven children were killed on January 4. "Since the present President of Sri Lanka (Mahinda Rajapakse) assumed office in November 2005, as many as 2,056 Tamil civilians including 132 Tamil children have been massacred by the Sri Lankan State Forces," he claimed.

  The Army said that the LTTE transmissions, closely monitored and transcribed by members of the security forces, now consolidating in and around Mannar areas, affirmed that many conscripted minors, school children and teachers were being sent to the LTTE defence line to the north of Madhu with sinister motives and plans.

  Women are being forced into joining the LTTE, according to letters purportedly recovered from slain woman militants in Sri Lanka. "Every LTTE cadre is anxious to see his or her parents and I will come home for pongal (harvest festival – January 14) though I do not know what my fate will be," said one letter recovered by security forces from a slain woman militant. "Amma, what can I do? When all those at home in the area were taken away, I too had to go with them (LTTE)," said the letter, which was released by the Media Centre for National Security. Another militant said she was forced to join the LTTE by her parents in spite of her objections.

• January 29: 17 civilians, including 11 children, were killed in a claymore mine attack on a school bus in the Mannar district. The military and the LTTE blamed each other for the incident. A military spokesperson said the forces did not operate in the area, adding, "The blame for the attack on the military is a cheap propaganda tactic by the Tigers cornered in the battlefield." However, the LTTE claimed that 20 civilians, including 11 school children, a teacher of Thadchanaamaruthamadu Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School, the driver, conductor and two hospital workers were killed and 14 wounded when a Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lanka Army triggered a claymore mine targeting the bus carrying school children in Madu division of the LTTE-controlled territory.

  The last village of Vaiyttankulam in Adampan under the LTTE control fell to the SFs following heavy fighting in Mannar. The SFs destroyed 10 bunkers and killed 10 militants during the operation. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, "Vaiyttankulam was located 1-km towards the west of Adampan and the Security Forces destroyed 10 LTTE bunkers while killing 10 Tiger cadres," he said, adding, the fight lasted for two hours and the SFs successfully retaliated the outfit’s resistance forcing them to flee the area.

  The SFs neutralised six LTTE bunkers and killed 12 militants in the area south of Pallikuli.

  Army snipers killed seven LTTE militants when they were fired upon by the militants in the Karampaikkulam and Parappakandal areas of Mannar district.

  During another confrontation between the two sides at Andankulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed seven militants. Two soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Five LTTE militants who infiltrated into the general areas (areas under government control) at the Kokkuthuduvai FDL in the Vavuniya district were killed in an encounter by the troops.

  Troops launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants moving in the Villattikulam area in of Vavuniya district and killed four of them.

  At Andankulam FDL in the in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed four more LTTE militants during two separate attacks.

  The LTTE militants fired mortar rounds towards the troops in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district killing two soldiers and injuring another.

  An LTTE bunker manned by two militants in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district was fired upon by the troops. Troops confirmed that the two militants were killed in the firing.

  During a clash in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Mannar district, one militant was killed in a bunker.

  LTTE militants fired artillery on the troops in the Uyilankulam area of Mannar district and injured three soldiers.

• January 28: During six separate clashes with the LTTE, the troops killed nine militants and injured five others in the Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. At Janakapura, militants fired artillery towards the troops killing one soldier.

  Troops at Umayaratuvarankulam in the Vavuniya district launched an attack on an LTTE gathering and killed six militants.

  During two encounters in the Villattikulam and Kallikulam areas, the troops killed six militants and injured four others. One soldier was injured at Villattikulam.

  Troops fired mortar and small arms towards an LTTE bunker line in the Andankulam area of Mannar district and in the ensuing gun-battle, three militants and a soldier were killed while one soldier was injured. In another clash between the two sides in the same area, one soldier was killed and another wounded.

  Troops opened fire on a line of LTTE bunkers in the Kilaly area of Jaffna district and destroyed four of them, killing four militants.

  Troops inflicted some casualties to the LTTE in the Periyapanndivirichchan area of Mannar district in two clashes. Troops confronted a group of militants operating from a bunker and inflicted damages to their bunker. The militants in the bunker were either injured or killed in the incident. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  One soldier was killed and three others sustained injuries when an LTTE booby trap exploded in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Another soldier was killed due to the explosion of an LTTE booby trap in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.
  
  Troops launched an attack towards the LTTE bunker lines in the Pallikuli area of Mannar district and destroyed six bunkers, killing seven militants. One soldier was killed and two others sustained injuries during the clashes.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another clash in the area south of Adampan in the Mannar district.

  The security forces successfully retaliated with heavy artillery and multi barrel rocket launchers an LTTE artillery fire towards the Palali area in the Jaffna district at around 9.30am on January 28, reports Daily News. "A passing out parade was to be held at the Palali camp before the LTTE launched the artillery attack. Around 15 Tiger artillery shells had fallen in the Palali area but there was no damage to life or property", said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, adding, "The passing out parade was held at the Palali base as scheduled." He said following the artillery attack the Air Force carried out an air strike targeting an LTTE artillery position in the Kalmunai point, north of Pooneryn at around 11.45am. "LTTE cadres were launching the artillery attack directed towards the Palali from this position", he informed, adding, "The Tiger artillery position was completely destroyed by the Air Force fighters."

• January 27: At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when clashes erupted between the two sides following militant’s fire towards the troops in the Pantrichurichan area of Mannar district.

  Troops after observing the LTTE militants constructing a new bunker line in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district launched an assault towards them and killed six militants.

  Troops in an encounter killed four LTTE militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Three LTTE militants were killed in a similar incident by the troops at Vankalacheddikulam in the Mannar district.

  Troops killed three LTTE cadres who attempted to enter into the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by the troops during another clash ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna district. One soldier sustained injuries in this incident.

  Two civilians were killed by the LTTE militants when they were moving from Urani to Komari in the Pothuvil area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops shot dead two LTTE militants who tried to open fire towards them in the Andankulam area of Mannar district.

  Fours soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE booby trap at Pantrichurichan in the Mannar district. One soldier succumbed to his injuries later.

  The troops killed one LTTE militant in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  The Special Task Force personnel who were on a night patrol in the Mankadu area of Batticaloa district shot dead an LTTE militant.

• January 26: The troops launched an artillery attack on a group of LTTE militants in the jungle north of Palamoddai and killed six of them and wounded nine others.

  Troops deployed south of Madhu area launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants and killed six of them. Two militants were injured.

  Six LTTE militants were killed by the troops during an encounter near the Kiriibbanwewa FDL of Vavuniya district.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE militants.

  Troops attacked a LTTE bunker line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed three militants. An unspecified number of militants were injured in the incident.

  Three militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured by the troops during their attack on an LTTE bunker line in the Vavuniya district. One bunker was also destroyed.

  Troops in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of the LTTE militants and killed two of them. An unspecified number of militants were reported injured in the incident.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops as they repulsed an LTTE attempt to infiltrate into the Parayanalankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops conducted search operations in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa in Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  The LTTE militants launched an artillery attack on troops in the same area, injuring four soldiers. One of the injured soldiers died later.

  Troops killed one LTTE militant in the Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  At Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, troops killed one LTTE militant.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district

  Another LTTE militant was killed by troops at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Four LTTE militants were injured by troops during an attack in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

• January 25: Troops marching forward captured a one-kilometer stretch of land in the Karpiththanmoddai area on Uyilankulam – Adampan road in Mannar district and killed nine LTTE militants. Troops also smashed seven bunkers. Two soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

  Seven LTTE militants were killed and four others sustained injuries during two gun battles that erupted between the militants and the troops at Madhu road area of Mannar district.

  At least six LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured when troops assaulted a pocket of militants who were firing at troops from a bunker in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district. One soldier who received injuries during the incident died later.

  Troops deployed at the Nagarkovil and Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district killed two militants in an encounter.

  Troops fired at a group of LTTE militants in the Jaffna district and killed two of them. One soldier and a militant were injured in the incident.

  At Andankulam in the Mannar district, troops stormed the LTTE bunker lines on two occasions and killed two militants. Three militants were also injured.

  During a clash between the two sides in the Adampan area of Mannar district, troops inflicted heavy casualties to the LTTE. Troops monitored LTTE radio transmission and confirmed that a large number of militants have either been killed or wounded in the incident. One soldier who was wounded died later in a hospital.

  Troops killed one LTTE militant in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Another LTTE militant was killed by troops in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

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

  In the Kilaly area of Jaffna district, troops killed one LTTE militant.

  One LTTE militant was killed by the troops in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Mannar district.

  At Adampan in the Mannar district, troops killed one LTTE militant.

  In the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops confronted another group of LTTE militants. While one soldier was injured, damages to LTTE are yet to be ascertained.

  Another soldier was injured in the Vannakulam area of Vavuniya district when the LTTE militants launched a mortar attack on troops.

• January 24: Police recovered the dead bodies of 16 youths hacked to death by suspected LTTE militants from a swamp at Kiriketuwewa on the Horoupathana-Kebithigollawa road in the Anuradhapura district. According to available information, the victims are believed to be a group of civilians who had gone searching for their cattle. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that 16 dead bodies, including one of a woman, were unearthed from two pits. Some of the dead bodies were found with their hands bound behind their backs.

  Eight LTTE militants were killed by the troops in three separate attacks launched on the outfit’s bunkers at Anandankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The troops launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line in the area south of A-9 route at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed five militants.

  LTTE militants opened fire towards the troops in the Vannakulam area of Vavuniya district and injured two soldiers who died later.

  Three soldiers were injured due to improvised explosive device blasts in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. Two of the injured soldiers died later.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Palamoddai area of Mannar district and inflicted heavy casualties on them. Although the exact number is yet to be ascertained, the LTTE confirmed that two of their female cadres, namely Maniarsi and Kalaimoli, were among those militants killed in the clash.

  In a gun battle that erupted between the two sides in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed two militants and neutralised two of their bunkers.

  The troops launched an artillery attack on an LTTE cadre movement in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  One soldier was killed during a gun battle that occurred in the Nikawewa area of Vavuniya district.

  In the Talaivankulam and Periyapandirichchan areas of Vavuniya district, three soldiers were injured in a LTTE mortar and anti personnel mine explosions.

  Two soldiers received injuries when they launched an attack on a LTTE bunker in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Mannar district.

• January 23: Troops moving northward after clearing some LTTE-dominated areas surrounding Parappakandal and Adampan in the Mannar district in the past few days made further advance into the area west of Giant Tank and held on to the territory capturing the road that runs from the northwest towards the southeast. During the operations, troops destroyed two heavily guarded LTTE bunkers with Rocket Propeller Grenade, small arms, mortars and artillery. Further, troops also cleared four bunkers in the captured areas and are in the process of consolidating their positions. Three militants were killed during the clashes.

  Troops stormed an LTTE bunker ahead of Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district and destroyed the bunker killing two militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by the troops in an encounter about 200 meters ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops killed two more LTTE militants about 450 meters ahead of the same Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  LTTE cadres attacked the troops in the Nelukkulam area of Vavuniya district. Troops retaliated and repulsed the attack killing one militant.

  One soldier was injured due to the explosion of a 60-mm mortar bomb in the Pullippankulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Another soldier sustained injuries due to the explosion of an anti-personnel mine at Marakayarkulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has promised to hand over the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to India to face trial in the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case if he is captured, according to agencies. In the event of Prabhakaran getting caught, he would be tried for offences in the island country and then handed over to India for trial over the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, he said during an interaction with foreign correspondents in Colombo.

• January 22: 10 LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured as troops in the general area (area under government control) of Pallikuli in the Mannar district attacked an LTTE strong point and destroyed four bunkers.

  Troops stormed a LTTE bunker line in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed four militants.

  Clashes erupted between the troops and LTTE militants when troops launched an attack to capture the outfit’s bunker line in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Two militants were killed and two of their bunkers were destroyed in the incident.

  One soldier was killed and five others injured when the LTTE militants detonated an IED targeting troops in the Vannakulam area of Mullaitivu district. Similarly, two more soldiers were injured in another explosion carried out by the LTTE militants in the same area.

  Troops observed movement of LTTE militants in front of their defence line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and shot dead one militant.

  In the Andankulam area of Mannar district, troops launched another attack on an LTTE bunker line and killed one militant.

  Troops in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district launched an attack on a group of LTTE militants and killed one of them.

  The LTTE militants launched a mortar fire attack on the troops in the Villattikulam area of Vavuniya district and injured four soldiers.

  Two soldiers were injured in a separate attack by the LTTE militants towards the troops in the Ponnar area of Jaffna district. Though troops repulsed the attack successfully inflicting an unspecified number of casualties to the outfit, details are waited.

  A calendar apparently depicting the logo of the LTTE and the map of a separate state of "Tamil Eelam" was sold outside Hindu temples in London on January 1. The "Tamil Eelam" national calendars were publicly sold at the rate of five pounds to 10 pounds each, the report said.

• January 21: Troops attacked a group of LTTE militants moving in the general area of Mullikulam in the Vavuniya district. In the ensuing gun battle, troops killed seven militants.

  The troops in the general area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed six of them.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed six more LTTE militants.

  Troops launched an attacked on two LTTE bunkers and destroyed them in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Five LTTE militants were killed in the incident.

  At Chettukulam in the Mannar district, the troops killed two LTTE militants.

  The troops killed one more LTTE militant in the Chettukulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants in the Adampan area of Mannar district and killed one of them.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, troops confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed one militant. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE militants were injured when troops attacked a bunker of the outfit in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured during an encounter between LTTE militants and the troops in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  At least 15 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others inured as troops launched a pre-down attack against the outfit’s bunker lines in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district and destroyed 24 bunkers. The troops destroyed 12 bunkers east of A-9 road and eight more bunkers west of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area while four bunkers were destroyed at Nagarkovil. Two soldiers were also killed nine others injured during the gun battle that lasted nearly for one hour.

  Four LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during another clash between the two sides in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district.

  A team of police personnel who were providing security at Allimankada in the Kithulkote area of Thanamalwila in the Moneragala district confronted a group of LTTE militants. In the ensuing gun battle three policemen were killed. The militants, however, managed to escape.

  Militants of the LTTE ‘pistol gang’ shot dead a civilian inside the Jaffna University premises. The University authority confirms that the victim was not attached to the university as a student or a worker.

• January 20: Seven LTTE militants were killed when troops attacked a bunker of the outfit in the Pullippankiyarkulam area of Vavuniya district, reports Sri Lanka Army.

  Advancing troops captured another LTTE stronghold in the Vaiyttankulam area of Mannar district after a confrontation with the militants in which four of the militants were killed. Six soldiers were injured in the incident.

  Four LTTE militants aboard a tractor were killed when troops opened fire towards the tractor moving about 5-km south of Madhu.

  Troops shot dead three militants in the Madhu s area of Mannar district.

  Troops opened fire towards a tractor carrying LTTE militants in the Madhu s area of Mannar district, killing two militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter in the in the Madhu s area of Mannar district.

  Troops attacked another group of LTTE militants aboard a tractor moving north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district. In the ensuing gun battle the troops killed two militants and injured one more. One soldier also got inured.

  During a confrontation in the Periyathampane area of the Vavuniya district, troops killed two more militants.

  One LTTE bunker and a hut at Navathkulama came under fire by the troops. Troops later conformed that two were killed while the bunker and the hut were destroyed.

  Troops cordoned the area north of Kaithady in the Jaffna district and conducted a search operation. During the operation, the LTTE militants fired at the troops. Troops in counter fire killed two militants, including outfit’s leader of the Thendamarachchi area, identified as Chengan.

  Troops launched a ground attack on an LTTE bunker line situated in the area about 500 metres south of Adampan tank in the Mannar district. Troops captured about 6-8 LTTE bunkers and recovered the dead bodies of two female militants along with and two T-56 weapons from the area.

  Troops attacked one LTTE bunker in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  During a confrontation between the two sides in the Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district, troops killed one LTTE militant and injured another.

  Troops having observed a terrorist movement in the Palamoddai area of Jaffna district, fired 60-mm mortar and artillery towards them and killed one militant.

  Five soldiers were injured in an explosion of a booby trap in Pallikkulam area of Mannar district.

  Three soldiers were injured due to LTTE mortar fire and explosion of improvised explosive device in the Jaffna and Kilaly areas.

  One soldier was injured in another LTTE fire in the Jaffna district.

  One LTTE bunker in the Ponnar area of Mannar district was destroyed by the troops.

• January 19: Troops confronted two groups of LTTE militants in the Mullikulam and Villattikulam areas of Mannar and Vavuniya district respectively, killing seven militants. Two soldiers were also injured.

  Six LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter at Janakapura FDL (forward defence line) in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops on advance from their Chettukulam FDL in the Vavuniya district attacked and destroyed two LTTE trenches. Six LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured in the incident.

  Troops killed four LTTE militants and injured nine others when a clash erupted between the two sides in the Chettukulam area of Vavuniya district. Two soldiers also sustained injuries.

  At Pallikuli in the Mannar district, troops killed three LTTE militants in two separate incidents.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and another injured as troops attacked and destroyed a bunker in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district. During the attack one soldier was also killed and two others were injured.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants at Kiriibbanwewa area of Vavuniya district and killed two LTTE militants.

  Troops in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district killed two LTTE militants.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by troops in the Chettukulam and Pallikkulam areas of Vavuniya district.

  Troops operating ahead of the Janakapura FDL confronted a group of LTTE militants. Two militants were killed in the gun battle. One soldier was also injured.

  One soldier was killed after terrorists fired mortar towards the troops in the area south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai region of Jaffna district.

  During a confrontation between the two sides at Kallikulam in the Mannar district, troops killed one LTTE militant.

  One LTTE bunker at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna district was attacked and destroyed by the troops. During the exchange of fire, one soldier received injuries. The LTTE communication later confirmed that one militant was killed.

  One soldier was injured due to the explosion of an anti personnel mine in the Narakamulla area of Batticaloa district.

  Troops after observing an LTTE boat movement in the seas off Nagarkovil beach opened fire towards them using artillery. Details are awaited.

• January 18: 10 LTTE militants were killed by troops during three separate confrontations in the Pullippankiyarkulam, Villattikulam and Janakapura areas of Vavuniya district. Troops also destroyed one bunker.

  Troops captured three LTTE strong points in the Pallikuli area of Mannar district and consolidated their positions in the area. During the process, troops killed nine militants.

  Troops launched attacks on LTTE positions in the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas of Jaffna district and killed six militants.

  Troops attacked an LTTE bunker in the Maruthamadu area, 4-km northwest of Omanthai, in the Vavuniya district. Four female militants were confirmed killed and the bunker was completely destroyed.

  During another attack in the Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district, troops killed two LTTE militants.

  Soldiers on duty at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district observed two LTTE militants laying a claymore mine beside the Main Supply Route and opened fire, killing one on the spot. However, the other militant escaped after lobbing a hand grenade at the troops.

• January 17: At least 10 civilians, including two home guards, were shot dead by the LTTE militants at Hambegamuwa in the Thanamalwila area of Moneragala district. The military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that a group of militants opened fire at civilians in the Thanamalwila area, killing three and wounding three more and had fled into nearby bushes. He added that the troops later found seven more bullet-riddled dead bodies from several different locations in the area. A major search operation is currently underway to locate those militants, he added further.

  Nine LTTE militants were killed when troops moving towards the north from their Mannar base confronted militants at Thirukeshwaram in the Mannar district.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides, troops captured another three kilometres patch of land along Uyilankulam – Adampan road in the Mannar district killing five LTTE militants.

  Troops shot dead four LTTE militants in an encounter in the area north of Pallikuli, a suburb of Adampan in the Mannar district. Three soldiers were also injured during the exchange of fire.

  During a confrontation between the two sides in the Kurunchakulam area of Vavuniya district, troops killed four LTTE militants.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and two others injured by troops when they attacked a bunker of the outfit at Janakapura in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district.

  Troops combing the jungles in search of LTTE militants who had killed 31 civilians in two attacks on January 16 in the Buttala area of Moneragala district confronted an isolated group of militants in the north of Dambeyaya, at Okkampitiya bordering the northeast of Yala sanctuary. A fierce gun fight was on till the reports last came in. One soldier sustained injuries during the initial round of firing.

  The LTTE confirmed that one of their major leaders called Rahulansa’s dead body was dispatched to the ICRC with other dead bodies, which were handed over by the troops on 12th January 2008 in the general area of Adampan in the Mannar district.

• January 16: At least 26 civilians, including some school children and women, aboard a Central Transport Bus proceeding to the Buttala town of Moneragala district, were killed and 67 others injured in a claymore mine explosion triggered by the LTTE in the Helagama area near Ella road. The bus was simultaneously fired upon by the militants immediately after the claymore mine explosion.

  A group of four LTTE militants, allegedly scurrying back into the jungles minutes after triggering the claymore mine explosion targeting the passenger bus, reportedly shot dead five farmers in their paddy-fields at Dambeyaya in the Heentenna area.

  The same group of militants activated a claymore mine targeting a military Unicorn truck, about 2-km north of Galge, on the Buttala–Kataragama road and injured three soldiers.

  The LTTE leader for Trincomalee south, Arichelvam, who was wanted for numerous killings and criminal activities in the east, was shot dead by the troops at Pachchanoor. Troops recovered a pistol from his possession.

  Troops opened artillery fire towards an LTTE camp in the Kokkutoduvai area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants while injuring at least five of them.

  Two LTTE militants were killed and at least five of them injured due to artillery fire directed by the troops in area north of Janakapura in the Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by troops in an encounter ahead of the Muhamalai FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops killed an LTTE militant ahead of the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district.

  An LTTE militant committed suicide swallowing a cyanide capsule fearing arrest, as he failed in his attempt to inflict casualties by opening fire, from inside a house, upon the troops on a search and clear operation in the Irupalai area of Jaffna district.

  The Sri Lanka government said it has decided to eliminate LTTE chief V. Prabhakaran to bring peace, while maintaining that it was still open to negotiations with the rebels. "If Prabhakaran is ready to take the white flag, we will leave some window open to consider that offer. Otherwise we have decided to eliminate him to bring peace in Sri Lanka," said defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.

• January 15: Troops attacked and captured one LTTE bunker killing at least four militants in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district. Troops later recovered the dead bodies of two female LTTE militants along with four T-56 weapons from the captured bunker.

  A group of LTTE militants who were moving away from their defence line in the area south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district were attacked by troops. Three militants were killed and one of their bunkers was destroyed.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Janakapura in the Vavuniya district, troops killed three LTTE militants and injured two others.

  In the Welioya area of Vavuniya district, troops confronted some infiltrating LTTE militants and killed one of them. An unspecified number of militants were reported injured in the incident. One soldier who sustained gunshot injuries died later.

  One soldier was killed and an unspecified number of LTTE militants were injured during another exchange of fire between the two sides in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district and killed one of them. Troops also destroyed one of their bunkers.

  Troops stormed and destroyed an LTTE bunker in the Vilayathikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed one militant.

  During a clash in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district, troops killed one LTTE militant and injured two others.

  Four soldiers were injured in an LTTE booby trap explosion in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Two soldiers were injured due the explosion of an LTTE anti-personnel mine in the Periyathampane area of Vavuniya district.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, troops injured one militant. One soldier sustained injuries in the encounter.

  Another soldier was injured due to the explosion of an anti-personnel mine at Eluttumadduwal in the Jaffna district.

  Troops in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district destroyed two LTTE bunkers. However, casualties among the militants are yet to be ascertained.

  The Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the military wants to destroy the LTTE and conclude 25 years of war after the cease-fire ends on January 16. He said the military was already putting pressure on the LTTE at various fronts in the North, and added, "If we continue like this we will be able to defeat the LTTE."

  The LTTE said that they will never be defeated despite Sri Lankan authorities vowing to wipe them out within months. The head of the outfit’s political wing, P. Nadesan, told BBC that the LTTE has experienced similar statements during their 30-year old struggle against Sri Lankan state. Denying that the outfit is reverting to guerrilla tactics as it is losing the war, he asserted, "We will never revert to guerilla warfare. We are a conventional force. We will launch attacks on military targets but we will not target civilians." He also denied accusations that his organisation forcefully recruits civilians for combat and said, "No. People, they like to join us. We never force the people. LTTE is a people's organisation."

• January 14: The LTTE cadres triggered off a powerful claymore mine targeting one civil vehicle moving in the Kudakachchikudi area of Vavuniya district. Two army soldiers and the driver of the vehicle were killed in the explosion while three soldiers and one more civilian were seriously injured. The soldiers were providing escort to the vehicle which was carrying stuff to a quarry.

  The SLAF fighter jets bombed an LTTE artillery gun position east of Vedithalthivu in the Mannar district. One 122-mm heavy calibre cannon belonging to the LTTE artillery had been damaged in the attack. A key LTTE militant behind artillery coordinating in the Wanni area, named Mangalesh, was reportedly injured in the attack.

  Eight LTTE militants were killed by troops during two separate encounters in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district.

  During an encounter between the two sides in the Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district, the troops killed five LTTE militants.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by troops during sporadic clashes in the Periyapantrichurichchan, north of Villattikulam, Kattikulam and Kutinchankulam areas of Vavuniya district. After the clash in Villattikulam, troops conducted a search operation and recovered the dead body of one LTTE militant along with two hand grenades and one pouch.

  Four LTTE militants were killed during an exchange of fire with army troops ahead of the Kokkutoduvai FDL (Forward Defence Line) in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and reportedly killed three of them. One soldier was injured in this incident.

  Four soldiers were wounded due to the explosion of a booby trap in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  Unidentified assailants lobbed a hand grenade at a civilian’s house at Virandanachenai in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district .The owner of the house, his son and a neighbour sustained injuries in the explosion.

• January 13: Nine LTTE militants were killed and eight others inured during clashes between the two sides in the area west of Parappakandal in Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and 15 others sustained injuries in exchange of fire. Troops also captured nine militant’s bunkers.

  Troops killed four LTTE militants during another confrontation in the area east of Mantai in the Mannar district.

  An LTTE bunker ahead of the Kilaly FDL in the Jaffna district was completely destroyed by troops. Three militants inside the bunker were killed in the incident. An unspecified number of LTTE militants in the close vicinity were also injured in the incident.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured when a confrontation erupted between the two sides at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops clashed with a group of LTTE militants in the Kutinchankulam area of Mannar district and killed three of them.

  Troops captured one LTTE bunker in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district and subsequently recovered the dead bodies of three LTTE militants, including one decomposed female dead body.

  One soldier was killed during confrontations between the two sides in the Parikariperiyakulam area of Vavuniya district. Though troops inflicted heavy casualties on the LTTE, the details are yet to be ascertained.

  One soldier was killed by the LTTE militants during a gun fight between the two sides at Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE militant during an encounter in the Periyapantrichurichchan area of Vavuniya district.

  At Parappakandal in the Mannar district, the LTTE militants fired small arms and mortar towards the troops on duty and injured one soldier.

  One soldier was injured by the LTTE militants in the Kurisuddakulam area of Mannar district.

  A soldier on clearing operations at the Janakapura FDL of Vavuniya district was injured due to the explosion of an LTTE anti personal mine.

  Troops shot dead a LTTE cadre during an encounter closer to the FDL in the Jaffna district.

  Troops observed two armed LTTE militants in the Kolombuthurai area of Jaffna district and asked them to stop. One of them blew himself up while the other, injured in troops firing, managed to escape.

  Two soldiers on clearing patrol in the Nikawewa area of Vavuniya district sustained injuries due to the explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine.

  At Thampanai in the Vavuniya district, one soldier was injured in a LTTE mortar fire towards troops.

• January 12: At least 15 LTTE militants were killed during a fierce gun battle that erupted between militants and troops at Pallikuli in the Mannar district. One soldier was killed and five others were injured during the clash.

  Troops in three separate incidents moved forward and destroyed three bunkers of the LTTE in the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilaly areas of Jaffna district and killed six militants. Two soldiers were also injured during the incidents.

  An LTTE bunker was fired upon by troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district. While four militants were killed, one soldier sustained injuries during the clash.

  During clashes that erupted between the two sides at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district, three LTTE militants were killed and two others injured by troops.

  Troops confronted another group of LTTE militants at Eelamaruttankulam in the Vavuniya district. Two militants were killed during the confrontation.

  One soldier was killed when troops on duty at Parappakandal in the Mannar district were fired upon by militants. Troops, however, retaliated and repulsed the attack.

  An army foot patrol on duty in the area between Chettukulam and Parayanakulam on the Mannar road was fired upon by LTTE militants from a hideout. Troops retaliated and neutralized the LTTE fire. One soldier was killed and four other soldiers injured in the LTTE fire.

  Two soldiers were injured due to the explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine in the Vavuniya district. One of the injured soldier succumbed to his injuries later.

  During clashes between troops and LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district, one militant was killed. One soldier was also injured.

  Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district, killing one militant and injuring another. One soldier also sustained injuries.

  Troops shot dead one LTTE militant in the Vankalacheddikulam area of Vavuniya district.

  Militants fired small arms towards troops at Vankalacheddikulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier sustained injuries in the incident.

  One soldier sustained injuries when militants fired at the troops in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district.

• January 11: At least 13 LTTE militants, including three female cadres, were killed in a pre-dawn raid carried out by troops on an LTTE bunker line in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district. Four bunkers were also destroyed in the raid.

  Troops after observing two groups of LTTE militants in the area north of Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district launched an attack on them, killing 13 militants. While six militants were killed and at least one injured in the first attack, troops killed seven more militants and injured nine others in the second attack.

  Troops attacked and destroyed an LTTE bunker in the Karampaikkulam area of Mannar district, killing eight militants and injuring several others.

  Eight LTTE militants were killed and 10 others injured by troops as they repulsed a militant attack in the area west of Puthukulam in the Mannar district. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.

  Troops attacked an LTTE bunker line at Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and killed six militants.

  Troops operating ahead of the FDL in the Periyapandirichchan area of Vavuniya district confronted group of LTTE militants and killed at least five of them. About four hours after the incident, terrorists fired mortar and artillery towards the troops, injuring 13 soldiers.

  Troops launched two separate attacks on LTTE bunkers in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and killed five militants, including one militant leader. Three bunkers were also destroyed in the incident.

  During a clash that erupted between the two sides at Pulipanthayakulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed four militants. One soldier was also inured in the incident.

  Troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and killed three militants. Two other militants were injured in the incident.

  Troops killed two LTTE militants during an encounter in the Ethawatunuwewa area of Vavuniya district.

  Four soldiers sustained injuries in a LTTE fire at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

  Two soldiers were injured in an LTTE mortar fire at Kaduruvitankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  At Periyapandirichchan in the Vavuniya district, two more soldiers were more injured due to the explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine.

  Troops carried out an attack on a militant hideout and injured an unspecified number of militants at Mudalkutti in the Vavuniya district. One soldier also received injuries in the exchange of fire.

  One person was injured when an unattended parcel on a platform inside the Fort Railway Station in Colombo exploded.

• January 10: Troops confronted a group of LTTE militants in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district and killed at least five militants.

  Troops killed five LTTE militants during an attack launched in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Three LTTE militants were killed and several others injured by troops when they repulsed an LTTE attack in the Parappakandal area of Vavuniya district. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the incident site.

  Troops shot dead two LTTE militants in separate incidents in the Adampan area of Mannar district.

  One LTTE militant was killed and two others sustained injuries when troops launched an attack on a bunker of the outfit in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  One LTTE militant was killed by troops in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops killed one LTTE militant foiling an attempt by the outfit’s militants to infiltrate into the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  The LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards the Parappakandal FDL in the Mannar district and injured one soldier.

  One soldier was injured due to the LTTE firing during a confrontation between the two sides at Adampan in the Mannar district.

  Another soldier was reported injured in another LTTE fire at Eluttumadduwal in the Jaffna district.

  A US District Court in Maryland has sentenced a Sri Lankan to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to provide arms, ammunition and other military materiel to the LTTE. The sentence was imposed on Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, a Sri Lankan resident in the US.

  The LTTE is one of the most dangerous and deadly extremist outfits in the world and the world should be concerned about the outfit as they had ‘inspired’ networks worldwide, including the al-Qaeda in Iraq, said the FBI. In a January 10 report, posted on its website under the title "Taming the Tigers," the FBI alleged that the LTTE had perfected the use of suicide bombers, invented the suicide belt, pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks, killed some 4,000 persons in the past two years alone and assassinated two world leaders — the only terrorist organisation to do so. "Needless to say, the Tamil Tigers are among the most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world. For more than three decades, the group has launched a campaign of violence and bloodshed in Sri Lanka, the island republic off the southern coast of India. Its ultimate goal: to seize control of the country from the Sinhalese ethnic majority and create an independent Tamil State," the report said.

• January 9: The LTTE eastern leader Shanker was shot dead by the STF personnel at Shaukade in the Batticaloa district. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that Shanker who was spotted by the STF personnel on patrol at Shaukade, between the Sathurukanda and Eravur areas, opened fire towards them and was shot dead in the retaliatory fire. A micro pistol, three magazines and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession. "Shanker was appointed as the LTTE leader to the Batticaloa sector and was living in hideouts since the East was liberated," the Brigadier added.

  At least 19 LTTE militants were killed and over 30 injured during clashes between troops and the militants in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district where troops further consolidated their positions capturing an area of about one kilometer covering north of Parappakandal.

  10 LTTE militants, including a leader named Kalanadan, were killed when troops confronted a group of outfit’s militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

  At least eight LTTE militants were killed and an unspecified number of them injured during clashes between the militants and troops in the Parappakandal and Periyakulam areas of Mannar district.

  In a clash between the two sides at Chettukulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed five LTTE militants and captured one bunker of the outfit. Three soldiers sustained injuries due to the explosion of anti-personnel mines during the clash.

  Five LTTE militants were killed in two separate incidents in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district. While three militants were killed and a bunker destroyed in the first incident, troops killed two militants and destroyed three bunkers in the second incident. Three soldiers and two militants were also injured due to the exchange of fire.

  Troops at Kutinchankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed three of them. Four soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.

  Troops attacked a LTTE stronghold in the jungle off Janakapura in the Vavuniya district and killed three militants.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed and two others injured by troops during an encounter in the area west of Mullikulam in the Mannar district.

  Two civilians were reportedly shot dead by suspected LTTE militants at Murugan Kovil in the Kalladi area of Batticaloa district.

  Two LTTE militants were killed by troops during a confrontation in the Chettukulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops in the Navathkulama area of Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed two of them.

  In the Umayarathuwankulam area of Vavuniya district, troops confronted another group of LTTE militants and killed two of them. An unspecified number of militants sustained injuries too.

  Troops foiled an attempt by the LTTE militants to infiltrate into the Pallikuli area of Mannar district and inflicted heavy casualties to them. While a soldier who sustained injuries died later, the LTTE fatalities are yet to be ascertained.

  Three soldiers sustained injuries when their tractor hit a pressure mine at Kandaperiyakulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers sustained injuries during a clash that erupted between the two sides at Vankalacheddikulam in the Vavuniya district. Fatalities to the LTTE are yet to be ascertained.

  The SLAF chief, Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, narrowly escaped being caught in a bomb blast in Colombo. The SLAF commander had passed by the site of the blast in the Fort area of central Colombo, just three minutes before a parcel bomb placed in a roadside public telephone booth went off. Fitted with a timer, the bomb caused some minor damage to a building nearby. However, no casualties were reported.

• January 8: Suspected militants of the LTTE killed Sri Lankan non-Cabinet Minister for Nation Building, D.M. Dissanayake, in a claymore mine blast near Rukmani Devi junction at Ja-ela while he was proceeding towards Colombo to attend. A personal bodyguard of the Minister, identified as K.P. Rathnayaka, also succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. According to the Police, 13 people, including seven civilians, were injured in the incident.

  Troops killed six LTTE militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district when the militants were trying to enter the military-held areas.

  Troops killed four militants in the Periyathampane area of the Vavuniya district when the latter tried to confront troops in the area after firing a few shots towards them.

  Troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers in Nagarkovil area of Jaffna district and killed two militants.

  Troops launched attacks on the LTTE bunker lines in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district and destroyed an unspecified number of bunkers inflicting heavy casualties to the militants. While one soldier was reported killed and seven others injured, the LTTE fatalities is yet to be ascertained.

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

  The LTTE militants opened fire towards troops in the Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district and injured one soldier.

  Troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the area south of A-9 road at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and destroyed two bunkers.

• January 7: Troops at Talaivankulam in the Vavuniya district confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed four of them.

  Three LTTE militants were killed in the general area of Kuchchaveli near Trincomalee when the sailors observed LTTE movement in the area.

  Troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker in the general area south of A-9 road at Muhamalai in Jaffna and killed two LTTE cadres who were inside the bunker.

  Army troops at Kilaly in the Jaffna district attacked an LTTE movement and injured at least three militants.

  At least seven LTTE militants were killed as troops foiled an attempt by a group of the outfit’s militants to infiltrate into the security force’s FDL at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district. Three LTTE bunkers were also destroyed.

  Troops overpowered and killed an LTTE militant while he, disguised as a civilian, attempted to lob an explosive device on to the troops operating in the Vedamakilam area of Vavuniya district.

  Troops overpowered an LTTE militant and killed him in the Janakapura area of Vavuniya district.

• January 6: Troops killed four LTTE militants during an encounter at Kaduruvitankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops launched an attack towards the LTTE bunker line north of A-9 at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district and killed four militants. While two LTTE bunkers were also destroyed, an unspecified number of militants were reported injured in the incident.

  During an encounter at Pallikkulam in the Vavuniya district, troops killed three LTTE militants.

  Three LTTE militants were killed by troops during a clash at Pandivirichchankulam in the Vavuniya district.

  During a clash erupted that between the two sides at Muhamalai in the Jaffna district, two soldiers sustained injuries who died later. The number of LTTE fatalities is yet to be ascertained.

  Troops attacked a LTTE bunker and killed two more LTTE militants in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district.

  In the Kilaly area of Jaffna district, a group of soldiers who were on a search operation in the area were fired upon by the LTTE militants. Troops retaliated and killed two militants and injured several others.

  Troops opened fire towards a group of LTTE militants in the Pallikkulam area of Vavuniya district and killed two militants.

  Troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers and killed two militants in the Parappakandal area of Mannar district.

  Two LTTE militants blew themselves up fearing arrest as troops were conducting cordon and search in the Kottadi area of Jaffna district.

  One soldier was killed and eight others injured in an LTTE artillery attack in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district. Troops retaliated and inflicted an unspecified number of casualties to the LTTE militants. Details are awaited.

• January 5: Chief of the "Liberation Tigers Military Intelligence", self-styled Col. Charles a.k.a. Shanmuganathan Ravishankar, was killed in a "random claymore attack" by the Sri Lanka Army’s Deep Penetration Unit at Pallamadu in the Mannar district. Charles, who has been in charge of internal intelligence within the ranks of the LTTE ground forces and led an external operations corps and regular combat force that has been deployed in Mannar district, was killed along with three LTTE "lieutenants" in the ambush while they were travelling in a van between Iluppaikkadavai and Pallamadu at 3:10 p.m. Confirming the news, the Sri Lanka Defence Ministry said that Charles was deputy to Pottu Amman, the chief of the LTTE’s intelligence wing.

  At least 20 LTTE cadres were reported killed and a large number of other cadres were injured following a raid by the troops on a bunker line of the outfit at Parappakandal in the Mannar district.

  Six LTTE militants were killed in the Adampan area of Mannar district. Two bunkers were neutralised. Intercepted LTTE radio communication later revealed that two more cadres were killed.

  Five LTTE militants were killed by troops during an encounter in the Kutinchankulam area of Vavuniya district.

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

  Troops shot dead two LTTE militants who tried to infiltrate into the military held areas of Pullekyarkulam in the Vavuniya district. One soldier was injured in the incident.

  At Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district, troops launched an artillery attack on an identified LTTE location deep in the area. Troops monitored LTTE communication and confirmed that three militants were injured in the attack.

  The LTTE militants fired mortars at troops in the Kokkuthuduvai area of Vavuniya district and injured two soldiers. One more soldier was injured in the same area due to the explosion of an anti personnel mine.

• January 4: Six LTTE militants were killed in separate encounters Vavuniya and Mannar.

  Six LTTE militants were killed after troops stormed the outfit’s bunker line in the Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas of Jaffna district. Four soldiers were injured during the encounter.

  Three LTTE cadres were killed during an armed clash between troops and militants in the Mullikulam area of Mannar district.

  Troops storming the LTTE defence line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district killed two militants and injured several others. Troops also destroyed one LTTE bunker.

  Two LTTE cadres were killed when another confrontation erupted between the two sides in the area east of Janakapura in Vavuniya district.

  A soldier trapped in an IED explosion in Thampanai of Vavuniya succumbed to injuries.

  Three soldiers were injured in anti personnel mine explosions in the Kutinchankulam and Periyakulam areas of the Vavuniya district.

  Two soldiers were injured when the LTTE militants fired mortars towards the troops at Kokkuthuduvai in the Vavuniya district.

  The LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine targeting the STF jeep moving between Lahugala and Hulannuge in the Ampara district. The vehicle was slightly damaged and one officer sustained injuries in the explosion that occurred near the 301-km post.

  The death toll in the LTTE claymore attack at Slave Island in Colombo on January 2 has risen to five with the death of the Second Lieutenant D.M.S.K. Dissanayake of Sri Lanka National Guard who was among the critically injured persons.

  The LTTE has indicated that only a demonstration of its military might would change the present international climate in its favour. V Balakumaran, a senior member of the LTTE, said in an interview to NTT last week: "The international community has been vacillating in taking decisive actions on Sri Lanka because they are unable to relate their own interests to the chaotically unfolding political and military situation in Sri Lanka. Only the demonstration of military strength by the Tigers can bring clarity to the situation for the international community to correctly relate their interests, and aggressively engage." He added, "We expect 2008 will be the year where we can overcome the diplomatic hurdles that confront us."

• January 3: At least six LTTE militants were killed and more than a dozen injured when troops stormed the outfit’s bunker line at Pallikuli, west of Adampan, in the Mannar district. One of the seven soldiers wounded in the incident later succumbed to his injuries. Six LTTE bunkers were completely destroyed by the troops.

  Troops in the Pallikkulam area of Vavuniya district launched an attack on a LTTE bunker line and completely destroyed one bunker, killing four militants while injuring another. Four soldiers also sustained injuries in the incident.

  Troops observed an infiltration attempt of the LTTE militants into the security forces held areas west of Palamoddai in the Vavuniya district and launched counter fire killing at least four militants.

  Two soldiers were killed and three wounded when an army truck moving in the Sinhayaulpotha area of Vavuniya district hit a pressure mine laid by the LTTE.

  One LTTE militant was killed by troops in the Navakkulam area of Mannar district.

  The LTTE militants opened mortar fire towards villagers in the Illandamoddai area of Mannar district and injured four of them. Troops retaliated the mortar fire and repulsed the attack.

  At Kilaly in the Jaffna district, troops launched an attack on the LTTE defence line and destroyed three LTTE bunkers. Three militants were reportedly injured in the incident.

  The government’s decision to abrogate the CFA was based on a policy decision and the doors are yet wide open for a peaceful and negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict, said Cabinet spokesperson and Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. He said that the CFA will be abrogated based on a Cabinet memorandum submitted by the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake at the Cabinet meeting on January 2. He also said that the Cabinet had not yet decided to ban the LTTE.

  The government officially conveyed to Norway its decision to pull out of the CFA. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed a letter to Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem, saying that the government was withdrawing from the agreement.

• January 2: The Sri Lanka government decided to withdraw from the CFA with the LTTE. At the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake proposed to annul the CFA, signed in February 22, 2002, between then United National Front government and the LTTE, government spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. "All the Cabinet Ministers agreed for that and the Premier was tasked to inform the matter to the Norwegian facilitators soon," he said. The motion has been moved since there was no point in continuing with the CFA as the LTTE has committed a large number of cease-fire violations, the Minister added. "The Government decided to officially withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement since it is futile to continue with the Ceasefire with no indication that LTTE is willing to enter the peace path," the Minister said, adding further, "The Ceasefire has been violated by the LTTE more than 10,000 times. The Cabinet decision will be put into practice by using the terms and conditions of the Ceasefire Agreement itself."

  Four persons were killed and over 20 injured in a powerful bomb blast in Colombo. The Defence Ministry said the blast which occurred at about 9:30am opposite the Nippon Hotel, targeted an army bus carrying soldiers.

  At least 10 LTTE militants were killed and 30 others injured when troops launched two separate attacks on a LTTE bunker line at Kilaly in the Jaffna district. Two soldiers were also killed and six others sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. Five LTTE bunkers were destroyed in the incident.

  Troops entered the LTTE bunker lines in the Vaiyaththukulam area of Vavuniya district and killed four militants. While one soldier was injured in the encounter, the troops destroyed one bunker.

  In the Umayaratuvarankulam area of Vavuniya district, troops destroyed a LTTE bunker, killing four militants.

  The LTTE militants lobbed a hand grenade at a STF foot patrol in the Thirithilana area of Ampara district without causing any fatalities. The STF retaliated and killed three militants.

  Troops killed two LTTE militants during an encounter at Parappakandal in the Vavuniya district.

  During an encounter between the two sides at Pandivirichchen in the Vavuniya district, the troops killed two LTTE militants.

  Troops observed a movement of armed LTTE militants south of A-9 road in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna district and launched an attack on them. One militant was killed in the attack.

• January 1: The UNP Member of Parliament, T. Maheshwaran, was shot at and injured by suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE while he was offering prayers inside Sivam Kovil (Temple of Lord Shiva) at Kotahena in the capital Colombo on January 1. The Parliamentarian, however, succumbed to his injuries. One of the nine more civilians wounded in the incident also died of his injuries. Meanwhile the Kotahena police claimed that the suspect, a resident of Gurunagar in Jaffna, was shot at and injured in retaliatory fire by Maheswaran's security personnel and is under police custody, adds Colombo Page.

  Two soldiers were killed and an equal number of others wounded during a clash between the LTTE militants and troops at Welioya in the Vavuniya district.

  Troops foiled an attempt by the LTTE cadres to infiltrate into the Navathkulama area. One militant was killed while another sustained injuries in the incident.

  Two soldiers who were engaged in a search operation north of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district sustained injuries following explosion of a booby trap laid by the LTTE.

  One soldier was wounded due to the explosion of an anti-personnel mine left buried by the LTTE at Villattikulam in the Vavuniya district.

  The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the LTTE is under pressure due to a sharp decline in recruiting cadres and acute shortage of arms and ammunition.