Troops overrun Lima Base - 3

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers operating in the Mannar front overran the small-medium sized camp which the LTTE calls Lima Base-3 in a pre dawn attack today (21st). 7 LTTE cadres were killed in the firefight that ensued and five SLA soldiers too sustained injuries. The army has taken control of roughly 1km stretch of land ahead of their previous defensive positions following the clash.

Meanwhile the LTTE has accused the army's "DPU (Deep Penetration Unit) of slaying Rev. Father M X. Karunaratnam who was the chairman of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR). The army has flatly denied any involvement in the matter. According to our sources, no long range surveillance teams were active in the said area (Mallaavi - Vavunikku'lam Road) on the 20th (Sunday).

Tamilnet is known to attribute the name "DPU' to even regular FDL recon teams of the army. On the 19th, army's special infantry formations laid an ambush to LTTE reinforcements in Mannar, which resulted in the instant death of 7 cadres. Even these infantrymen were not from the LRRP or 3SF squads. Flagship LRRP teams are only deployed by the army to hunt down top priority LTTE targets. And it will be highly unlikely for the army to deploy its deep battle space units (which are comprised of some of the best in the army) to hunt down civilian targets such as Rev. Father M X. Karunaratnam, whose death gives the army no apparent gains.

3 LTTE boats destroyed: Mullaithiv

At least 3 boats belonging to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been destroyed in an air raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets today evening. The boats were attacked near LTTE held Mullaithiv coast at around 5.30PM by 10th fighter squadron bombers.

The air raid was based on intelligence information retrieved by naval intelligence sources.

SLAF bombs Muhamalai, Oddusudan

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), after being relatively inactive in the past two weeks due to bad weather conditions, have stepped up air strikes over LTTE targets in the northern province. Fighters of the 10th fighter squadron conducted nigh time air raids on a series of LTTE bases in jungles of Oddusudan on the 15th while helicopter gunships of the 9th attack helicopter attacked a LTTE mortar launching pad near the Muhamalai defence line on the 16th. The Air Force conducted air raids on an LTTE communications facility located south of Kokavil, Mullaithiv, also on the 15th. Exact damages caused to LTTE cadres from these air strikes are not yet available.

Meanwhile several friendly foreign intelligence services have renewed their warnings of LTTE infiltration in Colombo. According to these intel sources, between 75-100 hard core cadres from LTTE's intelligence wing and Black Tiger suicide wing have entered Colombo. VVIP assassination (the president is a top priority target of the LTTE), destruction of economic structures, disruption of day to day civilian life and assasination of key military personnel are some of their objectives. The LTTE, as usual, have deployed several teams working on the same target. This strategy is known to boost the success rate of the mission as there is always the chance of another team successfully completing the mission even if one gets busted.

A foreign intelligence service had previously warned of LTTE threats to minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle. According to these warnings, two black tigers had been given the task of assassinating the minister. One of them apparently succeeded.

Happy new year!

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Sea tiger base raided : Mullaithiv

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets raided an LTTE military base located in LTTE held Mullaithiv district today evening. Jets of SLAF's 10th fighter squadron bombed the pre identified target located in Chemmalei at approximately 2.15PM today.

Meanwhile LTTE's senior leadership has showed signs of abandoning Madu. Almost all senior cadres deployed in the area have retreated to command bunkers located in LTTE held territory further north in the Wanni. The move escalated pace when two of army's fighting formations advanced further after a renewed round of fighting in the first week of April. However the tigers are taking care to fill the possible entry routes with mines and IEDs. New intelligence information has suggested that the guerillas may have booby trapped some of the church buildings as well. LTTE continued to blame the army for shelling the church premises.

The government officially released casualty figures of the armed forces for the month of March. According to government released figures, 93 security forces personnel have been killed and nearly 700 more have been injured in the fighting. during March. Our sources suggest that the actual  number of KIA is 104, as opposed to 93. However media reports claiming 300+ deaths of government soldiers in March are completely inaccurate. LTTE casualty figures are believed to be much higher with guerillas suffering 10-15 (one one day as high as 52 KIA) deaths daily.

In other news several foreign media reports have misinterpreted an arms purchase by Sri Lanka. The army is not buying any type of missiles as claimed by the report, but are merely buying 10000 122MM rockets for its RM-71 MBRLs to be used against the LTTE in the ongoing confrontations. MBRLs play a significant role in battle as they are known to be an effective counter against LTTE's 'human waves' approach.

Weliweriya Suicide Blast Images : True face of terrorism

Warning: The uncensored images below are extremely graphic and are not for the faint of heart, young children, or anyone offended by violent images.

Click on the image below to view entire album.

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The album contains images from the blast scene at Weliweriya Kanthi stadium. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out a devastating suicide bombing just before the scheduled sporting event (a marathon) started. The target was senior government minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle who along with 14 others were killed in the incident. Nearly a 100 more civilians were injured in the blast.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had previously vowed not to attack any civilian targets (including any sports events) in the country. However civilian transports, railway stations and shopping malls have been attacked by the tigers, even during the time of the Ceasefire Agreement.

Black Tiger training facility bombed

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets bombed a black tiger training facility located in LTTE held territory north west of Mankulam today. The air raid which was launched at 6.15AM was reported to be accurate by fighter pilots.

LTTE is known to train its black tiger human bombers in isolation from other elements of the organization. Black tiger training bases are strategically placed so that the interactions with the outer world is kept to a minimum. Black tigers (Karum Puli) are considered to be LTTE's primary weapon with over 275 suicide attacks under their belt, both on civilian and military targets. It was only yesterday that a suicide bomber killed a senior government minister and 14 others while injuring around 100 more, almost all civilians.

Meanwhile in the northern front, gunships of the 9th attack helicopter squadron launched attacked the LTTE frontline in Muhamalai at 6.15AM today. Although pilots have confirmed accurate hits on the bunker line, details of exact damages caused to the LTTE are not yet available.

Minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle killed in Weliweriya blast

Senior parliamentarian and government minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle and 10 others have been killed in a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide blast in Weliweriya today. More than 40 others are reported to be wounded. Almost all casualties are civilians.

Minister Fernandopulle was the chief guest at the national marathon that was to be started from Kanthi stadium in Weliweriya.

Video: A journalist's camera captures the explosion during news coverage of the marathon. Credit to original uploader for uploading the video and Sri Lanka In Focus for the info.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are known to attack civilian and military targets alike, in their campaign to create a separate homeland for Tamils.

Army closes in on Madu

Two fighting formations of the Sri Lanka army's 57th division have surrounded the Madhu church premises after a renewed round of fighting in the area. Troops leading the advance from Pandrivichchan have already secured two smaller churches in the area.

Meanwhile the holy statue of Virgin Mary has been moved from the Church premises to Thewayampiddi (currently under LTTE control) in the Wanni  after fighting erupted near Madhu church premises. According to Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the statue was moved to LTTE controlled territory to prevent it from being damaged by LTTE's own artillery fire.

The Liberation Tigers have been continuously shelling SLA positions in the region which are now situated 1KM-1.5KM from the church premises. According to military intelligence LTTE has deployed its heavy artillery guns in close proximity of Madhu shrine on a number of previous occasions, exploiting the cover of the no-war-zone. According to three LTTE cadres who surrendered to the armed forces on the 3rd, LTTE has deployed fighters from its Radha regiment, Malathi regiment (comprises entirely of women fighters) and its elite Charles Anthony regiment in the Madu sector.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-24 helicopter gunships attacked an LTTE mortar launch pad in Andankulam region today afternoon. Details of any damages caused by this air raid are not yet available.

Army camp hit by lightning : Minneriya

3 soldiers were killed and 60 more were hospitalized when a lightning bolt struck a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base in Katukeliyawa, Minneriya, today evening.

Majority of hospitalized soldiers are being treated for shock. A large number of Soldiers were in the outdoor ground located inside base premises when the incident occurred.