Eastern Province (NA): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2007

Armed men shot dead another civilian, identified as Gopalakrishnan Sangeethakanthan, near Nilavai junction in the Jaffna district on the same day. In another incident, a civilian, identified as T. Nirojan, succumbed to his injuries caused by Sri Lanka Army’s (SLA) mortar fire launched towards Vantharumoolai west area in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district from Mavadivembu SLA camp on March 1. Read less...

Dead bodies of two civilians, identified as Mohamad Mansil and Mohamad Ikram, were recovered from the general area of Illuppukulam in Uppuweli area of Trincomalee district on March 1, according to defence ministry sources. Sri Lankan Army suspected that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres are involved in the incident. Read less...

Special Task Force (STF) troops, after intercepting a movement of LTTE cadres in the general area of Kallady in Batticaloa district, opened fire and killed three of them on March 1 (today)-morning. STF troops also recovered one T-56 weapon, four magazines, one claymore mine, four hand grenades and one cyanide capsule from the place. Read less...

Troops de-mined 46 Anti Personnel mines from the general area of Uppural in Trincomalee district on March 1, according to army sources. Read less...

Unidentified armed men shot dead another civilian, identified as Yogarasa Yogeswaran, at his house at Kaluvankerny under Eravur police division in the Batticaloa district on the same day. Read less...

Another incident, Sri Lanka Air Force attacked identified LTTE camps, on March 2, in Thoppigala in the Eastern Batticaloa district and injured 31 LTTE cadres, including 14 women cadres in the camp, Colombo Page reports. Read less...

Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed when unidentified persons threw a grenade on a SLA patrol unit at Namalwatte in the Morawewa division in the Trincomalee district on March 2, Tamil Net reports. Read less...

Unidentified persons shot dead two civilians, identified as Abdul Razak and Priyantha, on March 2 at Salaipaiaru in the Trincomalee district, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

Unidentified armed men shot dead a civilian, identified as Thilainayagam Theepan, in his house at Karaithivu in Sammanthurai police division in Amparai district on March 3. Read less...

At least four civilians received injuries when LTTE cadres triggered a claymore mine and destroyed Tamil Makkal Vidthalai Puligal (TMVP) political office of LTTE (Karuna faction) in Batticaloa on March 4-night. The claymore explosion completely destroyed the office injuring one of the party supporters inside the office, according to defence sources. Read less...

LTTE cadres shot dead two deserters from their ranks identified as T. Mohan and K. Srikumaran after storming their residence at Kondayankerni junction in Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district, on March 4, according to Daily News. Read less...

One Special Task Force (STF) personnel was killed in Pottuvil town of Ampara district on March 4 when the LTTE cadres opened fire on a road patrol. In another incident, at least three security personnel were injured in a LTTE mortar attack at the Army's forward defence lines at Omanthai in the Vavuniya district, army sources report. Read less...

The eastern district of Ampara, a police commando was killed on March 4 when forces encountered a rebel group during a foot patrol, AFP reports. Read less...

Two civilians were shot dead by unidentified gunmen on March 4 in the eastern district of Batticaloa, AFP reports. Read less...

Unidentified armed men abducted two civilians, identified as Thambyaiyah Mohan and Kurukulasingam Srikumaran, from their house for interrogation and shot them dead subsequently at Kendayankerny in Karuvakerny area of the Batticaloa district on March 4, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

On the same day, LTTE cadres fired mortars towards Special Task Forces post area at Maha Oya in the Ampara district, according to SLA reports. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a woman, identified as Uthayakumar Sasikala, at Periyakulam in the Kuchchaveli area of Trincomalee district on February 6, reported Tamil Net. Read less...

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has warned civilians not to board any Sri Lankan vessels traveling between Trincomalee and Jaffna as it has decided to attack such vessels, reported Colombo Page. The Tigers' clandestine radio - Voice of Tigers (VOT) - said, "We are going to take immediate steps to disrupt the movement of the Sri Lankan armed forces in the sea; civilians are advised not to board any such vessels." It also accused the armed forces of using civilian vessels to transport troops and military hardware. The latest LTTE threat came days after the LTTE's political wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan, told visiting Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar in Kilinochchi that the LTTE must launch a defensive operation as Sri Lankan troops in the Weli Oya region have launched a "major offensive" against the LTTE in the Mullaitivu district. Read less...

One soldier was injured when troops repulsed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack on a foot patrol of the security forces close to Black Bridge in the Batticaloa district on March 8, reports Sri Lanka Army. Read less...

The Defense Ministry said that ground troops, backed by artillery, captured three LTTE bases in the Trincomalee district in a major Military operation that began on March 8 and ended on March 9-morning (today), reported Associated Press. "We have forced the terrorists to flee from these three bases," Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said, adding, there were between 100 to 150 rebels in the bases. "They have suffered heavy casualties," he added futher, but did not provide a figure. Read less...

A day earlier, unidentified persons shot dead a Muslim woman, identified as Aiysha Umma, at Iqbal Nagar in Nilaveli division north of Trincomalee town, reported Tamil Net. Read less...

A three-pronged forward march of the Army and Special Task Force troops, aimed at liberating villages in LTTE-held areas in Thoppigala jungles and surrounding villages, that commenced on March 9, is now successfully overrunning several outfit camps in the Batticaloa district, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. LTTE communication intercepted by troops revealed that a large number of middle level outfit cadres were either killed or injured in confrontations during the last two days while remaining cadres were withdrawing towards Thoppigala and Tharawikulam areas. In confrontations on March 8, ten LTTE cadres were reported killed and seventeen others sustained injuries. Read less...

Anti-insurgency commandos overran a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) base in the Ampara district on March 9, killing at least 20 outfit cadres, the Military said, reported Associated Press. Three commandos were killed and 12 others sustained injuries during the operation. Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said that the base was thought to be a threat to the main road where suspected outfit cadres often activated roadside bombs targeting the Military commandos. Read less...

Security forces (SFs) completed a 48-hour humanitarian operation capturing four major LTTE bases in Peraru jungles North of Trincomalee. Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told Daily News that over 150 LTTE cadres in the four outfit bases had withdrawn from the area once the SFs began their advance. "The troops have started consolidating in the captured areas and have recovered a large number of war-like items and equipment left by the feeing Tigers. The troops are pursuing these desperate cadres," Brigadier Samarasinghe said, adding, "We believe that there are no more Tiger bases in the North of Trincomalee and the area is now free of LTTE threats. With the capture of these four Tiger bases civilians in Kivulekada, Gomarankadawala, Thiriyaya, Kallarawa and Pulmuddai can lead a life free of Tiger threats." Read less...

Troops recovered 7-kg of explosives packed in five bags and three metres of detonator codes left behind by LTTE cadres from the Sempimale area in Trincomalee district. Separately, on March 9, troops recovered four hand grenades from the Alaveddy area of Jaffna district. Further, on March 11, one claymore mine was recovered by troops from the Pulliadi Irakkam area of Vavuniya district. Read less...

According to International Red Cross (ICRC), nearly 40,000 civilians have left LTTE-controlled areas in eastern Sri Lanka over the last three days. ICRC spokesman Davide Vignathi told BBC Tamil Service on March 11 that the latest influx has joined thousands of existing Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Batticaloa. "This brings up the total number of IDPs presently sheltering in Batticaloa district to 120,000," he added. Read less...

An encounter took place between soldiers on route clearing duties and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres at Unnichchi, area between Chenkalady and Mahaoya, in the Batticaloa district on March 11, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. During ensuing confrontation, troops killed nearly twenty LTTE cadres and injured a large number of them. Subsequently, troops conducted a search in the area and recovered fourteen LTTE dead bodies, ten T-56 weapons, two RPGs, one sniper gun and five mobile phones from the area. One soldier was killed and other ten were injured during the incident. Read less...

Five soldiers sustained injuries when troops on duty in the area west of Kohombagasthalawa in the Batticaloa district came under LTTE fire. Troops retaliated and it is believed that the outfit suffered heavy losses in the ensuing confrontation. Read less...

LTTE opened mortar fire towards Badhirekka and Tampitiya villages, killing one civilian, identified as N. A. Rathumahathaya, and inuring his wife and two children. Read less...

On March 11, Special Task Force (STF) personnel on foot patrol along Kalmunai - Batticaloa road in the Pandiruppu area of Ampara district were caught in an LTTE claymore explosion. Two STF personnel were killed and another sustained injuries in the explosion. Read less...

On the same day, troops retaliated a LTTE fire in the Pankulam area of Trincomalee district and subsequently recovered two T-56 weapons and five magazines with ninety rounds of ammunition from the area. Read less...

Two top level Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) intelligence wing cadres, identified as Vendran and Illakkian, were among eleven outfit cadres killed during Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) air strikes in the Thoppigala area of Batticaloa district on March 12, reported Sri Lanka Army (SLA). According to the report, SLAF fighter crafts hit identified outfit’s concentrations in the Thoppigala region for two days on March 12 and 13, causing heavy damages to LTTE. Read less...

According to Daily News, LTTE had taken control over the Karadiyanaru hospital forcing civilians to evacuate the hospital in preparation of a Vakarai type operation in face of the ongoing Security Forces (SFs) operations to liberate the areas west of Batticaloa, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said. "We have received reliable information from civilians arriving in cleared areas that the LTTE had taken control over the Karadiyanaru hospital to treat injured cadres," he added. Read less...

On March 14, troops in Batticaloa district recovered two 81-mm mortar bombs and one Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher projectile from the Kirimichchi area. Troops also recovered one K 400 type hand grenade from the Mavady area of Jaffna district Read less...

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter craft engaged identified Liberation Tigers of Tiger Tamil Eelam (LTTE) targets in the Thoppigala jungles of Batticaloa district on March 14, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. Following intelligence that confirmed the presence of outfit concentrations, fighter craft struck the targets inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE infrastructure and terrorists. Exact casualty figures are yet to be ascertained. Read less...

Two LTTE cadres from Thoppigala, surrendered to the SFs at Black Bridge in the Chenkaladi area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

Xinhua quoting Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe reports that over 60 LTTE cadres and 10 troops have been killed in clashes in the island's restive Northern and Eastern provinces over the last few days. Read less...

In Vavuniya, as many as 280 anti-personnel mines buried by the LTTE from the areas surrounding Omanthai in the past forty-eight hours. Troops also recovered one T-56 weapon, one magazine with ammunition and a rifle from the Mawadichcheni area of Trincomalee district. Read less...

SFs arrested two terrorists, including a female, who were trying to explode a hand grenade on the troops conducting routine checking procedures at a roadblock in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

Troops retaliated when their foot patrol in the Mawadivembu are of Trincomalee district were fired upon by LTTE cadres on March 16 and subsequently recovered one T-56 weapon and one magazine with twenty-seven ammunition from the incident site. Read less...

Four LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army road block in “Q” junction in Chenkaladi of Batticaloa after escaping from the outfit’s training camp at Kodduwamadu. They deposited three T-56 weapons, 12 T-56 magazines, 252 rounds of ammunition and a large haul of explosives. Read less...

Naval troops intercepted another LTTE arms vessel and destroyed it sinking the vessel with all onboard in the sea off Arugam Bay, Ampara on March 18. As reported earlier, one suspected LTTE vessel that was carrying a consignment of armaments to their organization across the seas about 195 nautical miles away from Arugam Bay in the Ampara district was destroyed by the naval troops on duty on March 18. Read less...

On March 18, troops opened fire after observing a gathering of LTTE cadres in the Peraru area of Trincomalee district, killing two outfit’s cadres and injuring few others. One soldier was also killed in the incident. Later, troops recovered the dead bodies of two LTTE cadres and one T-56 weapon. Read less...

One suspected LTTE vessel that was carrying a consignment of armaments to their organization across the seas about 195 nautical miles away from Arugam Bay in the Ampara was district was destroyed by the naval troops on duty on March 18. More details about the contents in the vessel and the fate of the LTTE men abroad the vessel are awaited. Navy Spokesman Commander D. K. P. Dassanayaka told Daily News that the blazing vessels sank amid loud explosions from within confirming that they were carrying explosives and firearms, adding, “We believe the two vessels had been transporting a heavy consignment of arms including artillery, mortars and explosives.” Read less...

Three LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army at Kokkadicholai in the Batticaloa district through International Committee of Red Cross. Similarly, on March 18, three LTTE cadres surrendered to the Muttur Police in the Trincomalee district. Read less...

A day earlier, troops killed two LTTE cadres in the Sempimalai area of Trincomalee district. One soldier, identified as Private C.T. Chandrasekara, was killed and another sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. Read less...

LTTE blasted two high-tension transformer posts near Santhiveli along Valachchena main road. The destruction of these two electric transformers plunged the whole area into chaos putting laying of pipe-born water supplies, other electricity-run projects and all other commercial activities. However, no casualties were reported in both these incidents Read less...

On March 19, STF troops on routine foot patrol along Kalavanchikudy – Batticaloa road came under an LTTE claymore attack while they were passing Seddi Palama in the Kurukkulamadam area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

On the same day, LTTE cadres ambushed a group of soldiers killing two of them and wounding 12 others in the Batticaloa district, the Defense Ministry said on March 19 (today), according to Associated Press. Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse, a senior officer at the Military's information centre, said a firefight ensued following the ambush in Batticaloa late March 18, adding, "After we were attacked, our troops retaliated and we believe that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties." Read less...

On the same day, one LTTE cadre surrendered to the Kattankudy Police in the Batticaloa district. He handed over his T-56 weapon to the Police along with five magazines, one hand grenade, one cyanide capsule and one first aid box. Read less...

Special Task Force (STF) personnel killed four Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Vellaveli area of Batticaloa district on March 19, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). One T-56 weapon, four claymore mines, one intercom set, four hand grenades and two electronic detonators along with the dead bodies were recovered from the incident site. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, identified as Vaiyramuthu Jeyachandran, at Kiliveddy in the Trincomalee district, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

On March 20, de-mining troops unearthed two MBRL rounds and three 81-mm mortar bombs from the Kirimichchiya area. Read less...

More than 30 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres are believed to be dead and four Security Forces (SFs) were killed, when a fierce battle erupted between troops and the outfit cadres in the Batticaloa district on March 21, said Military officials according to Colombo Page. The outfit cadres continued to fire artillery and mortars at the Kumburumalai, Siththandi, Black Bridge, Mavedivembu and Chenkaladi Army camps, while at the same time a group of 300 outfit cadres attempted to infiltrate the camps in small groups. The indiscriminate shelling injured many civilians and severely damaged their houses. SFs retaliated with mortar and small arms fire, which killed more than 30 outfit cadres and injured many others. During the mortar attack four soldiers were killed and 14 were injured. In the search operation following the attack, six T-56 assault rifles, a LMG, a RPG, a Bangalore Torpedo and a large stock of ammunition were recovered by the troops. "Eight LTTE bodies were recovered in the search operation and according to LTTE communication intercepts over 30 cadres were seriously injured and were being taken to Thoppigala area," the official said. Following the attack Sri Lanka Air Force struck identified outfit’s targets in south of Vavunathivu area where the SFs believe the Tigers moved in after their failed attack. Meanwhile, LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan confirmed that the outfit had launched a "pre-emptive strike on military build-ups", adding, the aim was to prevent the military entering villages, disrupting harvests and scaring locals away, according to Associated Press. He admitted eight cadres of the outfit died in the fighting. Read less...

A day earlier, in the same district, troops recovered one RPG, one micro pistol, twenty five rounds of 9 mm ammunition, one 9 V battery, 350 gm of C4 explosives, two Improvised Explosive Devices, two communication sets, a stock of medical drugs and some other medical items from the Annaikottai Irrupukulam Trincomalee district. Read less...

One home guard was killed when LTTE cadres launched a small arms attack on a home guard point at Thambalagamuwa in the Trincomalee district. Read less...

The LTTE blasted a high tension tower in the Redeethenna area of Batticaloa district cutting electricity services to thousands of people in the Welikanda and Valachchenai areas, reports Colombo Page. Another transformer in the Kaluwankerni area further north of Welikanda also came under LTTE small arms attack, the Military said. The attack denied electricity to residents of Valachchenai and Kumbumulla areas. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a Tamil youth in the Trincomalee town, Tamil Net reports. Read less...

In a separate incident, SFs and LTTE cadres clashed in the Batticaloa district, after which troops recovered the dead bodies of six outfit cadres. Read less...

LTTE cadres from Thoppigala jungles opened indiscriminate fire towards populated Kommanthurai and Chenkalady villages on March 24, killing a 6-year-old girl and injuring two other civilians. Read less...

A prominent social worker and a People Alliance organizer, Kandapudi Subharathnam, was shot dead by suspected LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres opposite his residence at Eruvil in the Batticaloa Town. Read less...

Two LTTE cadres surrendered to the Army detachment in the Unnichchiya area. Read less...

On March 27, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter crafts carried out aerial attacks on an LTTE intelligence camp in Kanagarayankulam, north of Puliyankulam, close to Karappukatti, another artillery and mortar point in Suddeipiddy, north of Mannar and one more artillery and mortar position, south of Thoppigala, Ampara. A day earlier SLAF fighter crafts attacked a Sea-Tiger base in Wellankulam, north of Mannar, followed by one more attack on another base at Thimbilikulam in Mullaithivu. Extents of the damages are yet to be ascertained. Read less...

On the same day, LTTE cadres lobbed a hand grenade in the Ariyampathi area of Batticaloa district, injuring four civilians and two Police constables, according to SLA. Read less...

On the same day, troops repulsed LTTE attack in the Black Bridge area of Batticaloa district, reports SLA. Read less...

The death toll rises to ten in LTTE suicide attack targeting the Army main base at Chenkalady in the Batticaloa district on March 27 as one civilian and SF personnel succumbed to their injuries later in the day, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). As reported earlier, three members of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), identified as Carthic, Chandru and Vicky, a 12-year-old boy Navarathnam two SF personnel were killed in the explosion. Read less...

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out a suicide attack targeting the Army main base at Chenkalady in the Batticaloa district against on March 27 (today), reports Sri Lanka Army. Three members of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), identified as Carthic, Chandru and Vicky, a 12-year-old boy Navarathnam two security force (SF) personnel were killed in the explosion. Five civilians, two Army soldiers and two Policemen were injured. According to reports, soldiers on sentry duty at a road barrier in front of the Chenkalady Army camp spotted the unusual movement of a tractor around the camp premises alerted the main road barrier as the tractor laden with explosives was fast heading towards the main entrance of the camp. The tractor with two suicide bombers crashed into the barrier but the troops immediately opened fire on the tractor. Subsequently LTTE cadres blew themselves up causing a huge explosion that covered a considerable extent of the area that housed a political office of the EPDP nearby. Read less...

A statement by the Military said troops also seized a large number of mines, improvised explosive devices, guns and other weapons left behind by fleeing Tiger cadres in the face of advancing troops from Kokkadicholai, to the south of Batticaloa in the East, according to The Hindu. "Troops now consolidating the surrounding areas came across an air-conditioned, luxurious LTTE conference hall with most modern facilities, which was built in secrecy and used as their main centre of activities, it said. An LTTE structure near Kokkadicholai junction for production of liquor too fell into the hands of the advancing troops. The Military said the outfit had been using the Kokkadicholai area to launch artillery attacks, including the recent one on diplomats and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe when they landed in Weber Stadium in Batticaloa town. "With the fall of Kokkadicholai, troops have regained the control in the areas to the south and west of Batticaloa town and surrounding areas". Read less...

Sri Lanka has declared portions of Sampur in Trincomalee district in the East, captured from the LTTE in September 2006, as a High Security Zone. A number of such displaced persons of Sampur, housed in refugee camps in the town, told The Hindu that they had been told that they cannot return to their homes due to security reasons. Read less...

At least ten civilians were killed and seven others were injured in two separate mortar attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sittandi, Sandiliveli and Morakottanchchena villages in the Batticaloa district on March 29, reports Sri Lanka Army. Read less...

On March 29, troops confronted a group of LTTE cadres in the Thambalagamuwa area of Trincomalee district, killing two outfit’s cadres and subsequently recovered two T-56 weapons, one multi purpose machine gun, one rocket propeller grenade launcher and a bulk of dry ration. Read less...

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) launched strikes on identified LTTE targets in the Mullaithivu district. The SLAF targeted the Sea-Tiger base in the Chalai area and destroyed it completely. Elsewhere, another outfit base was destroyed on March 29, added Colombo Page. Further, on March 30, SLAF attacked and destroyed a LTTE mortar position in the Karadiyanaru area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

On March 30, troops in the Nellukkulam area of Vavuniya district arrested a suspected LTTE cadre with one micro pistol, one hand grenade and one cyanide capsule from his possession. Troops also recovered 23 bags of rice, 5 kg dhal, one cooker, one weapon, one RPG weapon, one T-56 weapon, one radio set and two dead bodies of the terrorists from the Sittaru area of Trincomalee district. Read less...

Troops recovered two LTTE dead bodies from the Innorvillu area of Batticaloa district on March 30. Two T-56 weapons were also recovered. Read less...

A day earlier, troops retaliated a LTTE attack at Mailawadduwan in the Vavunativu area and subsequently recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre and one T 56 weapon from the incident site. Read less...

At least one soldier of the Special Task Force (STF) was killed and two personnel were injured in clashes between the Sri Lanka military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north and east even as the air force targeted yet another LTTE base on March 31, according to The Hindu. A statement by the military said one STF personnel was killed and another injured when the vehicle in which traveled was targeted by a claymore mine by the LTTE on March 31-evening in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

LTTE cadres activated a claymore mine targeting a Special Task Force route clearing patrol in the Kalmunai area of Ampara district on March 31, injuring an officer. Read less...

On March 31, one dead body of an LTTE cadre was recovered along with one T56 weapon, four magazines, 104 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, a dog tag and a field dressing from the Kalkuda area. Read less...

Police recovered one claymore Mine, one RPG round, 750 live T-56 ammunition and 29 feet of detonator cord from the Thambalagamuwa and Bharathipuram areas of Trincomalee district on March 31. Read less...