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

A civilian, identified as M. Bandara and his wife P.J Mallika, were shot dead by cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Mantotta in the Ampara district on January 1, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. Elsewhere, LTTE cadres shot dead another civilian, Sudubanda Rathnayaka and his wife Somawathi Rathnayaka, along the 3rd canal road in the Bakmitiyawa area. Both the couples were Singhalese. Read less...

Troops recovered the dead bodies of three Tamil youths, believed to be supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel Karuna, from the Kiran area of Batticaloa district on January 1, reports Sri Lanka Army. Civilians informed the troops that three dead bodies were found lying close to a church in the area, apparently killed by the LTTE cadres on December 31. The victims were identified as Sivanesvaram Puwanesvaram, Senthurai and Yoganadan Mayuran. Read less...

Troops retaliated LTTE fire when villagers of Rameshpuram in the Batticaloa district turned panic and began to run in all directions on January 1-morning as a chain of outfit mortar fire hit the village area between Black Bridge and Chenkalady. Read less...

A 16-year-old teenager who had been reportedly abducted earlier by LTTE cadres managed to escape from a LTTE training camp and sought protection from the Army camp at Kiran in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

Colombo Page quoting Military sources reports that the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) destroyed a Sea-Tiger base in Mannar on January 2. Similarly, SLAF launched an aerial attack on the Panichchankerni LTTE mortar positions in the Vakare region of Batticaloa district and destroyed several mortar and artillery gun positions. "With view to eradicating Sea Tiger capabilities in north of Mannar, SLAF Kfir jets this morning bombed several identified Tiger terrorist targets in Illuppaikadavai, Mannar, and Panichchankerni in Vakarai," Military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said. He added that the jets bombed targets after conducting surveillance in the area, and this particular Sea-Tiger base had been regularly used by the LTTE to launch deadly attacks on the Sri Lankan naval fleet on duty in the seas around the Gulf of Mannar. Meanwhile, the LTTE claimed that due to the aerial bombing, at least 15 people died and several others were injured. However, the Sri Lankan Government denied that the SLAF bombed civilian settlements. The Media Centre for National Security stated that SLAF Kfir jets carried out air strikes on a well-identified target - a Sea Tiger base in Illuppaikadaval, north of Mannar. Read less...

Four soldiers were injured when LTTE cadres fired artillery at the west of Vakare in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

SLA reports that troops recovered a hand grenade near the Unachchimadam Brigade in the Batticaloa district on January 2. Read less...

Troops retaliated when LTTE cadres directed mortar fire towards Vavunativu Army camp in the Batticaloa district, reports SLA. Read less...

According to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kafir jets bombed a LTTE heavy gun position in the general area (area under Government control) of Verugal in the Batticaloa district. “Around 10.00 a.m. Kfir attack aircraft bombed a Tiger heavy weapons site in the north of Verugal,” adds Colombo Page quoting a senior military official. Read less...

On January 5, two sailors were injured when LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting a Naval truck in the Alers Garden area of Trincomalee district. Read less...

On January 6, the dead bodies of two civilians were recovered from Allesgarden and another one from Chelvanayakapuram in the Trincomalee district, reports pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Website Tamil Net. The three civilians were reportedly shot dead by unidentified assailants a day earlier. Read less...

A day earlier, LTTE cadres fired artillery shells on Mavil Aru, Kallar, Mahindapura and Kadjuwatte Army camps in Trincomalee district from un-cleared areas (area not under Government control) of Vakarai, killing one soldier and injuring four others. Read less...

According to Associated Press, elite anti-terrorist commandoes seized a truck packed with explosives when they overran a key LTTE base in the Ampara district. The Military said the vehicle was destined for targets in the capital. Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters that a LTTE base in Eastern Ampara district fell on January 7 to the Special Task Force personnel, who also recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. The outfit was reportedly planning to use the truck and the explosives to carry out suicide attacks in the capital Colombo, the Defense Ministry said. Read less...

Five civilians were injured in claymore mine attack in the Central Camp area of Ampara district. Read less...

One home guard was injured when LTTE cadres opened up small arms fire at home guard point in the Mangagalagama area of Ampara district. Read less...

One soldier was killed and another one wounded when troops on foot patrol at Vakare West in the Batticaloa district came under a LTTE attack on January 7. Intelligence sources revealed that the outfit has suffered heavy damages. Read less...

The Special Task Force (STF) claimed to have taken control of Stanley Base in Kanchikudichchuaru on January 7. The base was used by the LTTE to launch major assaults on the STF in Ampara and to keep hundreds of LTTE child recruits, reports Daily News. Read less...

Three Police personnel were injured when LTTE cadres fired small arms at a Police vehicle in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

Two 16-year-old LTTE child soldiers surrendered to the Army camp at Polwatta in the Valachchenai area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

On January 8, LTTE cadres using 81-mm mortars and machine guns fired upon troops and Police providing security to the Government’s administrative wing, Assistant Government Agent’s office at Vavunathivu, injuring two soldiers, reports SLA. Read less...

The LTTE opened 122 mm artillery fire targeting an army camp and security forces deployed in the Mahindapura area on January 8. Troops escaped unhurt and retaliated. Read less...

Associated Press reports that the armed men ambushed two camps belonging to the breakaway faction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna at Valaichenai in the Batticaloa district on January 9, killing several cadres of the Karuna faction. The pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net reported that unidentified assailants killed at least 10 members of the breakaway Karuna rebel faction and wounded four more in the ambush on paramilitaries - the word the mainstream Tamil Tigers use to describe the renegade guerrillas who broke away in 2004, adding, "Two paramilitary installations have been attacked in Valaichenai in Batticaloa district." Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry blamed the LTTE for the attacks. An official at the Defense Ministry's Media Center for National Security (MCNS) in Colombo confirmed the attacks, but said only two Karuna members died and that two were wounded. Read less...

BBC quoted LTTE sources as saying that the Military continued artillery fire for a second day in the Vakarai area near Batticaloa on January 8. It said shells had hit the village of Sooranagar, killing a civilian and injuring five others. Read less...

On January 9, LTTE cadres stormed the office of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Party (TMVP), the political wing of the breakaway faction of the LTTE led by 'Colonel' Karuna, at Valachchenai and completely destroyed it. Troops conducted an immediate search in the area where they confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed at least four of them. Read less...

Sri Lankan Army shells allegedly hit a hospital complex in the Trincomalee district, killing three civilians and wounding 11 others, reports Reuters quoting LTTE sources. The outfit spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said, “These people were sheltering in the hospital because they thought they would be safe under international law. The shells have hit the complex — one was a cluster bomb and killed three people.” The Military denied hitting the hospital. “We have not fired at the hospital premises in Vakarai today,” said Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, adding, “We only have multibarrel rockets and artillery. We don’t have any cluster bombs.” Read less...

The dead body of a civilian, identified as Subramaniam Indran, was recovered from the Eravur area, reports Tamil Net. Read less...

According to Colombo Page, the European Commission said in a statement on January 10 that there is a humanitarian crisis in Vaharai, in the Batticaloa district in Eastern Sri Lanka, adding, "Food stocks are very low in Vaharai. Access remains very difficult. While a reported 15,000 people remain in Vaharai, over 20,000 have already fled the conflict." Read less...

Four soldiers were wounded in a LTTE attack targeting troops in the Vavunativu area of Batticaloa district on January 10. Read less...

LTTE cadres opened artillery and mortar fire towards a location adjacent to the Internally Displaced Persons camp at Thanganagar in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

On January 10, troops confronted a concentration of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Kondagalchena area of Batticaloa district and killed at least 10 cadres of the outfit after overpowering them, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. Four dead bodies were recovered by the troops in the aftermath of the clashes. Earlier in the day, troops conducted a search in the same area and recovered three T-56 weapons and two claymore mines. Read less...

On January 10, troops killed eight Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Korakallimadu area of Batticaloa district, according to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. Troops also recovered three T-56 weapons, three magazines, two claymore mines of 5-kg each with 100 m of flexible wire, one hand grenade, 90 rounds of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition rounds, an electrical detonator, a firing device, one pouch, one claymore pack, seven pairs of rubber slippers, one black jacket, two sarongs, a civil cap and four packets of biscuits. Read less...

On January 10, troops recovered one claymore mine with its remote circuit from Kokuvil, one hand grenade from Point Pedro and one T-56 weapon from the Varathipuram areas of Trincomalee district. Troops also recovered two hand grenades, one cyanide capsule, two bicycles and Rs.340 (US$ 3) from the Mavadivembu area of Batticaloa district. At Vadiri in the Jaffna district, troops recovered one LTTE claymore mine laid on the Jaffna - Point Pedro road. Read less...

The United Nations (UN) has called for the protection of all civilians throughout the island. The UN also said that the situation in Vaharai in eastern Sri Lanka is "grave" and demanded an urgent response. "According to Government estimates, 15,000 people are isolated without access to food or basic supplies as stocks are decimated. Since the 29 November when the last convoy of humanitarian supplies were allowed in, there has been no access to Vaharai for humanitarian agencies," said the UN in a statement. It reminded both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE of their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, as expressed in the Security Council Resolutions on the Protection of Civilians and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Read less...

Troops retaliated the LTTE fire in the Korakallimadu area of Batticaloa and subsequently recovered three T-56 weapons, one claymore mine, electronic detonators and 100 meters of wire length and a three-wheeler from the incident site. Read less...

Unidentified assailants opened fire on two Karuna group members at Mahiloor in the same district, killing one and injuring the other, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

Special Task Force (STF) personnel captured the ‘Janath’ Camp, stronghold for the LTTE artillery and mortar gun position, and seven other sub camps of the LTTE, which lies west of Kanchkudichchiaru in the Ampara district on January 11. During subsequent search operations, STF personnel recovered four dead bodies of the LTTE cadres, large number of warlike items and equipment. Four STF personnel and an unspecified number of LTTE cadres were injured in the incident. Meanwhile, Associated Press quoted Military spokespeson Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe as saying, "Capturing the camp is a strategic step forward in eliminating the terrorist threat on security forces' camps." The LTTE cadres used to fire mortars from the ‘Janak’ camp at STF personnel deployed around the ‘Stanley Base’, which was captured by the STF on January 8, the Brigadier told the Daily News, adding, the Stanley Camp was the largest camp of the LTTE in the Ampara district and that the "Janak" camp was west of the "Stanley" camp. Read less...

On January 12, two pressure mines, two anti-personnel mines and five hand grenades were recovered by troops from the Muttur area of Trincomalee district. Troops also recovered twelve 81-mm mortar bombs from the Pahalathoppur area. Troops on route clearing patrol recovered a claymore mine from the Nelupkulam area of Vavuniya district January 13. Read less...

The Special Task Force took control of the LTTE’s eight bases, including Janak camp near Kanchkudichchiaru, in the Ampara district on January 12-evening. Read less...

Four soldiers were killed died and two others sustained injuries when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels fired artillery and mortar shells at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) detachment at Mankerni in the Batticaloa district on January 13, reports Xinhua quoting defence officials. According to Associated Press, military spokesperson, Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe, said, "They (rebels) targeted our camp in Mankerni with artillery fire late Saturday and we lost four soldiers." Earlier, Sri Lanka Air Force jets damaged a LTTE base in the Verugal area, about 20-kilometers north of the Military's Mankerni camp, said Samarasinghe, adding, in the Ampara district, anti-terrorist commandoes captured two more LTTE bases, bringing the total number of the outfit’s bases captured this week to four. Seven smaller camps have also fallen in Ampara, further south of Batticaloa, the military said. The Special Task Force on January 9 had captured the main LTTE base at Kanjikuduchiaru after launching its offensive code named "Victory Assured" in the area in order to capture LTTE-controlled thickets in the Ampara district. Read less...

On January 13, a LTTE cadre surrendered to the troops at the Kiran Army camp. Read less...

According to defence sources, two LTTE deserters, who had escaped the outfit recently, identified as Sinnathambi Danapalasingham and Krishanapille Rajaram, were shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres at Kannagipuram in the Akkariapathtuwa area of Batticaloa district on January 14. Read less...

One soldier was injured in a LTTE sniper attack in the Vavunathivu area on January 14, reports SLA. Read less...

The dead body of a civilian, identified as Mohamed Naffar, was found near a mosque along Ganesh Lane in the Palaiyootu area of Trincomalee town on January 14, the Website added. Read less...

Troops shot dead five cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who confronted them while on a foot patrol in the Batticaloa district on January 14, according to Associated Press. Troops on foot patrol in the Vandaramoolai area encountered a group of LTTE cadres and killed one of them, identified as Dileep of LTTE Intelligence Wing and recovered one T-56 Mark II weapon, 148 ammunition, five T-56 magazines, one pack, two albums, one dog tag (No0826) and a few other items in his possession, adds Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reports. During further search operation in the same area troops recovered one more cadre’s dead body, identified as Shankar, a senior cadre of the LTTE Military Wing, on January 15. ‘Major’ Shankar’s main task had been to collect extortion from Tamil civilians, adds Colombo Page. Details of the three other cadres killed during the operation were not available. Read less...

During a search and clear operation in the Somapura area of Trincomalee district troops recovered one communication set, one rubber dingy boat, one cougar battery, one stethoscope, field dressing items, few civil clothes, food items and several bottles soft drinks. Similarly, troops recovered one remote controlled claymore mine from the Thandikulam area of Vavuniya district. Read less...

The Military, meanwhile, urged the deserting LTTE cadres in the east to surrender on January 15, as operations against the insurgents' camps intensified, according to Associated Press. Village heads in Ampara district were told to deliver the announcement to outfit cadres who were in hiding or on the run after four outfit bases and seven smaller camps fell to Military control last week, said Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe. Meanwhile, the outfit spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan, said, "It is not an issue worth commenting upon. Now and then they (military) make such meaningless announcements, but we are not bothered." He, however, admitted that Sri Lankan forces had moved into some outfit -held areas in Ampara, saying, "Off course they made advances to our territory in Ampara, but then in Ampara we operate in a guerrilla mode," adding, that they are continually on the move. Read less...

Torture chambers allegedly used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to punish escaping rebels and informers, including women fighters, have been found at guerrilla camps in eastern Sri Lanka, reports Associated Press quoting Defense Ministry sources. The camps were uncovered by a Special Task Force, comprising of specially trained anti-terrorist commandoes who last week seized control of four rebel bases and seven smaller camps in the eastern Ampara district, reported the Media Center for National Security on January 15. At one of the camps "torture chambers and lockups were established to torture escapees and informers including women cadres," the report said. The alleged torture cells were small, said the report, adding "many of the surrendered LTTE child cadres have repeatedly revealed the harassment meted out to them by the LTTE if they are caught escaping." One camp had a well maintained cemetery built by the rebels for their fallen cadres, said the statement. Read less...

Eechchalanpatthu, north of Vakare in the Trincomalee district, fell into the control of the security forces (SFs) following a assault conducted by ground troops with the help of Sri Lanka Air Force following information that the LTTE was planning to attack SFs in the area, reports SLA. Intelligence sources said that a large number of LTTE cadres are believed to have died. Reports add that at least three LTTE gun positions were completely destroyed during those counter attacks and SFs captured the Verugal – Eechchalanpatthu borderline villages. During the incident, one soldier was killed and 15 others sustained injuries. Read less...

LTTE cadres attacked troops on duty in the Kadjuwatta area of Batticaloa district. However, no casualties were reported. Read less...

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna that backs the Government forces are attempting to consolidate power in Batticaloa and surrounding areas, reports Colombo Page quoting independent reports from the Eastern Province. The breakaway faction that functions in the guise of the Tamil People's Liberation Tigers, a registered political party, is accused of recruiting children, abduction, obtaining ransom, intimidation and other human rights violations. The group has reportedly banned several Tamil dailies in Batticaloa for not conducting its propaganda. It is also alleged of creating conflict among the Tamils and Muslims in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Read less...

Troops confronted a group of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Vakare area of Batticaloa district on January 16, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). During subsequent search operations, troops recovered seven dead bodies of LTTE cadres from the incident site which were later handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Read less...

Troops in Panichchankerny, south of Ichchalanpatthu and its suburbs, in the Batticaloa district, after overrunning the 3rd defence line of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cleared the village areas, killing at least 30 of its cadres on January 16 despite heavy LTTE resistance, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Troops were in the process of consolidating their positions after taking control of the third defence line of the LTTE when last reports came in. Troops found the dead bodies of at least 30 cadres lying scattered in the area, close to the captured LTTE defence line in Panichchankerny and Kadjuwatta areas. They also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition. However, the pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net said 40 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and that the outfit lost only seven cadres, adds Associated Press Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, Saththiyamoorthy Keerththivarman, in the Thuraineeelavanai area of Batticaloa district, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

Another dead body of a civilian, Piragasanathan Suthrasan, was recovered from the Kathankudy area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

on January 17, the LTTE fired 120-mm and 81-mm mortar towards the Army point at Vavunathivu Divisional Secretariat in the Trincomalee district. However, no casualties were reported. Read less...

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kaffir jets bombed a group of LTTE terrorists gathering in the Verugal area of Batticaloa district, according to SLA reports. The SLAF intelligence sources confirmed that the outfit has suffered heavy damages due to the attack. Read less...

The LTTE is reported to have forcibly taken control of the Vakare hospital. Read less...

Four Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were killed as troops advanced into the outfit-held territory in Batticaloa district on January 18, reports Associated Press. Rasiah Ilanthirayan, a LTTE spokesperson, confirmed the Military's efforts to take the outfit-held areas, but denied that four cadres were killed. "They are trying to enter into our areas, but our fighters are resisting successfully," he said. Daily News adds that security forces (SFs) took complete control over territories from Kadjuwatte to Panichenkerni and Ichchilampattu and Uppural areas after consolidating their positions in the newly captured areas. According to a spokesperson for the Media Centre for National Security, SFs recovered three T-56 rifles, an LTTE Communication Set and a machine gun following the clashes with the LTTE. Read less...

On January 18, four civilians were injured in a mortar fire in the Vakarai area of Batticaloa district, according to BBC Sinhala. Read less...

Troops launched an attack against a LTTE movement in the Sirimangalapura area of Trincomalee district on January 18. During a subsequently search operation troops recovered dead body of a LTTE cadre, two T-56 weapons with 91 ammunition, two magazines, one RPG weapon, eight 40-mm grenades, one communication set, one LTTE combat uniform, one Sri Lanka Air Force camouflage uniform and a few other items from the location. Read less...

A day earlier, ten soldiers were injured in a LTTE artillery fire towards troops at Mahindapura in the Trincomalee district, reports SLA. Elsewhere, three soldiers were injured in a LTTE mortar fire at Kallar. Read less...

An elite guerilla unit of the LTTE in Ampara district carried out an ambush on Sri Lankan Special Task Force convoy on January 19, killing at least 11 Sri Lankan commandos and wounding more than 11 at Bakmitiyawa, claimed outfit’s military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan according to Tamil Net. Read less...

At least ten Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were killed and several others were injured in confrontations with the Security Forces (SFs) in two separate incidents on January 19 in the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts, reports Daily News. A spokesman of the Media Centre for National Security said that troops retaliated when LTTE cadres fired with small arms at the Army checkpoint near the fisheries boatyard in the Siththandi area of Batticaloa district early yesterday, adding, "The fight lasted for three hours and the troops repulsed the attack successfully." He further said that the outfit’s communications intercepted by SFs have confirmed around nine LTTE deaths and injury of twelve other cadres. Read less...

On January 19, LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting Police jeep in the Kancikudichchi Aru area of Ampara district, killing one Police personnel and injuring three others, including a home guard. Read less...

Sri Lankan security forces on January 19 captured the only Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold in the eastern Sri Lanka - Vakarai - as thousands of civilians fled the area amidst heavy fighting between the two sides, according to Colombo Page. "Following an hour-long effort, the Sri Lanka Army troops finally liberated the Vakarai town and hospital, which was used as an artillery launching pad by the terrorists," a government statement said. "Since 1996, this town had various problems from the terrorists. However, from early October 2006, Vakarai life was disturbed drastically with the terrorists trying to turn the town into a battlefield. The Army thus launched a rescue mission in early November 2006 and since then closed the gap on the terrorists," it said. According to Military sources, the troops are consolidating their defences in the Vakarai town removing booby traps, mines and various other obstacles, adds Daily News. Defense spokesperson Minister Rambukwella said that the security forces will be able to take full control over Vakarai and Kathirveli areas after flushing out all LTTE cadres very soon. "The Government is confident that the Security Forces will be able to establish civil administration in Vakarai within the next two three weeks to resettle the civilian population," added Rambukwella. Read less...

The dead a body of a LTTE cadre and a haul of weapons were recovered by the SF personnel following a confrontation with the outfit cadres in the Trincomalee district. A large number of cadres are believed to have been killed in this attack. Most of the dead bodies of the outfit cadres were transferred by their fellow cadres, the report added. Read less...

The LTTE claimed that it had "decided to pull back" from its Pannichchankerni position, which is on the access route to Vaharai, according to The Hindu. Read less...

Three soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries when LTTE cadres opened fire towards troops in the Vakarai area of Batticaloa district on January 19. Read less...

Troops recovered one claymore mine, three detonators, one flexible wire role and 250 g of C-4 explosives at Thavasikulam in the Jaffna district. Troops also recovered one T-56, one T-56 magazine and one communication set from Uppuweli in the Trincomalee district. Read less...

A day earlier, LTTE cadres reportedly abducted 47 children from areas surrounding Kokodicholai in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

At least four soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) were killed and three others injured at Eechalanpattu in mortar fire by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Trincomalee district on January 20, reports The Hindu. Read less...

On January 20, unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, identified as Packiyasothy Jeevankumar, at Irakkandy in the Trincomalee district. Read less...

Troops recovered one hand grenade at Kulumadu junction in the Vavuniya district. Further, on January 20, troops recovered two double cabs, one tractor and one Canter vehicle destroyed by terrorists from the Verugal area in the Batticaloa district. Elsewhere, at Mankerny troops recovered one claymore mine, two hand grenades and one detonator. Read less...

The Pro-LTTE Website Tamil Net quoting S. Seeralan, the LTTE deputy political head in Batticaloa district, reports that two SLA soldiers were killed and four others wounded by the LTTE cadres at Vavunathivu on Jnauary 21-night. One PK LMG, one AK LMG, two T-56 automatic rifles, a communication device, 10 handgrenades and rounds were captured by the LTTE. Read less...

Troops advancing further captured the area from Verugal to Mavil Aru and Sinhapura, west of Vakarai and captured a number of LTTE camps in the area. Troops also found 22 dead bodies of the outfit’s cadres scattered in the area. Read less...

Troops confronted a group of about 75 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who were attempting to escape towards Toppigala from the Vakarai area in Batticaloa district on January 21, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Official sources confirmed that at least 18 LTTE cadres were killed and a large number sustained injuries in the incident. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered four dead bodies of the LTTE cadres, one RPG, one 12.7 weapon and 18 T-56 assault rifles. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot at and injured a civilian, identified as S. Uthayasooriyan, in the Jamaliya area of Trincomalee district on January 21, reports Tamil Net. He succumbed to his injuries later. Read less...

Army handed over dead bodies of four LTTE cadres to the LTTE through the facilitation of International Committee of the Red Cross on January 22. These cadres were killed in the retaliatory fire by troops in the Punani area on January 21. Read less...

Government promised to wipe out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from Thoppigala jungles in the Batticaloa district after capturing the outfit’s stronghold in Vakarai, reports Colombo Page. However, the Government also said that it is ready to hold the fighting if the Tigers agree to come for peace talks. Defense spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a news agency on January 22, "Toppigala is a bit of a volatile area, which runs the risk of forces being attacked from time to time, so we will have to eliminate that risk as well. If tomorrow the LTTE says 'we are ready to stop hostilities and get back to the negotiating table', we will stop immediately. If they do not, then we’ll have to liberate the Tamil civilians in the east and then call (the Tigers) for negotiations." He added that the Government was not threatening to banish the Tigers from their main northern base. Read less...

On January 22, Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets and MI 24 helicopters bombed a LTTE gathering at the Kumburupiddi general area (area under Government control) in the Morawewa north region of Trincomalee district. "We took the decision to bomb the target ... an identified Tiger terrorist gathering point," military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. Air Force intelligence sources have confirmed that the LTTE has suffered heavy damages due to the attack. Read less...

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir fighter jets and MI-24 helicopters, on January 22 –evening, bombed an identified LTTE gathering point at Kumburupiddi in the Trincomalee district while troops were consolidating positions in the newly captured areas in the Vakarai region. Air Force sources confirmed that a large number of LTTE cadres were killed and wounded due to the air attack. Read less...

Army troops, who are in the process of consolidating positions after recapturing Vakarai area, recovered a large haul of arms and ammunition including artillery guns and mortar from the area 22. The cache included two 152-mm artillery guns, two pieces of damaged 122-mm artillery guns, one 120-mm mortar, two suicide jackets, three hundred and sixty T-56 weapons, two T-81 riffles, two 12.7-mm anti aircraft weapons, two 30-mm weapons, two cannon weapons, two light machine guns, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG), seven Rocket Propeller Grenade launchers (RPG), one 9 -mm pistol, eight hundred and sixty seven Anti Personnel Mines (APM), two hundred and ten T-56 magazines, thirty-seven T-56 ammunition boxes, 25 claymore mines, 93 60-mm mortar bombs, 74 RPG bombs, 37 120-mm mortar bombs, 65 hand grenades, three anti tank mines, three disposable RPG, one 40 mm grenade launcher, 34 detonators, five 12.7-mm drums, 57 30-mm ammunitions, six 12.7 mm links, one oxygen tank, four communication sets, three sniper weapon parts, two Out Board Motor (OBM) machines (horse power- 200), one gun carrier, 21 Light Machine Guns (LMG) links, one code sheet, 18 LMG links, one telescope sight, five remote controllers and two Bangalore Torpedoes and large number of ammunition, vehicles and other items. Read less...

LTTE cadres shot at and injured three civilians in the Kambiliwewa area of Trincomalee district. Read less...

On the same day, LTTE cadres launched an artillery and mortar attack targeting troops on duty ahead of the Vavunathivu Army camp in the Batticaloa district, killing two soldiers on duty. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the incident. Read less...

The bullet-riddled dead bodies of two civilians, identified as Selliah Janachchandran and Selvarajah Sriskantharajah, were recovered from the Eravur area of Batticaloa district on January 23, reports Tamil Net. Read less...

The dead body of one senior LTTE cadre along with one micro pistol, one hand grenade and a detonator was recovered by troops on route clearing operation in the Panichchankerni area of Batticaloa district t, according to SLA reports. Read less...

Troops also recovered one claymore mine, one hand grenade, one T-56 magazine and 38 T-56 ammunition from the Marambakulam area of Vavuniya district. One claymore mine, four detonators and a length of wire was recovered by troops from the Trincomalee town. Read less...

Troops on search and clear operations in the newly captured area of Sirimangalapura in the Trincomalee district recovered one LTTE cadre’s dead body and 200 of T-56 ammunition. Read less...

Troops recovered two claymore mines, six 60 mm mortar bombs, fifteen 60 mm mortar fuses, three LMG drums, twenty meters of detonator code, one area map and fifteen photographs of LTTE cadres from the Kaddawana area. At Verugal Aru in the same district, troops recovered one T-56 weapon and one L 200 damaged. Read less...

Associated Press reports, the Resettlement Minister Rishad Badiudeen said 64,250 ethnic minority Tamils have been displaced in eastern Batticaloa district, including 12,500 people who fled from Vaharai. He said another 6,000 ethnic Sinhalese who fled their villages in neighbouring Trincomalee district earlier have started moving back. Read less...

On January 25, unidentified assailants shot dead a postman, identified as Subramaniam Muruganantharuban, at Pathinipuram along Trincomalee-Kandy road in the Trincomalee district, according to Tamil Net. Read less...

Troops launched an attack on a group of armed LTTE cadres in the Meegasgodella area of the Trincomalee district. It is believed that LTTE has suffered injuries since the troops observed blood stain in the area. One GPS and two radio sets were recovered from the incident site. Read less...

A group of LTTE cadres fired at troops on foot patrol in the general area of Sittharu Buddhist temple in Trincomalee on January 26. Security Forces (SF) successfully retaliated forcing the LTTE cadres to flee. During a subsequent search operation SF personnel recovered the dead body of a LTTE cadre along with pistol and communication equipment. Read less...

One soldier was injured when LTTE cadres launched an attack on the Black Bridge entry/exit point in the Batticaloa district on January 27. Read less...

According to Sri Lanka Army reports, due to harassment by LTTE terrorists who have now fled to Thoppigala area, civilians in Thoppigala and surrounding villages of Ittamalai and Iluppadichenai have started crossing over to cleared areas (area under Government control). 91 civilians, including 38 children’s of 23 families left those villages and arrived at Rameshpuram in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

On January 28, a 17-year old boy, earlier abducted and conscripted by the LTTE, escaped from their detention and surrendered to the troops at Kiran in the Batticaloa district. Read less...

A 16-year old boy was reportedly abducted by the LTTE cadres from the Valachchena area of Batticaloa district. Read less...

Three civilians were injured when a LTTE mortar fire landed on their homes in the general area (area under Government control) of Batticaloa district. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a Tamil youth, identified Sriharan Sasinthan, at Anpuvallipuram junction on Trincomalee-Kandy highway in the Trincomalee district on January 29, reports Tamil Net. Read less...

Further, on January 30, troops arrested one LTTE cadre from the Santhiweli area of Batticaloa district along with one cyanide capsule, five pocket calendars with LTTE leader’s photograph, one wristwatch and a small sum of money. Read less...

LTTE cadres launched a small arms attack targeting an Air Force route clearing in the Morawewa area of Trincomalee district on January 30, reports SLA. Read less...

The Special Task Force (STF) personnel captured two more Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) camps in the Kandikudichchiaru jungle of Ampara district together with a large consignment of food and medicine, according to Daily News. The report added that two double cabs loaded with medicine, three motor bicycles, a van, a double cab (Nissan), a tractor, four generators (20kv and 2.5kv), 10 beds, a large quantity of medicine, an oxygen cylinder, office equipment and a television set were recovered by the STF at a LTTE managed medical centre in Gangamuwegoda. 52 rice packs, 12 tents, a large stock of cooking utensils, empty sacks bearing the WFP logo and 25 plastic buckets too were recovered from the LTTE stores in Udebbikulam. "It is believed that the medicine items and dry foods recovered at the LTTE camps have been donated by INGOs," STF sources said. It was a part of the anti-terrorist operation code named Jaya Niyathai (Sure Victory) carried out by the STF, said Deputy Inspector General Nimal Leuke. He added that STF personnel destroyed over 20 LTTE strongholds during the Jaya Niyathai operation. The STF launched their first anti terror operation in Ampara district in December 2006. Read less...

One soldier was killed when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres fired 120-mm mortars, from the Thoppigala area, on the Vavunathivu Army camp in the Batticaloa district on January 31, reports Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Read less...