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

On November 15, the United States Government froze all the assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) front organisation in the USA which raises money to support terrorist activities, Daily News reports. In a press release, the US Embassy in Colombo stated that, “The US Department of the Treasury yesterday announced that it would furtherance freeze the US held assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a charitable organisation that acts as a front to facilitate fund-raising and procurement for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)”. The TRO was designated under Executive Order 13,224 which is aimed at financially isolating terrorist groups and their support networks. Executive Order 13,224 freezes any assets held by designees under US jurisdiction and prohibits US persons from transacting with designees. Read less...

At least 17 civilians were confirmed killed and 37 others injured as a suspected parcel bomb exploded near a popular fashion store at Nugegoda junction near Colombo around 5.55 pm on November 28, reports Daily News. Police believe that the bomb had been placed in one of the parcel counters at the No Limit clothing store by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant who had left the incident site. The No Limit store and the adjoining building were damaged by the resulting explosion and fire. “The explosion was due to a suspicious parcel bomb kept in the parcel counter of the No Limit fashion shop,” military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told Daily News, adding, the bomb had exploded as a private security guard at the shop attempted to search a suspicious parcel kept in the parcel counter with the assistance of a Police officer on duty close to the Nugegoda junction. “… We have little doubt that this is a dastardly cowardly act by the LTTE of targeting the innocent civilians,” V.U.B. Nanayakkara, spokesperson of the Media Centre for National Security told The Hindu. Read less...

Defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said that the November 28 explosions in Colombo perpetrated by the LTTE were a clear indication that its terrorism has reached its last stage. “The two bomb incidents signify a plea by the terrorists in the face of their splintering image before the international community and the Tamil public at large,” said Rambukwella, adding, “This is the last length of the marathon to eradicate the LTTE and they are trying to do their last bit as a terrorist organisation. We can’t forget what they have done in the past to kill innocent civilians. We have had this for the last 30 years.” Read less...

Police probing into suicide attack on the office of Minister Douglas Devananda in Colombo have identified the LTTE suicide woman cadre as Saruwanan Sujantha of Anandapuliyanakulam in the Vavuniya district, according to initial investigation. The Police stated that at least 200-gm of explosives wrapped around her breasts triggered the explosion which killed the Minister’s Public Relations Officer, Stephen Peiris, and injured one ministerial aide, Kathkandu Chithran, and Sub Inspector Ashoka of the Ministerial Security Division. Read less...

The Eelam People’s Democratic Party leader and Minister for Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda, escaped unhurt when a polio affected woman suicide cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) blew herself up at his office at Isipathana road in the Narahenpita area of Colombo on November 28 (today), reports Sri Lanka Army. While the Minister was in his office waiting to see members of the public, the woman was allowed to get into the office complex unchecked considering her disability but the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Minister conducted checking on the physically challenged woman along with others who had come to see the Minister. However, the disguised LTTE woman cadre blew herself up when the physical checking was being done by the PRO. The blast critically injured the PRO, one Ministerial aide and one officer of Ministerial Security Division, who succumbed to his injuries later Read less...

The death toll in the November 28 bomb blast at Nugegoda junction in Colombo has increased to 20 as one more injured civilian succumbed to his injuries on November 30. Read less...