2 SLA killed in Claymore ambush in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 February 2008, 09:51 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed in a Claymore ambush at Thangkapuram in Cheddiku'lam Wednesday around 7:00 a.m., Police said.
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Priests deny SLA's "Shramadana" story

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 February 2008, 08:22 GMT]
Rev. Fr. S.K. Devarajah, the parish priest of St. Sebastian Cathedral in Mannaar in a statement issued Thursday, said that "the Sri Lankan Army occupied this church premises on their own," and added that his visit to the St. Anthony’s Shrine on the 11th of February 2008 was to ask the SLA permission to hold Lenten Pilgrimage in the shrine, and not to request the SLA command to conduct Shramadana (voluntary work). Colombo media and SLA had earlier reported that the SLA troopers were in the church compound cleaning the premises on the Priest's request when LTTE shells fell on the premises.
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LTTE, SLA exchange artillery fire across Jaffna lagoon.

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 16:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery and mortar fire towards Jaffna lagoon in Ariyaalai east, an area close to Thanangki’lappu and Koayilaakka’ndi in Thenmaraadchi, Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. targeting boats that were crossing the lagoon, sources in Jaffna said. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) retaliated, and the artillery duel lasted nearly ten minutes, according to Thenmaraadchi residents.
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42 SLA killed in Mannaar clashes - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 14:15 GMT]
20 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed in an intensive counter-attack launched by the Tigers on SLA units that attempted to move through Paalaikkuzhi targeting Adampan on Tuesday, the Tigers said. The direct clash intensified after LTTE mounted artillery attack on Tha'l'laadi garrison and the fighting lasted till 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, a unit of SLA troops that advanced was trapped, unable to pull back, in an open area along Paalaikkuzhi - Adampan road at 1:30 p.m. LTTE's long range snipers, who engaged the unit, gunned down 22 SLA soldiers between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m., Mannaar Operations Command of the LTTE told media.
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Jaffna Local councils face financial crisis

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 13:28 GMT]
Acute shortage of funds has crippled functioning of the local government authorities in the Jaffna Peninsula, and the Municipal and Pradeshya Sabhas face uncertain future, local administrative officials said. Development activities have been curtailed, and the security situation prevailing in the North has further impacted the day-to-day activities of the local councils, officials added.
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Outgoing artillery fire rocks Mannaar city

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 04:04 GMT]
Normalcy was disturbed in Mannaar city Tuesday from 8:10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as Sri Lanka Army mounted an artillery barrage simultaneously from all its camps in Mannaar towards Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam territories, after an artillery box barrage carried out by the Tigers targeting the Tha'l'laadi garrison. LTTE shells hit a mini-camp causing casualties among SLA soldiers. Clouds of smoke were observed in the area where at least 3 of the SLA positions attached to the mini camp took fire. According to SLA reports, the LTTE shelling caused damage to St. Antony's church and killed 6 soldiers staying in the premises. The church shares a common fence with the mini-camp.
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Three pronged SLA push thwarted in Pa'ndivirichchaan - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 February 2008, 20:47 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Operations Command in Mannaar Monday said the Tigers thwarted a three-pronged ground push by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) along Pa'ndivirichchaan - Madu Road. The movement by the SLA, launched at 1:30 a.m. was defeated at one of the fronts within an hour. Heavy fighting was reported at the remaining two fronts on either sides of the road till the SLA was pushed back at 3:45 p.m., the Tigers said.
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SLA soldier injured in Chengkaladi grenade attack

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 February 2008, 13:35 GMT]
An unidentified person lobbed a hand grenade Saturday around 8:15 p.m on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) road clearance unit at Chengkaladi area in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, seriously injuring a soldier.
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India imparts secret training to SLA

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 February 2008, 08:25 GMT]
According to a report in the 'Times of India', a high-level team from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps (MIC) were "brought stealthily into Pune five days ago for advanced intelligence training at Indian Army's various high-security institutions." The team is expected to be briefed on advanced electronic warfare, command, control, communications and computer intelligence at the Military Intelligence Training School and Depot (MITSD), the only institution of the Indian Army which imparts training in all aspects of intelligence.
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Kudos to wider Tamil identity

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 21:39 GMT]
The decision of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which enabled Razeen Mohamed Imam becoming a national list member of the Sri Lanka parliament last Wednesday, is received with wide appreciation from different sections of the Tamil-speaking people, including the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The 60-years-old lawyer Mr. Razeen Mohamed hails from Jaffna and is a member of the Ilankai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (the Federal Party started by the late S.J.V Chelvanayakam) for more than 30 years. He was also earlier a member of the Jaffna Municipal Council, elected through a Federal Party ticket.
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430 Moothoor IDP families resettled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 19:33 GMT]
The members of 430 families internally displaced from areas under the administration of Moothoor District Secretary (DS) due to clashes between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and living in various welfare centres in Batticaloa District were transported back to their original areas of residence, Batticaloa District Government Agent (GA) Suntharam Arumainayagam, said Sunday.
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SLA soldier injured in grenade attack in Chengkaladi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 19:23 GMT]
An unidentified person lobbed a hand grenade Saturday around 8:15 p.m on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) road clearance unit at Chengkaladi area in Ea’raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, seriously injuring a soldier.
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16 SLA troopers lose their limbs in Mannaar FDLs

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 14:17 GMT]
More than sixteen Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops have lost their legs caught in booby traps at the Front Defence Line (FDL) positions in Pa’ndivirichchaan, Mu’l’likku’lam and Vi’laaththikku’lam in Mannaar district, since Friday, Mannaar LTTE Operations Command said.
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Tiger snipers kill 4 SLA troops in Paa'laikuzhi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 13:49 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) snipers killed four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers Saturday at Paalaikuzhi in Mannaar district, Mannaar LTTE Operation Command said.
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Muslim trader robbed, attacked in Ea’raavoor

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 13:37 GMT]
A gang of robbers waylaid a Muslim trader Saturday and robbed his money and bicycle at Fifth Ku’richchi area in Ea’raavoor in Batticaloa district. The robbers slashed the trader with a sharp knife injuring him, Ea’raavoor police said.
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LTTE, SLA clash in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2008, 11:05 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) drove Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops back to their positions in a fight at Pa’ndivirihchchaan in Mannar district Saturday which began at 5:30 a.m Saturday and lasted till 4:20 p.m, Mannaar LTTE Operations Command said. The SLA troops fled back carrying the dead and wounded, LTTE said.
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LTTE, STF clash in Ka’luvaagnchchikudi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 February 2008, 15:48 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) commandos of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE) fighters had a direct encounter Saturday morning 4:30a.m near Ka’luvaagnchchikudi in Batticaloa District. During the exchange of gunfire which lasted 15 minutes, there were no STF casualties. No details were available about LTTE casualties, police added.
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Tigers attack SLA Claymore team in Ma'nalaa'ru

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 February 2008, 20:20 GMT]
An SLA Claymore team that infiltrated into Vedivaiththa Kallu area in Ma'nalaa'ru (Weli Oya) Friday noon was attacked by the Liberation Tigers. The SLA team withdrew, leaving behind three Claymore mines, detonators and batteries.
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22 SLA killed in Paalaikkuzhi fighting - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 February 2008, 18:12 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command in Mannaar Friday said at least 22 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed in two separate counter-attacks in Paalaikkuzhi, thwarting a fresh drive by the SLA in its attempt to move towards Adampan. More than 11 SLA soldiers were killed in direct combat which lasted for almost 8 hours. Later, the Tigers launched another attack on the SLA troops that had pulled back, killing 11 more soldiers in sniper fire in no-man area. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter landed at least six times to airlift the wounded soldiers.
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Veeramunai NGO employees continue to be detained

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 February 2008, 13:54 GMT]
Six female employees at the Veeramunai office of a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Social Welfare Organization of Ampaa'rai District (SWOAD), arrested by Sammanthurai police Tuesday afternoon are continued to be detained, civil society sources in Ampaa'rai said.
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