8-year-boy killed in mortar fire in Muttur church, 3 wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 10:36 GMT]
An 8-year-old boy was killed on the spot and 3 women were wounded in Muttur town when an artillery fell inside the premises of St. Anthony's Church where more than 600 Tamils have taken refuge since the fighting broke out between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last night. The wounded women, unable to be taken to hospital, were being treated at the church as the fighting resumed after a brief lull, civilian sources said.
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Claymore blast in Mannar kills SLA soldier, injures another

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 09:27 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and another injured in a claymore mine attack on troops engaged road clearing operation at Periyaneelansenai along Uyilankulam-Adamban Old Road, around 7.30 a.m., Wednesday. Following the explosion unidentified men in lying ambush fired at soldiers, police in the northwestern town said.
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LTTE says operations ‘to defend civilians’

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 06:53 GMT]
The LTTE said Wednesday that its recent military activities in Trincomalee, including the operation against Sri Lankan military camps in the early hours were intended to disrupt Sri Lanka’s indiscriminate onslaught against Tamil civilians. The LTTE’s military spokesman, I. Ilanthirayan, said that amid the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian areas by the Sri Lankan armed forces as part of their offensive in the Mavil Aru region, there was an "urgent humanitarian need" that had compelled what he described as "defensive actions."
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Raising Tiger flag not illegal in US - Embassy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 03:00 GMT]
Staff at Sri Lanka state-run daily in Colombo, Daily News, were given a civic lesson when they confronted US Embassy's press officer, Evan Owen, on the legality of American Tamils hoisting the Tamileelam flag in a New York sports festival, and diaspora parents teaching their offsprings Tamil. The press officer responded that hoisting of the Tiger flag had not breached US law, and that "the right to assemble and freedom of speech is upheld," by their [US] constitution, the Daily news reported.
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Tigers overrun four SLA camps in Trincomalee, enter Muttur

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 02:35 GMT]
Fighting formations of the Liberation Tigers have overrun four key locations in Trincomalee district after fierce artillery shelling since 2:00 a.m. Wednesday. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps in Kaddaiparichchan, Palathoppu, Pachchanoor and Mahindapura have been overrun, civilian sources said. Heavily armed LTTE fighters were seen entering Muttur town. Military sources in Colombo remained tightlipped and declined to comment on the ground situation. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets continued to bomb LTTE controlled Sampoor area. Fierce fighting is also reported near Kallaru where attempt by SLA forces to capture the Mavil Aaru sluice gates was averted, according to initial reports.
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Heavy fighting in Muttur, 4 SLA soldiers killed in Mahindapura

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 01:29 GMT]
Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed when LTTE cadres retaliated the attack from the Mahindapura and Selvanagar SLA camps located in the Serunuwara division, south of Trincomalee district in the early hours of Wednesday, sources said. Heavy fighting is also reported in the vicinity of SLA camps located at Kaddaiparichchan and Thoppur in the Muttur and Serunuwara divisions in the Trincomalee district between the SLA troops and LTTE cadres, both sides using artillery shells and mortar bombs, sources said.


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SLAF bombing continues in Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 17:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets continued to bomb villages in the LTTE controlled Eachchilampathu division in Muttur East on Tuesday. Sri Lankan Minister and Defence Ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella at a press briefing said that SLAF bombing is being done to prepare ground situation for SLA troops to move forward to capture the Mavilaru area.
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Youth's decapitated body found in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 16:05 GMT]
Siruppiddi petrol station owner, Visvalingam Kauroopan, 24, from Karanavai, missing since Sunday, was found slain with his throat cut and his headless body dumped in the disused Siruppiddi Kannaki Amman temple festival-pool Monday, sources from Jaffna said. Mallakam magistrate Ms Sarojini Ilangovan who visited the crime site directed that his body be released to his relatives.
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SLA soldier injured in Mannar firefight

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 10:48 GMT]
One soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was injured when unidentified men fired at group of soldiers who were engaged in road patrol in the area close Santhipuram Hundred Housing Scheme Tuesday early morning around 2.35 a.m. at South Bar in Mannar town, sources in Mannar said.
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Shells hit Trinco navy base, 14 killed, Dvora destroyed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 09:44 GMT]
Artillery shells began hitting the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Trincomalee Naval base as a ship transporting more than 800 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers approached the naval base around 2:25 p.m. Tuesday. More than 36 shells have hit the naval base. At least 6 naval personnel were killed when the shells hit navy college inside the Naval complex. Five sea-borne LTTE vessels destroyed a Dvora boat killing eight SLN troops, naval sources said. The Trincomalee naval headquarters has sustained heavy damage.
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SLA artillery fire damages civilian houses in Kaddaiparichchan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 07:34 GMT]
At least four civilian houses were damaged and hundreds of people fled for safety when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells from Kaddaiparichchan army camp towards villages in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east around midnight Monday till the early morning of Tuesday. Kaddaiparichchan army camp is located on the border of the territory held by LTTE, sources said.
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Canberra Tamils hold remembrance event for Black July 1983 victims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 00:10 GMT]
Canberra Tamil diaspora, Saturday commemorated the thousands of Tamils who lost their lives and property in the Sri Lankan state sponsored July 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom, by holding a vigil at the Uniting Church auditorium in Canberra, the Australian capital city. The vigil began with the Australian National anthem followed by a one minute silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the massacre and the thousands of Tamil men, women, and children who lost their lives in the Sri Lankan war on the traditional Tamil homelands in the north and east.
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Blast at Kalutara armoury

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 19:37 GMT]
A blast was reported at Sri Lanka Army's armoury in Kalutara, south of Colombo, Monday night. SLA spokesman, Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said that the fire brigade has doused the fire.
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19 SLA soldiers killed in Trincomalee mine blast

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 18:56 GMT]
Nineteen soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army were killed in a blast that took place at Serunuwara between Kantalai-Allai in Trincomalee district Monday night around 11:00 p.m. Eighteen SLA troopers were killed on the spot and one later succumbed to injuries in the Kantalai district hospital, SLA sources said. With the explosion, the SLA has lost around 40 troopers in Trincomalee on Monday.
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Claymore ambush in Mannar, SLA Lieutenant, trooper wounded

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 08:46 GMT]
A lieutenant and a soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were injured in a Claymore explosion that took place Monday morning around 6:45 a.m. at Vanchiankulam village along Vankalai-Nanattan road in Mannar district. Both of them were immediately transferred from Mannar district hospital to Anuradhapura general hospital.
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Three pronged SLA offensive thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 07:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) began moving ground troops through three fronts from two SLA bases towards Mavil Aaru sluice gate Monday morning, supported by Multi - Barrel Rocket Launchers, artillery fire and aerial bombardment from Kfir and MIG jets towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area in Mavil Aaru. The SLA advance was thwarted by the Tigers, according to Ilanthirayan, the military spokesman of the Tigers. Three LTTE cadres were killed and two wounded, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. Meanwhile, informed defence sources in Colombo said 12 SLA troopers including two SLA officials were kiled and many wounded. The SLA initiated operation has threatened the Ceasefire Agreement.
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Exchange of mortar fire along Nagarkovil FDL, SLA soldier injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 06:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy Monday morning around 5:30 launched heavy gunfire from gunboats off the northeastern coast in Vadamaradchi East and the Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells towards Nagarkovil LTTE Forward Defence Line. An exchange of mortar fire between the SLA and the LTTE FDL forces was reported for 45 minutes following the artilery and SLN attack.
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Slain Tiger officials, rural force member buried with military honours

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 05:06 GMT]
The funeral of seven members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and a civilian rural force member killed in Sri Lanka Air Force SLAF air strike on LTTE's Thenham Conference Centre on Saturday, were held Sunday evening. LTTE commanders Col. Banu and Col Jeyam were present at Thandiyadi Heroes Cemeteray where five were burried with military honours.
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New York Tamils hold sports festival for children

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 July 2006, 00:50 GMT]
The Arts and Cultural branch of the World Tamil Organization in New York held its Ninth annual children's sports festival at the Jamaica High School sports facilities in Jamaica New York Saturday starting from 10:00 a.m. More than 200 children from Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and New Jersey areas took part in the festival, organizers said.
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SLA artillery attacks on Eachchilampattu villages continue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 July 2006, 16:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Chief of Staff Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi, remains at Kallaru army camp in the Serunuwara police division directing the military operation to capture Mavilaru area amid announcement by SL Defence Ministry spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in Colombo Sunday that Sri Lankan troops are now about one km away from Mavilaru. Sources in Serunuwara said that there is a likelihood of troop movement from Kallaru to Mavilaru area early Monday morning.
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