Troops of Task Force 3 engaging the search and clear operations in general area Alavedduvan area -Mullaittivu recovered 02 x 81mm Mortar Trapping yesterday (02 June ).

Meanwhile the Troops of Task Force 8 on information received to intelligence and security sub group of 56 Division, conducting search operations in general area Vellamullivaikkal recovered the following military items yesterday.

Same Troops engaging search operations in general area Puthukkudiyiruppu recovered the list of following war materials on the same day.

Same Troops of Task Force 8 recovered the following war materials in general area Puthumathalan.

In general area Kariyalvayal they uncovered the following items

Meanwhile on the information received to Intelligence and security sub group in Weli-Oya, troops of Task Force 8 recovered 2 x suicide jackets (5kg each) and 1036 (5.56 x45) Ammunition in Vellamullivaikkal area.

In Welikanda , SLA Troops recovered the following list of items during a search and clear operation conducted in general area Soruwila.

Recoveries made by the Intelligence and Security Sub Group of 56 Division during recent search and clear operations at the Mullaittivu battlefront
Recoveries made by the Intelligence and Security Sub Group of 56 Division during recent search and clear operations at the Mullaittivu battlefront
Recoveries made by the Intelligence and Security Sub Group of 56 Division during recent search and clear operations at the Mullaittivu battlefront

The Champions of the Asian netball- Sri Lankan netball players arrived home after placing their names the history books of sports in Asia as well as the island nation. The team lead by Shashika Samarasinghe were all on smile with there relatives and friends who were there to share the happiness of the glory.

Although the team received at the VIP lounge of the Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA) only Minister Bandula Basnayake was present there from the government to welcome them. It was told that Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge was not well and could not attend to welcome the Sri Lankan team.

Victory came as a sweet revenge for Sri Lanka who redeemed their defeat at the hands of the Singaporeans in the 5 Nations Cup in Singapore two years ago. Last year, the Sri Lankans also lost out to Singapore in the Asian Youth Cup held in Hong Kong.

It was Sri Lanka’s fourth title in 19 years after winning the Cup in 1990, 1997 and 2001. The team was runners-up in 1985 and 1993

“ I was member of the team which won the Championship seven years back and also represented the team which lost last time. Both experiences helped me to clinch the title under my leadership and I am happy that every one did their part to make my job easy” said Sri Lankan Netball skipper.

For coach ,Thilaka Jinadasa, the feat was important, as it would spur the team to further improve on their world rankings in a bid to qualify for next year’s Commonwealth Games in India.

“By winning the championship again, we hope to take the game to a higher level in Sri Lanka and hopefully there’ll be more support. We were able to score more than 70 goals in each game and we adopted different game strategies which helped us to reach this glory. We played as a team and I am happy to say that all players did their best ” said Jinadasa.

Ajantha Wijesekera , the president of the interim committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka along with the members of the committee were also present.

“ I am so happy that we were able to clinch the victory after seven years. It was a result of the dedication we all have towards developing the game. I think this will boost the future of Netball in Sri Lanka” Wijesekara expressed her views with a hope of bright future for the game of netball in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka beat the defending champions Singapore by 77 goals to 48 at the finals of the 7th Asian Netball Championship concluded at the at the Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara, Lankan lasses finished their quest as the only unbeaten side of the championship.

Sri Lankans stormed in to the finals beating Thailand by 88 goals to 44 at the semi final They became the B group champions beating all the teams whom they met on their way. Lankan lasses beat Hong Kong (80/27), Malaysia (72/52), India (103/27) and Pakistan (102/12) quite convincingly.

By Hishan welmilla

www.srilankasports.com

Sri Lankan troops now engaged in a massive post-war clearing operation in the Island's Northern Province continue to find hoards of war material dumped by the LTTE terrorists.

According to the reports, troops found one suicide water scooter loaded with 22 kg of high explosives and a thermo-baric weapon during the searches conducted in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area on Wednesday (Jul 2). Also, troops uncovered a large stock of diving equipment from the Vellamullivaikkal area on Tuesday (Jun 30).

Among the other items found since Tuesday were three T-56 rifles, one 12.7mm machine gun, one shotgun ,407 mortar bombs, 11RPG bombs, 13 improvised bombs, over 7650 ammunition used for T-56 riffles, over 2845 ammunition used for MPMG weapons, 16 Arul bombs, 165 hand grenades, 12 radio communication sets, 10 claymore mines, one pistol, three traps, one suicide jacket, one GPS, three AP mines, two hand scooters, one laptop and 6 outboard motors.

Clearing operations are being continued

With the government giving high priority to the welfare of children in the IDP welfare villages, special teams have been deployed to carry out urgent activities for the protection and care of displaced children.

More than 10,000 children have been screened so far and reports concerning their current status are being obtained to make necessary arrangements, said National Child Protection Authority Chairman, Jagath Wellawatta.

The special teams which include pediatricians look into IDP childrens' health conditions and whether they have been subjected to improper use by persons, causing threats to their physical and mental health.

The mental health conditions of children are also observed by the psychiatric unit attached to the teams, he added.

The Child Protection Authority is paying special attention to the safety of orphans and children separated from their parents, to ensure that they do not go into the hands of persons unable or unsuitable to provide them proper care.

The progress of the program commenced on 01st June, is supervised by a 20 member panel from universities, National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Department.

Courtesy: Policy Research & Information Unit of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka

It was another jubilant victory for the patriotic Sri Lankans in the UK when they took to the streets of London waving flags of the Lion, yesterday (June 27).

The mass Peace March was organised to commemorate the dawning of peace in Sri Lanka and to show the strength of the Sri Lankan Diaspora in UK who wholeheartedly is grateful for ending terrorism in motherland. The procession consisted of all races, faiths and walks of life upholding solidarity amidst the threats of LTTE operatives in London. Despite short notice, crowds gathered in Tothill Street since 11.30am and started moving at 1.00pm towards Embankment via Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Downing Street, Back to Victoria, covering 2 miles of a walk

'Journey towards peace and unity in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans lets march forward as one nation', a few of the banners read. Furthermore, the march carried a banner of President Hon.Mahinda Rajapaksa, who launched the victorious humanitarian operations with the greatest opposition of certain western countries including the UK, being under the spell of LTTE lobbyists and propaganda. Nevertheless it's common knowledge that UK extended military assistance to the armed forces of Sri Lanka worth millions of pounds Halfway through the march a petition with hundreds of signatures, addressed to the Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP was handed in at his residence, no.10, Downing Street. The petition recognised the British Government's support to eliminate terrorism in Sri Lanka by having listed the LTTE as banned organisation in the UK. On the other hand it spoke of shortfalls of the British government to implement the Anti-Terrorism act against LTTE supporters in UK. Further it requested the halting of all Anti-Sri Lankan activities taking place, bringing false allegations based on distorted information. A few requests are as: *

To take action decisively to stop anti-Sri Lankan campaigns organised by the pro-LTTE elements, which leads to polarization of communities destroying the foundations of multi-cultureralism. *

To support initiatives taken by the government of Sri Lanka to restore peace and harmony in Sri Lanka which is a former colony, a friendly and a founder member of the commonwealth. *

To extend UK's fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka in multi-lateral fora in its endeavours.

LTTE supporters in London have been occupying the Westminster parliament square for months carrying out illegal protest and hunger strikes, misleading the British public with banners, posters and LTTE flags. They have turned out be an eye soar in the heart of London inconveniencing the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the area, not to mention the devastating affects on tourism. It is a well-known fact that a few politicians are encouraging these activities in return for votes and other favours. Tributes were paid to the gallant forces of Sri Lanka and the police who made huge sacrifices to rescue the innocent Tamil civilians and country from the clutches of separatist Tamil Tiger terrorism.

The march ended at the Embankment with a vote of thanks being delivered by the organisers of the event, Sri Lankans Against Terrorism(SLAT), UK, who has become victims of LTTE assaults recently. They thankfully acknowledge the presence of all despite their personal commitments.

 

 

(By: Krishan D. Bulathsinghala, UK) 

Ambassador Robert Blake, new Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia told at the hearing of the Congressional Subcommittee on South Asia, yesterday (June 25) that Sri Lanka won an "important victory in the North" when it defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Assistant Secretary Blake, testifying before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, called on Sri Lanka to quickly resettle the 300,000 internally displaced persons in the North and to hold provincial elections. "The action the Sri Lankan government takes now," Assistant Secretary Blake said, "in the aftermath of the war, with respect to both humanitarian relief and political inclusion for minorities, will be important to securing an end to terrorism and a lasting peace."

During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Gary Ackerman (D-New York) said that, "I think the United States should offer its assistance to relieving the suffering of the displaced as much as we can and, while fully respecting the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, should encourage true national reconciliation."

Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the U.S., met with Blake at the U.S. State Department a day before the hearing to congratulate Blake on his confirmation to his new post by the U.S. Senate. The Ambassador and Blake spoke about the Humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka, particularly resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs) and plans for redevelopment and elections in the North.

Secretary Blake urged not only the speedy resettlement of the IDPs, but also a political process that gives the Northern Province a voice in the national government. He noted that the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution would do that, but that the amendment has to be fully implemented.

Blake also said that other measures to promote national unity are under consideration. Specifically, he mentioned a proposal to form an Upper House of Parliament made up of provincial representatives, and the conclusion of the All Party Conference. Those measures, he said, "would help to achieve political reconciliation."

Ambassador Wickramasuriya said that Blake's confirmation as Assistant Secretary of state for Central and South Asia is a positive development for Sri Lanka, which Blake knows well. Blake served as U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2006 until just last month, when he took up his new post in Washington.

"Ambassador Blake has seen the situation in Sri Lanka change dramatically during his service there," Ambassador Wickramasuriya said. "He knows what Sri Lankan citizens have lived through, and the challenges that we face in the years to come. He is a fair-minded person who understands what it will take to ensure lasting peace and reconciliation."

During his meeting with Ambassador Wickramasuriya, Secretary Blake noted that several thousand elderly and disabled IDPs have been allowed to leave government welfare centers, that aid group access to the centers was improving, that restrictions on coastal fishing in the north had been lifted and that two non-governmental organization forums in Colombo and Vavuniya have been established to explore civilian protection and humanitarian issues.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Washington DC

USA

25 June 2009

The cowardly death of the LTTE chief :

There’s one thing you men will be able to say when you get back home. Thirty years from now, when you’re sitting by your fireside, with your grandson on your knee and he asks “What did you do in the great World War Two?” you won’t have to shift him to the other knee, cough and say, “Well, I shovelled sh*t in Louisiana” - General Patton

A death of a criminal, who led a murderous group that caused immense sufferings on innocent, is indeed a great relief for those who have to live under constant threat of that group. When, this criminal is one who is responsible for the deaths of over 75,000 people and one who threw a nation to the verge of destruction, the news not only brings relief to the nation, but also the individuals who brought that relief become national heroes. Their effort becomes a legend that would be told from generation to generation.

The death of V. Prabhakaran, the megalomaniac killer who haunted Sri Lankan citizens for 30 years is certainly a story that would never be forgotten. Defence.lk team presents the true story of the valiant effort that ultimately brought an end to the most implacable curse caste on Sri Lankan citizens.

“The End Battle” is for the generations to come, so they would know the difference between the true heroes who secured them a life without terror and the scoundrels who sought to destroy the nation they born by promoting terror for their own advantage.

The End Battle was fought for nearly four days starting from 16th to 19th May 2009 by Sri Lanka army 53, 58, and 59 Division troops on a neck of land situated on the north-eastern coast of the Island. The battle resulted in the total elimination of the Liberation Tamils of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the most barbaric terrorist outfit known to the mankind.

Rs. 1,058m worth projects for displaced children's education

Concurrent to the Uthuru Vasanthaya Northern Development Program launched by the Government to bring normality to the lives of people displaced from terrorism in the North, the Government has launched projects worth Rs. 1,058 million to provide higher education facilities to children of the displaced funded by the ADB and the World Bank.

This follows a survey which gathered information about students who have missed their higher education due to the conflict in the North, the Education Ministry said.

The Ministry said under this program, a Rs. 23 million project has been launched to restart higher education courses at the Jaffna and Vavuniya Universities while Rs. 90.33 million would be spent to put up a hostel for medical students at the Jaffna University.

Construction work on an academic and administrative building costing Rs. 609.89 million has started at the Jaffna Institute of Higher Technological Education.

Another Rs. 30 million has been set apart to improve the quality of existing courses and introduction of new courses at this Technological Institute while Rs. 14.45 million has been earmarked for improvement of its infrastructure facilities, the Ministry said.

Steps have also been taken to set up a new Institute of Higher Technology at Vavuniya costing Rs. 65 million and another Rs. 60 million had been allocated for improvement of basic facilities at the new university at Vavuniya due to be completed in 2011.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said programs costing Rs. 576 million launched to bring about a qualitative improvement in the country's Higher Education field would be completed before next year.

Courtesy : Daily News

Sri Lankan soldiers now engaged in a massive clearing operation in the former LTTE hideouts in Wanni continue to uncover large stocks of arms and ammo dumped by the terrorists, reveal defence sources. The operation was stepped up with the total elimination of the LTTE from the Sri Lankan soil in order to make the areas safe for the resettlement of civilians.

According to the sources, troops uncovered stocks of mortar bombs, RPG bombs and chargers, ammunition, hand grenades, land mines, claymore, and explosives from Visvamadu, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaittivu and Vellamullivaikkal areas, yesterday (June 17). The following is the list of main items uncovered

Some of the weapons uncovered by the 53 Division troops on 13 June.