Sri Lanka army sources say that around 5100 civilians trapped in the LTTE run human shield in Wanni were rescued yesterday (Feb 6).

According to the sources, the civilians had sought refuge with the soldiers deployed in the Dharmapuram, Visuamadu and Kuppilankuam areas. The soldiers after providing immediate medical care and refreshments to the refugees had sent them to the welfare centres elsewhere.

The army offensive elements continue to manoeuvre with tact and care to the remaining LTTE hiding areas in Wanni providing more escape routes to the civilians under the terror clutches.

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Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir and F-7 fighter jets yesterday (Feb 6) destroyed a hideout of senior LTTE leader Soosai located 1 Km northeast of Puthukudduyiruppu junction.

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that 11 LTTE cadres including a very senior LTTE leader were killed in the attack.

He added that it has been revealed through unconfirmed sources that Soosai was at the targeted location at the time of the attack. However, he said it is impossible to confirm at the moment whether Soosai was killed or wounded in the attack.

According to the Air Force spokesperson, the initial air strike was taken on the target at 1.45, last afternoon. The mission was to destroy an underground bunker and a luxury house of one of the LTTE's senior leader. Following the attack, it was observed that the terrorists were making a desperate attempt to dig out the location with three earth moving vehicles. The fighters again hit the target at 4.45 on the same day evening destroying the three terrorist vehicles.

The LTTE front office in Switzerland was surrounded and pelted with stones by a group of Tamil protestors a few hours ago today (Feb 6) urging the immediate release of the civilians held as a human shield by the LTTE in Mullaittivu. The group of Swiss Tamils led a protest in the morning hours, also accusing the LTTE terrorist outfit solely responsible for the plight of the Tamil youth in Wanni.

"LTTE is no longer the liberators; they are the true cause for the unprecedented suffering of our brethren. Our children are dragged from schools, women turned into human bombs and elderly forced to an 'essential arms training' what they (LTTE) define as a 'self defence' training", a protestor was quoted as saying.

The attack at the LTTE office was reported subsequent to a demonstration which was organized by the Swiss Tamils to show solidarity towards the people held by LTTE at Mullaittivu, Swiss news sources reported.

Adding another huge setback for the LTTE terrorists in Wanni battlefront the Deputy LTTE sea tiger leader and three other sea tiger leaders were killed in a fierce confrontation took place in north of Chalai yesterday, 4 February, the latest military sources in battlefront said.

According to the available information, LTTE sea tiger deputy leader known as Vinayagam was killed as troops of 55 Division on mission to capture LTTE's last sea tiger base, Chalai, launched an effective offensive thrust against LTTE resistance. The intense fighting reported between 1.45PM to 2.00 PM, defence sources said.

By intercepting LTTE communication channels, it is revealed that terrorists were unable to found the body of the killed deputy sea tiger leader so far as troops continued their offensive on remaining LTTE positions in the area.

Meanwhile, In-charge of LTTE land fighting group known as Kader and sea tiger Pooneryn area leader know as Pahalawan were also killed during the confrontation, military sources further confirmed.

Sea tiger special leader known as Sinna Kannan was killed in a separate confrontation reported in north of Chalai around 8.50 AM yesterday. He was later given the self-styled rank of 'Lt. Colonel', Electronic Warfare (EW) sources confirmed intercepting LTTE communication channels. Eight more sea tigers were also killed during the battle.

Troops are now heading towards Chalai, the only remaining sea tiger base, gaining more LTTE hiding areas amidst stiff resistance given by the terrorists.

Sri Lanka Air Force Mig-27 jets raided LTTE command center and senior LTTE leaders' hideout in general area Puthukkudiruppu this morning, 5 February.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that air sorties were launched around 11.00 AM targeting LTTE command center and senior LTTE leaders' hideout located 1.5Km north of Puthukkuddiruppu.

The target was completely destroyed, air force spokesperson said.

Sri Lankan Army troops of the 58 Division led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva have made another vital breakthrough in the Wanni battles, as troops seized control over what is identified to be the largest LTTE suicide bomber and advanced combat training facility following hours of fierce fighting that ensued with LTTE, yesterday (Feb 3).

LTTE terrorists had fled suffering heavy damages during the intense gunfire exchanges also leaving a jeep, believed used by the LTTE chief Prabakaran or a senior associate for field visits at the large facility. The training base though located in a thick jungle patch was well equipped with modern fitness maintenance equipment, an auditorium and underground bunkers with food storage facilities.

Evidences suggests that the LTTE leader had made frequent visits at the location which is also believed to be the exact site where the LTTE human bombs were hosted with their 'final dinner of death' along with Prabakaran himself.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that has been fighting for mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils since 1983. The outfit led by its psychopathic leader V. Prabakaran is notorious for crimes against women and children. During its three decades of terror campaign against Sri Lankan citizens the outfit has killed and maimed over tens and thousands innocent children in ethnic cleansing raids, indiscriminate bomb attacks and by using child soldiers at the battlefronts.

The 58 Division troops celebrated the 61st Independence Day, during a charm event organized in the recently liberated Pooneryn Town, in Kilinochchi today (Feb 4). The event was organized simultaneously with the official Independence Day ceremony at Colombo. Brigadier Shavendra Silva, the 58 Division Commander hoisted the national flag at the event followed by a guard of honor and an inspection parade. The valiant troops who sacrificed their lives and limbs for the freedom of their brethren were also commemorated with a minute's silence of respect honored. A few officers and soldiers of the 58 Division were also present at the event.

During the main speech delivered the 58 Div commander emphasized the need for conscious and concentrated efforts to free the civilians held by LTTE also underscoring the necessity to improve the living status and welfare of the displaced people in the Wanni and North.

Despite LTTE terrorists tightening grip over civilians entrapped in the Mullaittivu district, people are fleeing in large numbers toward the liberated zones under security forces, military said. The latest reported was the arrival of over 264 civilians from Puthukkudiyirippu at the safe region in Visuamadu, this morning (Feb 4). "It seems that the people have made their intentions clear to the terrorist outfit: independence now or never", a defence observer said citing Wanni military sources.

The people were forcibly dragged by the LTTE to the battlefront with weapons to man LTTE forward defences, military sources said citing a few escapees. "No longer can these innocent people undergo such unprecedented hardships and they have now realized the true liberation the terrorist outfit has brought after three decades", the official further said.

It is with an immense sense of pride that I send this message to mark the 61st National Day celebrations of Sri Lanka.

The pride comes from the many achievements towards the strengthing of our freedom gained in recent months since we launched a decisive humanitarian operation to free our motherland from the clutches of terror.

Beginning with the success of the heroic troops of our free and democratic society in clearing the terrorists from Mavil Aru in August 2006, and proceeding to the liberation of the entire East, we have now regained control of almost al of our land in the North too, including the entire Jaffna Peninsula. The strongholds of terror once believed to be invincible such as Kilinochchi, Elephant Pass and Mulative, have fallen in rapid succession, bringing the final elimination of terror from pour motherland and the dawn on true freedom to all our people well within our reach.

I take this opportunity to pay this generous tribute to our heroic forces for the scarifies they have made and the courage and determination they have displayed, in ensuring that on this 61st anniversary independence, we have moved beyond the threshold of a freedom that is richer and more meaningful than what was achieved in 1948.

As we pay this well deserved tribute to our heroic forces , we can be satisfied that many who were once critical of our operations to eradicate terror from our land are now citing Sri Lanka and the success of our troops as an example on how terrorism should be defeated.

As we move towards a larger freedom, our thoughts go out to the innocent Tamil people of the north who remain in bondage under the ruthless forces of terror who claimed to be their liberates. I pledge to you today, that these people who share our motherland, will be liberated and given the equality and all rights that they are entitled to , under the Constitution.

Secretary of Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition has informed all heads of Diplomatic Missions and ICRC in Sri Lanka that he has instructed Regional Directors of Health in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi to take their healthcare activities for the civilians in their areas to the Designated No Fire Zone in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi with the assistance of ICRC in order to avoid causing loss of life or injury to the civilians in Puddikkudiyiruppu, Vallipuram, Udayarkadu and Sudandiripuram hospitals.

This followed a request for the advice from the Secretary by the two Regional Directors of Health of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi as a result of the mounting hostilities and the risk of falling artillery shells in and around these hospitals as a result of fighting during the humanitarian relief operations in those areas and specifically in view of the reliable information received that the LTTE were mingling with the civilians while having active LTTE artillery gun positions operating in and around the hospitals, posing a serious threat to the patients, hospital staff and their relatives who are temporarily housed within the hospital premises for safety.

The notice issued by the Secretary of Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition to ICRC:

Head of Mission

ICRC- Sri Lanka

During the past week, Dr. Vartharaja (Regional Director of Health services/ Mullaitivu) and Dr. Sathyamoorthy (Regional Director of Health Services/ Kilinochchi) contacted me to seek advice as to what they should do with regard to the functioning of hospitals at Puddikkudiyiruppu, Vallipuram, Udayarkadu and Sudandiripuram.

In view of the mounting hostilities and the risk of falling artillery shells in and around these hospitals as a result of fighting during the humanitarian relief operations in those areas. I advised them to move out of the areas where fighting was taking place into the Designated No Fire Security Zone or the liberated areas of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi with the assistance of ICRC in order to avoid causing loss of life or injury to the civilians in those hospitals. This advice was given specifically in view of the reliable information I had received that the LTTE were mingling with the civilians while having active LTTE artillery gun positions operating in and around the hospitals, posing the serious threat to the patients, hospital staff and their relatives who are temporarily housed within the hospital premises for safety.