Media Minister denies, Liberation tigers planning mass attack
Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana yesterday dismissed reports that the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam was planning to launch a mass suicide attack as their last display of Eelam struggle. He said the terrorist outfit would not be able to persuade a large number of cadres for self destruction.
Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga deplores attack on civilians
Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga says she disapproves of the manner in which the military campaign is being pursued in northern Sri Lanka. “I don’t believe in bombarding people and killing thousands of civilians and rendering hundreds of them refugees,”.
Caring for the needs of women caught in Sri Lanka’s crisis – UNFPA
Women and girls caught up in the ongoing warfare in northern Sri Lanka are at grave risk, according to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The Fund is assisting civilians who have escaped the combat area but remains greatly concerned about the health and safety of the tens of thousands who remain, particularly pregnant women.
TN political parties call for US intervention to Srilankan National issue
The Sri Lankan Tamils’ Protection Movement, an umbrella organisation of outfits like PMK, MDMK, VCK, CPI and the Tamil Nationalist Movement, on Friday asked the US to take all diplomatic measures to ensure a ceasefire in the island nation. A memorandum in this regard was submitted to officials of the US Consulate general in Chennai by leaders of the political parties, including S Ramadoss, Vaiko and P Nedumaran.
SLA barrages Mullaiththeevu after Tiger air attack on Colombo
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery barrage towards IDP settlements located in Ampalavaanpokkanai and the area located between Iranaippaalai and Maaththta’lan Friday night from 9:30 to midnight. Casualties are not known. The SLA also barraged the sea along the coast of LTTE held area and surveillance aircraft of the SLAF was seen over Vanni attempting to detect Tiger aircraft.
Tamil Eelam Air Force Black Tigers carries out successful attack on Colombo’s Air Force HQ, Air Base
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Friday claimed two aircrafts of Black Air Tiger mission carried out successful air raids on Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Headquarters in Colombo and the SLAF base at Katunayaka. The Tigers also released photograph of the two Black Air Tigers, Col. Roopan and Lt. Col. Siriththiran with LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan taken before embarking on their mission.
Kohona says it’s best for MIA to stay with music
Ravi Nessman has been covering events there for the Associated Press. He is the Colombo bureau chief for the AP
Tavis: Let me start by asking, for those here who do not understand what this civil war is all about, what’s going on with regard to the back story of this civil war, take a minute or two just to explain to me what this civil war’s all about.
Nessman: Sure. There’s been ethnic tension in this country for a very long time – since independence, in fact, between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, who make up less than 20 percent of the population. After independence, there were quite a few laws passed by the Sinhalese majority that the Tamil minority felt marginalized – their culture, their language, their religion.
Chennai clash: HC orders CBI probe, ruckus in House
The High Court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the violence at the Madras High Court on Thursday. The government of Tamil Nadu has consented to the inquiry. Three committees are to be formed by the Chief Justice, comprising the Registrar General, two Registrars and lawyers.
(2nd update: pictures added) Tamil Eelam Air Force bomb Sri Lankan Capital Colombo
It’s an embarrassing situation for the government in Colombo, since its claim for week that its vertically crippled the Tamil Tigers and counting its days for its total extinction
Tamil Tiger planes attack Sri Lankan Capital Colombo at 9.45 pm on Friday February 20. An huge explosion struck an area close to the Sri Lankan capital’s port and officials also said a government building in the city centre had been hit. The latest report indicates its the Air force head quarters at Slave Island. 38 persons, including Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airmen, were rushed to hospital. Several of the wounded have sustained serious injuries, the sources said.
Lack of antibiotics force doctors to re-amputate patients in Vanni
“If we are not going to receive at least IV antibiotics, anesthetics and surgical consumables in minimum amounts ASAP, we may not be able to provide even emergency first aid to the war wounded,” writes Dr. T. Varatharajan, the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) in Mullaiththeevu district to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, in a letter sent to Colombo five days ago.
