Category: Defense

February 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have smashed the Tamil Tigers’ mini-state and cornered the remaining rebels, but officials say they must catch their elusive leader to declare final victory. The air force carried out a series of raids on locations where Velupillai Prabhakaran, 54, was suspected to have sheltered over the weekend, […]

February 8, 2009 (AFP) – At least 10,000 civilians have escaped Sri Lanka’s war zone in the last four days, the government said Sunday, as the president warned Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender unconditionally or be killed. The Tigers are fighting for survival after being driven back into a small patch of jungle by a […]

February 8, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday sank two boats carrying Tamil Tiger rebels escaping the island’s north-eastern battle zone, killing at least six guerrillas, a spokesman said.Naval craft attacked two boats belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Mullaittivu where the rebels have been […]

February 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse warned cornered Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender or face a complete rout as government forces claimed more successes in what is regarded as their fight to a finish.“I want to tell the Tigers ‘lay down arms and surrender to security forces’,” the president told a […]

February 6, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured several Tamil Tiger supply bases on Friday, a day after overrunning the rebels’ last and largest naval base, military officials said. There has been growing concern for the safety of civilians amid reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross that “hundreds” have already been […]

February 5, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is offering an amnesty to Tamil Tiger rebels who lay down arms and surrender to government forces, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told parliament Thursday.“There are reports that groups of people who took part in terrorist activities in the north (of the island) are ready to give themselves up,” […]

Feb 05, 2009 (LBO) – Canada has called for the warring parties in Sri Lanka to declare a truce to evacuate the wounded civilians and for the Tigers to lay down arms. Meanwhile several hundred civilians have crossed over to government controlled areas in recent days. “We continue to believe that the conflict cannot be […]

February 4, 2009 (AFP) – At least 52 civilians were killed in Sri Lanka in shelling in one location on Tuesday, a UN spokesman said Wednesday, as the only hospital in the war zone was evacuated after being hit multiple times.“We have a report that 52 civilians had been killed in a shell attack at […]

February 3, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops advancing in the north of the island have found an underground bunker complex believed to have been a home of the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, the defence ministry said Tuesday.The ministry said the two-storey-deep bunker had electricity generators, air conditioning and medical supplies, and was […]

February 3, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops advancing in the north of the island have found an underground bunker complex believed to have been a home of the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, the defence ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said the two-storey-deep bunker had electricity generators, air conditioning and medical supplies, and […]

February 3, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan government troops on Tuesday captured the last of several jungle airstrips used by the Tamil Tigers to launch air strikes across the island, the defence ministry said.The two-kilometre (1.25-mile) long runway and hangar for light aircraft was seized by troops advancing on the village of Thirivilaru in Mullaittivu […]

Feb 03, 2009 (LBO) – The United States and other powerful donors involved in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict have urged Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender, to prevent further civilian casualties, saying their days were numbered. The co-chairs also urged the government and the rebels to declare a “temporary no-fire period” to allow for evacuation of […]