Category: Defense

January 13, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have captured more territory from Tamil Tigers in fierce fighting around the rebels’ last stronghold in the northeast of the island, the defence ministry said Tuesday. Heavy fighting was reported around guerrilla-controlled Mullaittivu district on Monday, with troops seizing a rebel administration base, a training camp and […]

January 12, 2009 (AFP) – Helicopter gunships and war planes attacked suspected Tamil Tiger strong points in northern Sri Lanka on Monday while at least 19 rebels were killed in ground battles, the defence ministry said.Aircraft hit two positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Iranamadu, just south of their political capital […]

January 11, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military launched air attacks against the last remaining jungle hideouts of Tamil Tiger rebels after driving them out of their main strongholds, officials said on Sunday.“The Sri Lankan army has so far captured four airstrips of the LTTE terrorists during the ongoing counter terrorist operations,” the ministry said. […]

January 10, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces were ready to deal a “decisive blow” to the remaining Tamil Tiger positions following the capture of the highly strategic Elephant Pass, the defence ministry said on Saturday. After four days of fierce fighting, government forces on Friday established full control over Elephant Pass, also known […]

January 9, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops fighting Tamil rebels on Friday took full control of the highly strategic Elephant Pass, a causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the northern mainland, an official said. The causeway fell to government troops advancing northwards from Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the Tamil Tigers captured by the […]

Jan 09, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s military has gained full control of a strategic highway linking the northern Jaffna peninsular with the south of the country after 23 years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a nation-wide television address. Point Pedro is the northernmost point of the island, and Dondra Head the southernmost point. Education […]

January 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula Thursday, a day after the government reimposed a formal ban on the guerrillas, officials said.Troops moved their front lines further south to Pallai, a key Tiger position on the peninsula after heavy fighting, military officials […]

January 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger guerrillas are “near extinction” as troops press home their initiative after capturing the rebels’ political capital, the defence ministry said Wednesday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Government forces have advanced towards the final remaining strongholds […]

Jan 07, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government said it had decided to re-impose a ban on Tamil Tigers after a lengthy military campaign that has seriously weakened the rebels and cornered them in the island’s north-east. Maithripala Sirisena, spokesman for the cabinet of ministers, said the cabinet took the decision at Wednesday’s meeting […]

COLOMBO, January 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Wednesday decided to ban formally the Tamil Tigers in a symbolic move that signals closing the prospect of early peace talks with the rebels, a senior minister said.The Tigers, who are already outlawed by the United States and the European Union, have been waging a drawn-out campaign […]

COLOMBO, January 7, 2009 (AFP) – A powerful explosion ripped through a railway track just outside the Sri Lankan capital on Wednesday causing disruption to commuter services, police said. Police said there were no casualties following the blast at Mount Lavinia, but the Colombo-bound track was damaged and train services were suspended pending investigation. “Fortunately […]

January 6, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops were battling Tuesday to flush out Tamil Tigers from the Jaffna peninsula after taking the rebels’ political headquarters in the northern mainland, the military said.Security forces were pushing into remaining rebel-held territory in the Jaffna area after taking a part of the Elephant Pass, a causeway linking […]