Grenade attack on SLA soldiers, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 2009, 18:49 GMT]
Unidentified persons launched a grenade attack Thursday around 6:30 p.m on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Kokkuvil area in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. SLA soldiers conducted a search in the area throughout the night immediately after the attack, the sources added.
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Jaffna volunteer teachers stage protest demonstration

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 2009, 18:11 GMT]
More than 400 volunteer teachers suddenly gathered in front of Jaffna Education Office at Nalloor Wednesday morning staging a silent protest, bearing placards with slogans condemning Sri Lanka government's delay in appointing them as permanent teachers and its irregularities and corruption in the appointment of teachers. Though key Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers along with the Education Officials compelled the protesters to call off the demonstration the protesters refused to comply. SLA officials did not permit journalist to cover the demonstration or allow anyone to photograph the protesters.
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SLA, LTTE clashes continue in Mukamaalai FDL

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 2009, 19:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) suffered setbacks Tuesday in an attempt to enter Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Front Defence Line (DFL) areas in Mukamaalai while Jaffna-Kandy road was blocked for public transport for more than three and a half hours enabling ambulances to transport injured soldiers from Mukkamaalai FDL positions, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Defence Ministry in Colombo, however, claimed that the SLA had advanced in Mukamaalai.
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53 SLA killed, 80 wounded, arms seized in Paranthan - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 2009, 14:09 GMT]
At least 53 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed, more than 80 sustained injuries and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) recovered 2 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers in heavy fighting that erupted Sunday when the SLA launched an offensive push through 2nd Mile Post on Paranthan Mullaiththeevu Road on two fronts. LTTE officials further said they seized arms including AK-LMGs, PK-LMGs, Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and at least ten T-56 assault rifles.
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Child injured in SLA gunfire in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 2009, 08:55 GMT]
A one and a half year old child was seriously injured Wednesday around 2:30 a.m in the indiscriminate gunfire by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from their camp located in Makilloor Ka’n’nakipuram in Ka’luvaangchchikudi police division in Batticaloa district.
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SLA claims occupation of Paranthan junction

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 2009, 16:38 GMT]
Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on Thursday claimed that its troops reached Paranthan Junction, which is situated north of Ki'linochchi town on A9 Road. Informed military sources said the SLA suffered high casualties as the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) put up heavy resistance. The occupation of Paranthan junction comes after SLA suffering three major debacles in which several soldiers, including child soldiers and young recruits have been killed.
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Civil society decries internment of Vanni families in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 2009, 13:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka military and Police in Kopaay are keeping more than 155 members of 60 families who arrived in Jaffna as refugees from Vanni in a newly established camp in Kopaay Teachers Training College without basic facilities and without any freedom of movement, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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Major General Chandrasiri to retire

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 December 2008, 13:17 GMT]
Major General Chandrasiri is to retire from his current position as Military Commander of the Northern district effective from 6th of January. Promotion to Sri Lanka's Highest Army post eluded Mr Chandrasiri due to the extensions provided to his friend Lt.Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Meanwhile, Maj.Gen. Mendega Samarasinghe is expected to become the new SLA commander for Jaffna, military sources in Jaffna said.
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17-year-old SLA soldier killed in Vanni battlefront

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 December 2008, 16:14 GMT]
One of the Identity Cards recovered with a dead body of a young Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier revealed that the SLA trooper killed in the offensive forefront in Mullaiththeevu district on Saturday was a 17-year-old boy. LTTE officials displayed photos for reporters in Vanni on Sunday. According to the Article 1 of the the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, signed and ratified by the Sri Lankan government, the government (State Party) should ensure that members of their armed forces who have not attained the age of 18 years do not take a direct part in hostilities.
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Tigers seize arms, recover 16 SLA bodies in A'lampil fighting

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 December 2008, 03:05 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials said Sunday morning that at least 50 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 90 wounded in A'lampil area in Mullaiththeevu district on Saturday. The LTTE officials further said they seized more than 20 guns including 10 Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and 10 T-56 assault rifles, and recovered 16 SLA dead bodies in the clearing mission that followed.
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Accidental blast kills SLA soldier, injures 2 in Jaffna FDL

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 December 2008, 07:12 GMT]
An accidental explosion occurring Wednesday in one of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps in Ki’laali in Notthern Front Defence Line (FDL) area killed a soldier and seriously injured two. Chaavakachcheari Acting Magistrate, S. Kanapathipillai, conducted the inquest into the death at the site.
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Motor mechanic seeks protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 December 2008, 15:23 GMT]
A 39-year-old motor mechanic from Koappaay sought protection to his life with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Friday due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and SLA-backed paramilitary men, according to his complaints to HRC officials. The officials are taking action to place him in the protective custody of Jaffna Prison through Jaffna court.
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SLA soldier loses leg in Batticaloa mine blast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 December 2008, 02:04 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier lost his leg in a landmine blast Tuesday around 5:00 p.m at Colony 10 area, located on the boundary between Batticalao and Ampaa’rai districts, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Vadamaraadchi postal employee reported missing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 December 2008, 12:33 GMT]
A postal employee attached to Nelliyadi Post Office in Vadamaraadchi is reported missing since 20 December after leaving his home in Kalikai, Thunnaalai, Vadamaraadchi, according to complaint lodged by his father with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna. Local witnesses had reportedly seen Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers taking away a youth on the same day during night and being interrogated by the SLA soldiers, the father said in the complaint.
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100 SLA killed, 250 wounded, heavy fighting in Ki'linochchi - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 December 2008, 14:28 GMT]
More than 100 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and at least 250 SLA soldiers wounded Monday when the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) repulsed a fresh offensive push, said S. Puleedevan, the director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat, quoting LTTE's field commanders. Heavy fighting raged from 5:30 to 12:45 when the SLA attempted to advance from Uruththirapuram towards Ki'linochchi and Ira'naimadu. Several corpses of the SLA soldiers were seen in the battlefield and the Tigers were engaged in seizing arms and ammunitions after routing the offensive on two fronts, Mr. Puleedevan further said. The fighting was continuing on three fronts.
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Fresh SLA recruit becomes Prisoner of War

[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 December 2008, 21:12 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, taken captive by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) in Ki'laali on 09 December, has revealed that he was attached to Sinha Regiment and sent to the forefront of the offensive immediately after completing his military training at Diyathalawa Army Training Centre on 25 November. The Prisoner of War (PoW), who was allowed to talk to media on Saturday while he was admitted at Ki'linochchi hospital, said he had studied up to 7th standard and joined the SLA considering the economic benefits, but did not expect that he would be sent to the battle front immediately.
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Tigers recover 12 SLA bodies after preemptive strike, 60 killed, 150 wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2008, 16:03 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) counter-offensive units carried out a preemptive strike on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensive formation in Mu'rika'ndi - Ira'naimadu area Saturday, killing at least 60 SLA soldiers, LTTE officials told TamilNet. The SLA was pushed back 2 km, and the Tigers said they have recovered 12 dead bodies of SLA soldiers so far in the clearing mission, according to latest update from the LTTE officials in Ki'linochchi. More than 150 SLA soldiers were wounded in the counter operation, Tiger officials told TamilNet.
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Rwandan convicted of genocide

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2008, 00:27 GMT]
A senior Rwandan military officer charged with being one of the masterminds of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda was convicted on Thursday by a United Nations court in Tanzania of genocide and sentenced to life in prison. The court used the doctrine of "command responsibility," to convict the "highest authority in the Rwandan Defense Ministry," and also found him "guilty in connection with the killing of 10 Belgian peacekeepers by soldiers at Camp Kigali, and in the organized killings by soldiers and militiamen," International Herald Tribune reported.
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Claymore attack injures 2 SLA soldiers in Ea’raavoor

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 December 2008, 06:34 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a Claymore attack Thursday around 8:00 p.m, seriously injuring two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers engaged in road patrol at Murakkoddaancheanai in Ea’raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, LTTE officials in Batticaloa said.
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SL embassies to seek foot powder for soldiers from Sinhala expatriates

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 December 2008, 12:33 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD), through a request forwarded through the foreign ministry, has urged SL missions abroad to supply a medicine required to control foot infections caused by fungi and bacteria to the Sri Lankan soldiers engaged in an offensive war with the mission of occupying Tamil territories.
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