The Tamil Tigers said on Monday that they were ready for a ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government, but refused to lay down their arms. With the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam cornered in a fast shrinking small landmass in the north easter coast of the country, the rebels appeal for a truce came in a letter to the United Nations and other foreign powers.
Sri Lankan troops on Friday captured the strategic town of Ampalavanpokkanai in south of Mullaittivu, after a fierce battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in which two senior LTTE commanders were killed. Advancing rapidly, the Lankan forces have now virtually encircled Puthukudirippu, the last town held by the Tigers, where LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran is reportedly leading the rebels.
After uncovering attempts of Tamil Tigers to build crude submarines, Sri Lankan forces on Thursday said they had unearthed a possible rebel aircraft research wing that apparently studied ways to either repair planes or construct new ones.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has charged the United Nations with not taking effective measures to protect the life of Tamil civilians fleeing the rebel held areas and denied killing the innocent people.
The Tamil Tigers are ready for ceasefire if the Sri Lankan government is willing to halt its military offensive against them, a pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam political party said on Tuesday.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's son Charles Anthony is commanding a contingent of the Tamil Tigers, alongside other top rebel leaders like Banu and Lakshman, arrested black Tigers have revealed. Anthony, who returned from Ireland in 2006, is believed to have got a degree in aeronautical engineering and is heading the air wing and computer unit of the LTTE, according to the reports.
Padma Vibhushan awardee Murthy has stepped down as Infosys CEO but continues as its chief mentor and board chairman.
Sri Lanka on Friday rejected Britain's 'unilateral appointment' of a special envoy to focus on the humanitarian situation in the embattled north and help find a lasting political solution to the ethnic conflict, terming it an intrusion in the island's internal affairs. Former British Defence Secretary Des Browne was appointed by British Premier Gordon Brown as his special envoy to Sri Lanka on Thursday. The Sri Lankan government, however, rejected his appointment.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam maintains a hostile approach towards the exodus of civilians from the Wanni region, and the casualties caused by it is under-reported, Sri Lankan government told a high-level United Nations delegation on Monday.
The Sea Tiger chief Soosai was reported missing after the Sri Lankan Air Force jets pounded his hideout killing at least 27 rebels, even as 5,000 civilians crossed over to the army held areas in Wanni, officials said on Saturday. It was immediately not confirmed whether Soosai was killed or wounded in the attack, but he was reportedly missing.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has promised the United Nations that his forces would protect Tamil civilians as it pushes ahead with its offensive to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Rajapaksa gave this assurance over telephone to UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon, as his forces overran the last base of the sea Tigers near Mulaittivu, cutting off all their escape routes.
Sri Lanka offered virtual amnesty to Tamil Tigers who surrender to troops on Thursday, but rejected an appeal by US-led donors to declare a 'no-fire' period and initiate a political dialogue with the beleaguered rebels.
Army tanks and infantry moved deep into the sea Tiger base in Chalai region in Northern Mullaittivu after killing four top LTTE leaders, including Vinayagam, number three in the hierarchy list of sea tigers.
At least 52 civilians were killed in shelling in Sri Lanka's embattled northern Wanni region, where a hospital came under attack for the fourth straight day today -- this time by a cluster bomb, forcing authorities to evacuate patients from one of the last functioning medical facilities in the war zone. "We have a confirmed report that 52 civilians have been killed in a shell attack at Suranthapuram (in Wanni region) on Tuesday evening," UN spokesman Gordon Weiss said.
With his forces encircling the fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tami Eelam in a tiny strip of land in the northern region of the country, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse held out an olive branch to the Tamil Tigers on Monday, asking them to lay down arms after which they will be 'readily accepted and treated humanely'. The President said all facilities would be made available for the LTTE cadres who lay down their arms and surrender.
Ruling out a ceasefire, Sri Lanka on Saturday said it was "hoping against hope" that the LTTE would abide by the 48-hour deadline set by it to release civilians in the war zone and warned the rebels of severe action if they failed to deliver.
United Nations on Thursday began running special rescue convoys and evacuated hundreds of wounded Tamil civilians from behind the Tiger-held areas as concerns grew worldwide over the fate of 250,000 civilians trapped in the war zone. "About 350 critically-wounded civilians, including 50 children, were brought to safety zones," UN spokesman Gordon Weiss said.
Scotching speculation about External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's unscheduled visit to the country, Sri Lanka on Thursday said there was nothing 'secret' about it, which was aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and to support efforts against terrorism."There seems to be many theories emanating about Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit. There is nothing sensational. It was a normal visit," a senior Sri Lankan minister told reporters.
Continuing their string of successes against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Sri Lankan forces on Thursday gained total control over Visuamadu town, the nerve centre of the Tamil Tigers' artillery power, and captured a 35-feet submarine-type craft as well as other vessels. Initial search and clearing operations are being conducted in Visuamadu, one of the last bastions of the Tamil Tigers', they said.
As India's fears mounted for Tamil civilians trapped in the war zone in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday night sought an assurance from President Mahinda Rajapakse that the innocents are safe and humanitarian situation will be taken into consideration.
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