It is unprecedented in the history of United States-Sri Lanka relations that a US President goes out on the South Lawn of the White House to make remarks expressing his deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and berates both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government for their actions that have led to tens of thousands of innocent civilians being caught up in the cross-fire.
Sensing an imminent collapse of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Sri Lankan forces on Thursday encircled the last 8 sq km patch of area in the northern war zone, where they suspect Tiger supremo V Prabhakaran and his top aides are holed up. A naval blockade was put around northern Mullaittivu close to the areas where LTTE cadres still had access to the sea.
Harin Peiris also said Kumaratunga would break up the island's embattled northeastern province.
Sri Lanka on Monday insisted that India is not involved in the recent attack on its cricket team in Lahore, but did not rule out the possibility of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam link to the audacious gun and grenade strike that left seven players injured and eight people dead.
Liberal member of the Canadian Parliament Gurbax Malhi addressed a rally in Ottawa on March 5 against the backdrop of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam flags."I'd like to let you know I'm helping you guys. I'm behind you because you are fighting for a right cause," he said.
At least three children were among 26 killed in the bombing, the latest in a string of attacks by the rebels amid spiralling fighting in the north which has claimed 300 lives in the two weeks since the government announced its decision to scrap the ceasefire.
There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.
A claymore mine exploded as the vehicles crossed the Rukmani Devi junction along the Colombo-Negombo road. Dassanayake, Minister for Nation Building, and two others were initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with serious injuries, but the minister later succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
Apparently emboldened by its recent military successes against the LTTE, the Sri Lankan government on Wednesday night decided to terminate the truce agreement with LTTE.
There was no word from the Tigers about the latest clashes or about the possible casualties on their side.\n\n
India has mended its stand on Sri Lanka, no longer insisting that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, should lay down arms as a pre-condition for talks with the government in Colombo for a political settlement. Instead of asking the LTTE to lay down the arms, India now wants it to at least agree in principle to lay down the arms as that can pave the way for negotiations with the Sri Lankan government.
Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry claimed that six attack boats, including two suicide craft, of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were destroyed during a heavy sea battle erupted on Wednesday morning in seas south off Delft.
Over 52 militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been killed in gunbattles between security forces and the rebels in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where the Army captured a portion of the rebel-held Thampane area.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror in a report quoting military intelligence said the LTTE chief may have suffered only a minor bruise in his right shoulder.
The LTTE opened the sluice gates freeing water to some 15,000 farmer families downstream following a request from peace broker Norway.
The fighting since last Wednesday at Muttur, which the military said was a diversion from the main battles near the Maavilaru min-dam, or anicut, has left some 30,000 refugees.
As Sri Lankan troops advance towards the last Tiger bastion of Mullaittivu, Army Chief Sarath Fonseka has said he was not sure whether Velupillai Prabhakaran was on the island nation but felt that it was not possible for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supremo to find a shelter in India. The Lankan Air Force had destroyed a vessel carrying arms and ammunitions for the LTTE just when it was being offloaded in the rebel coastal area, Fonseka added.
Eight security force personnel were also killed in various incidents in Sri Lanka's north-western Mannar district.
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, quoting Navy chief Vice-Admiral Daya Sandagiri had reported that Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman were among the tsunami casualties.
Will Killinocchi prove a turning point in the battle being fought between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE? If the LTTE loses the battle, it could mark the beginning of its end as an insurgent force, but not as a terrorist organisation. If the Sri Lankan army wins, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, says B Raman
Tigers assassinated a senior Sri Lankan army general a day after the government offered a direct deal.
Perhaps the Indian establishment do not subscribe to the thesis that un-exhibited power is more potent. Innovative diplomacy and statesmanship with no nonsense approach is the need of the hour.
Raja Ayyappan, a member of the 'Tamizhar Pasarai' outfit, was arrested by Q-Branch police on Monday at Thanjavur, about 165 km from Madurai, following a tip off, they said.
Police and troops stepped up security on Sunday ahead of next week's traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
The Tamil rebel outfit, however, vowed to resolve differences with V Muralitharan without bloodbath.
Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is discussing the crisis with seniors from the eastern Batticaloa district where the regional commander had shown dissent.
There was no immediate confirmation of the incident from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
President Kumaratunga has embroiled the nation in a crisis by sacking three ministers and suspending parliament.
The Sri Lankan prime minister also vowed to reopen Parliament, which was suspended on Tuesday by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
An LTTE spokesman said the proposals were handed over to the Norwegian ambassador Hans Brattskar.
Thousands of ULFA cadres have either surrendered or been arrested, but none of them had confessed to any arms deal with the LTTE.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has said he does not want joint patrolling with India to check smuggling of arms to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Sri Lankan Navy, assisted by helicopter gunships, on Saturday destroyed three Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam boats, killing at least 15 of its cadres, while rebels said they sank two naval vessels in a fierce sea battle.
The Madras high court has refused bail to two persons, said to be the members of the banned organisation LTTE, who attempted to loot Rs 40 crore lying idle in the savings bank account of a dead man.
'The US calls on the LTTE to renounce terrorism and cease terrorist acts, including political assassination, and to comply with terms of the ceasefire agreement they signed,' state department spokesman Philip Reeker said.
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