Over 16000 Tamils in Jaffna protest against LTTE terrorism

Tamil civilians in Jaffna today (Dec 21) staged a massive protest against atrocities committed against them by the LTTE terrorists. According to the defence.lk special correspondent in Jaffna, over 16000 civilians marched peacefully from Kaithadi to Chawakachcheri this morning displaying banners and placards with slogans against the LTTE.
The protestors demanded the LTTE to let them live in peace and to free the Tamils held hostage in Wanni LTTE hiding areas.
One participant to the march speaking to defence.lk called the LTTE leader a coward, who is trying to save his life by hiding under shield of innocent civilians.
"All the civilians are in the view that the damaged caused to the Sri Lankan Tamils by the LTTE is irrecoverable. They say that the graveyards are the only achievement of the LTTE" said our correspondent.
"There were many elderly parents who called LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, a curse upon Tamils that devoured generations of Tamil children" he added.
Meanwhile, the protestors took a special note of the support received by the LTTE from the Tamil Diaspora.
"There were many banners requesting the Tamils living aboard to stop funding LTTE and let the Sri Lankan Tamils to live in peace"
"'We are not pawns of your game of tribalism' was the message they wanted to convey to those who support the LTTE", said our correspondent citing the organizers of the protest.
Also, the organizers told defence.lk that the true voice of Sri Lankan Tamils is barred by LTTE hired hands in the international media. They added the world should recognize that the true aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils have nothing to do with fanatic ambitions of the LTTE leader.

Heavy fighting as Lankan troops close in on Kilinochchi

The defence ministry said that the troops operating in the north of Kilinochchi town, 350 km north of here, were targeting movement of the rebels Sunday despite bad weather and heavy resistance.

"Troops of the 57 Division, continuing their multi-frontal thrust on the outer fringes of Kilinochchi at Adampan South, Puthumurippukulam, north of Kokkavil and Thirumurikandy, inflicted heavy damages to LTTE during intense fighting reported throughout Sunday," the ministry claimed.

It said troops had captured two bunkers and destroyed another following a series of clashes with the rebels in these areas.

"The terrorists have also put on stiff resistance in the area despite sustaining heavy loses. The military advances continued amidst rains in both Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts Sunday," it said.

Army Commander exposes the death toll at Muhamalai

Although the government did not make any official statement regarding the death toll in fighting to capture the LTTE forward defense line at Muhamalai, the Army Commander said to a weekend newspaper yesterday (22) that 30 state security forces personnel and over 100 LTTE cadres were killed in four days clash.

The Army Commander says, "They have publicized the names of the dead Tiger. They are retreating as we are attacking them. Operations in Muhamalai still go on."

Commenting on Mangala Samaraweera's Defense Watch analysis that over 200 security forces personnel were killed and the rumors that over 600 were killed, the Army Commander stated that This Defense Watch programme had been commenced to hoodwink the public through wrong information. Forty eight hours before we captured Punarin, the person who handles Defense Watch said to media that the war is a delusion, General Sarath Fonseka said. "For that we demolished the Tigers’ rule in a stretch 70 kilometers wide from Madu….We have shown something anyone that has vision can see. It was done after 20 years, How can it be a delusion?"

Wanni liberation unchecked by monsoon, soldiers ready to take the challenge

Victorious Sri Lanka Army soldiers are in a mood to take any challenge that comes in their way in the battlefield, says our special correspondent in Wanni. The Northeast Monsoon has settled down with torrential rains, flooded roads and bogy grounds but the soldiers are moving forward fighting the terrorists and the vile weather with equal strength.
After defeating the massive LTTE counter offensive on Sunday (Nov 23), troops of Army 57 Division (57 Div) and Task Force 1 (TF 1) are further consolidating their positions in the Kilinochchi outskirts.
"Soldiers are busy with strengthening the supply backbone for troops in the forward areas with loads of food, drinking water and medicine being transported there," he said.
"The men are well focused to their mission; 'Kilinochchi we are coming' is the word that goes around here"
Meanwhile intercepted radio transmissions have revealed that a senior terrorist leader called Stanley was killed during recent battle. The outfit has given its self-styled "Lieutenant Colonel" rank to the slain terrorist chief.

Sri Lanka Navy destroys 2 LTTE boats in sea battle, 6 Tigers killed(Friday, November 28, 2008)

Sri Lankan Navy confronted a Sea Tiger flotilla off the coast of Nayaru in Mullaitivu today in a fierce pre-dawn attack killing 6 sea Tigers and destroying two Tiger boats, the military said.
According to the defense sources, Navy's elite Special boat squadron (SBS) personnel upon detecting a cluster of 7 LTTE boats along the coastal waters off Nayaru fired at the boats and destroyed two of the boats while damaging another.
Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships have provided close air support to the Navy causing the other four other LTTE craft to flee.
Citing intercepted LTTE communication defense officials said 6 Tigers were confirmed killed and as many injured.

Sri Lankan army marching towards Kilinochchi

Sri Lankan troops have intensified the battle near the LTTE-controlled headquarters of Kilinochchi amidst fierce resistance by the Tamil Tigers and are now consolidating their position near Mannar, officials said today.
Sri Lanka army offensive divisions in the Wanni theatre of operations are now marching towards the Kilinochchi built up in three frontiers, defence sources said. They said Army Task Force 1 and 57 Division have launched attacks at the LTTE held earth bund on the outskirts of Kilinochchi.
According to the latest reports, pitched battles are going on in the north of Adampan, South of Adampan and Therumurikandi areas near Mannar since early this morning.
Army Task Force 1 launched a predawn offensive targeting LTTE defence in the North of Adampan area.
Infantrymen of 17 Gamunu Watch, 12 Gajaba Regiment, and 8 Sinha Regiment have captured LTTE strongholds on the earth bund at three locations after crushing stiff resistance.
"Troops are now consolidating their positions," the defence ministry said, adding intercepted radio transmissions have confirmed heavy damages to the rebels during the clashes.
Meanwhile, Army's 57 division troops are now fighting the LTTE in the vicinity of the rebel held earth bund in the Adampan area.
According to the sources, LTTE defence in the area "are fast falling apart" as Troops of 12 SR, and 9 GR engage in operations in the region.
In the North of Kokavil area in Kilinochchi, troops of 8 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, and 10 SLLI are now advancing towards the A-9 road.

Tigers could go back to guerrilla war as mini state crumbles

A pledge by Sri Lanka's Tamil rebel leader to fight on despite a military onslaught raised fears Friday of a return to a hit-and-run guerrilla war as his mini-state faced potential collapse.
Separatist chief Velupillai Prabhakaran vowed Thursday the rebels would "continue with our struggle until the alien Sinhala occupation of our land is evicted," referring to Sri Lanka's majority Sinhalese population, and appealed to Tamils abroad for support to shore up his military machine.
Government forces have surrounded Prabhakaran in his political capital of Kilinochchi in the biggest-ever military campaign in the history of Sri Lanka's armed separatist struggle, which dates back to 1972.
Prabhakaran's speech delivered over Voice of Tigers radio contained veiled threats against civilians and suggestions the rebels would revert to hit-and-run attacks as their territory shrank, observers said.
"Prabhakaran acknowledges there's fighting all around him and that he's under siege," said retired army brigadier general Vipul Boteju. "When he says he will fight on, it means he will return to his classic guerrilla tactics."
State radio warned Friday that Tiger rebels could resort to "desperate attacks" and called for public vigilance as heavy fighting raged in the island's northern regions where Tamils predominate.
Security across the country had been stepped up, officials said, after a spate of bombings in Colombo and elsewhere targeting key political and military figures as well as government installations.

Sri Lanka Army capture Kokkadicholai - the main nerve center of LTTE’s eastern command

In one of its major accomplishments the Sri Lanka Army captured one of the nerve centers of the Eastern Command of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Kokkadicholai with its mansion , air-conditioned conference hall built for foreigners and a large haul of arms.
In the face of the advancing Light Infantry troops of the Sri Lanka Army the Tamil Tigers left most of their weapons and fled, the Sri Lanka Army said.
The Sri Lanka Army sources said, “valiant troops of the 7 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (7 SLLI) this morning (28) completely brought Kokkadicholai, one of LTTE’s nerve centers, to the south of Batticaloa under their control.”
Describing the captured LTTE conference hall as the main nerve center of the Tamil Tigers’ Eastern Command the army sources said, “This huge LTTE conference hall that would have cost millions contains a spacious auditorium, air-conditioned bedrooms, electricity-run kitchen units, pantries, washrooms and other modern furniture and equipment. In the most recent past Tiger terrorists conducted media briefings in this building for both local and international media.”
The Army also described the camp as the point of origin of artillery attack directed against the diplomatic officials and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe injuring the US and Italian ambassadors in Colombo when they recently visited the Weber stadium in Batticaloa.
The troops were also able to discover a large haul of arms in the camp the army claimed. They found a large haul of claymore mines, land mines, anti-personnel mines, improvised explosive devices, guns and other warlike items “that had been hurriedly left behind by fleeing Tiger terrorists in the face of advancing troops,” the sources said.
Another interesting place the army captured was a Moonshine Center which produced the illicit liquor and allegedly distributed in the whole Batticaloa District as an income for the insurgent group.
With the fall of Kokkadicholai the Army has now taken over a large area South and West of Batticaloa town under their control.The Army also added , “In the past fortnight, thousands of brave soldiers of 6 Gemunu Watch (6 GW) and 8 Gemunu Watch (8 GW), led by the Commandos cleared Vavunathivu and Unnichchiya areas and linked them up together facilitating the return of the refugees.”
The army also said, All these “humanitarian missions” ably backed by Sri Lanka Armored Corps (SLAC) troops as well as Special Task Force (STF) troops have now been able to bring near normalcy to those cleared areas after deploying troops for regular route clearing operations, de-mining work and erecting new security installations and roadblocks with a view to ensuring security for the returnees.
Engineer troops of the Army in coordination with civil authorities are now busy repairing major infrastructure facilities in newly liberated areas including the restoration of damaged houses and public places, the sources further said.

Sri Lanka Proposes Peace Talks

Sri Lanka's government proposed holding talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the rebels told a Norwegian peace envoy the army must end its offensives into rebel-held territory. President Mahinda Rajapaksa suggested Oct. 30 or Nov. 10 as possible dates for talks, the Department of Government Information said, according to a statement yesterday on the Ministry of Defense Web site. ``Our future course of action depends on actions of the Sri Lanka government,'' S.P. Thamilchelvan, the head of the LTTE's political wing, said yesterday, according to the TamilNet Web site. The government ``is engaged in a unilateral offensive warfare on the Tamil homeland.''

Norway is trying to broker talks to end fighting that is threatening a return to civil war in the country. A 2002 cease- fire, brokered by Norway, collapsed as the army captured rebel- held areas around the northeastern port of Trincomalee and the northern Jaffna peninsula. The South Asian island nation of 20 million people has had uninterrupted economic growth since the truce was declared. The Tamil Tigers must give assurances it will stop smuggling arms and refrain from violence during negotiations, the government told Jon Hanssen Bauer, the Norwegian envoy, during talks earlier this week in the capital, Colombo. ``So far, we have been flexible for talks,'' Thamilchelvan said after meeting Hanssen Bauer yesterday at the LTTE headquarters in Kilinochchi, northern Sri Lanka. ``Colombo seems to be locked in a military mindset. There are no signs of improvement from the Sri Lankan side.''

Sri Lanka President asks Tigers to surrender after taking Pooneryn

president Mahinda Rajapaksha asked Tamil Tigers to surrender after troops claimed re-taking a strategically-important town from the LTTE following months of heavy fighting.

President Mahinda Rajapakse said in a televised address to the nation that security forces had wrested control of the town of Pooneryn and the main northwestern coastal A-32 route in the morning.

"The entire A-32 road and Pooneryn was captured by our security forces," the president said. "On this occasion, I ask (Tiger chief Velupillai) Prabhakaran to lay down arms and immediately come for talks."

"The best thing he can do for the (Tamil) people in the north is to lay down arms and surrender," he said.

Pooneryn had been a Tiger stronghold since 1993 when the LTTE overran the main military base after killing some 700 soldiers in a three-day offensive codenamed "unceasing waves".

The LTTE had also used the coastal area to launch artillery strikes against a military airbase on the northern edge of the government-controlled Jaffna peninsula vulnerable to long-range attacks.

Anuradhapura

Thuparama
Thuparama is the first dagoba to be built in Anuradhapura during the reign of King Devanmpiyatissa (3rd century BC) enshrining the right collarbone of the Buddha, His alms bowl and other relics. The original dagoba, which was much smaller in size, was renovated and rebuilt several times and the last restoration had been in 1862 in it its present form. The concentric rows of stone columns around the dagoba had at one time held a wooden roof in position over it.

Ruvanveli Dagoba
Ruvanveli Dagoba built by King Dutugemunu who ruled the country in the 2nd century BC is a huge dagoba measuring 103 metres in height with a circumference of 287 metres. The dagoba was in a state of disrepair when discovered in the early 20th century and was restored in its present form according to earlier dimensions.

Jetavana Dagoba
Jetavana dagoba is an enormous brick structure standing in the centre of a large monastic complex, built in the 3rd century AD by King Mahasena. The dagoba stands on a square platform measuring 3.2 hectares in extent and is rated as the largest and tallest brick built monument in the world. In its original form it would have been 120 metres high, shorter than only two Pyramids of Egypt. It has been declared a World Heritage Site. The super structure of the dagoba is currently being restored under the UNESCO Cultural Project.

Abhayagiri Dagoba
This colossal dagoba is the centrepiece of a monastic complex founded by King Valagamba in the 1st century BC that subsequently developed into an international institution attracting scholars from many countries. The Chinese monk Fa-hien came here in the 5th century in search of Buddhist manuscripts and spent two years. In its original form the dagoba was 115 metres high but now it is only 75 metres high with a circumference of 667 metres. It was at the Abhayagiri complex that the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka was first housed.

Sri Maha Bodhi
The right branch of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) in Buddha Gaya in India under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Arahat Theri Sanghamitta, the daughter of Emperor Asoka. It was planted in Anuradhapura and is venerated to this day by the Buddhists from many countries of the world. This is the oldest recorded tree in the world of which the exact age is known.

The Brazen Palace
The Loha Pasada or the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century BC as a chapter house. In its original glory it had been nine stories high with a roof of copper tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renovated several times by different kings. What now remains is a mass of 1,600 stone pillars standing close to each other.

The Brazen Palace
The Loha Pasada or the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century BC as a chapter house. In its original glory it had been nine stories high with a roof of copper tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renovated several times by different kings. What now remains is a mass of 1,600 stone pillars standing close to each other.

Isurumuniya
This picturesque rock temple dates back to the 3rd century BC. The beautiful stone sculptures seen at the temple are considered the most beautiful works of art in Anuradhapura. The Isurumuniya Lovers, bathing elephants in bas-relief, man seated in relaxed form are yet unidentified but beautiful to look at. A small dagoba on top of the rock and a pond at the base add beauty to the place.

Samadhi Buddha
?Samadhi? means in deep meditation. This serene image of the Buddha in the meditation posture is the work of an anonymous master-sculptor of the Anuradhapura period who has breathed life into a solid rock. The former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was so enthralled by this image that he is said to have kept a photograph of the statue in his prison cell from which he drew inspiration while serving a prison sentence during the British Raj.

Mihintale
Thirteen kilometers from Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the site of introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the year 247 BC. The King of Sri Lanka having embraced Buddhism established the world's first fauna and flora sanctuary at Mihintale in the 3rd century BC. Monasteries, an ancient hospital, dagobas, ponds, caves in which Buddhist monks lived are among the many places of interest that the visitor should see.

Awkana
The huge granite statue of the Buddha at Awkana, 51 km. southeast of Anuradhapura, hewn out of solid rock in the standing posture on a lotus pedestal is the work of an unknown sculptor during the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century AD. It stands 12 metres tall and remains undamaged sans probably the plastering that would have covered the statue. The flawless unbroken pleats of the robe, the perfectly erect posture and the indentation at the waist bear testimony to the skills of the sculptor who executed this masterpiece of rock carving.

Other Ruins in Anuradhapura

Kuttam Pokuna: Kuttam Pokuna or the Twin Ponds are two breathtakingly beautiful bathing ponds aligned lengthwise exemplifying the artistic achievements in the field of hydraulic engineering in ancient Sri Lanka. These date back to around 8 - 10th centuries AD.

Elephant Pond: The Elephant Pond so named because of its gigantic size is equal in area to six modern Olympic swimming pools joined together. The pond may have been built to store water for the large congregation of Buddhist monks at the monastic complex of Abhayagiri.

Vessagiri: Remains of Vessagiri monastery founded during the rein of King Devanampiyatissa (3rd century BC) are seen near the Isurumuni temple. It is an interesting example of landscaped architecture with natural caves converted into residential quarters for Buddhist monks.

Guard Stone: Guard stones are vertical stone slabs with the figure of a celestial being carved in semi relief erected at the entrance to religious buildings. The best example of a Guard Stone is seen at the Abhayagiri complex.

Moon Stone: Moonstones are half-moon shaped stone slabs with beautiful stone carvings of animals and creepers in semi-circular rows placed at the bottom of the flight of steps leading to an image house. It is seen at its best once again at the Abhayagiri complex.

Tissa Wewa: A large man made irrigation tank built in the 3rd century BC by King Devanampiyatissa covering an area of 210 hectares and fed from another giant tank at Kalawewa 90 km. away via a channel.

sigiriya

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and ruins of a castle situated in central " It is a popular tourist destination and also popular for the ancient paintings (frescos) very similar to the paintings in . It was built during the reign of King Kasyapa (477 – 495 AD) and one of the seven Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist .The garden and palace were built by King Kashyapa. Following King Kasyapa's death, it was again a monastery complex up to about the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. The ruins were discovered in 1907 by British explorer The Sigiri inscriptions were deciphered by the archeologist stylewho published a renowned two volume work, published by Oxford, known as "Sigiri Graffiti". He also wrote the popular book "Story of Sigiriyasize the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kasyapa murdered his father by walling him alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana, Dhatusena's son by the true queen. . In India he raised an army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne of Sri Lanka which was rightfully his. Knowing the inevitable return of Mogallana, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace. Mogallana finally arrived and declared war. During the battle Kasyapa's armies abandoned him and he committed suicide by falling on his sword. Chronicles and lore say that the battle-elephant on which Kasyapa was mounted changed the course just to get to a better fighting position/place but the army misinterpreted it as the King fleeing. Thereafter the army abandoned the king altogether. Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura and turned Sigiriya into a monastery complex.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.
Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC)

In the 2nd century BC, a king by the name of Kelanithissa reigned over the west of the island from his capital at Kelaniya. Kelanithissa suspected a monk of being involved in an intrigue between the Queen and his brother. When the king had this monk put to death in a cauldron of boiling oil, both his ministers and subjects were horrified. Furthermore, the gods were annoyed and caused the ocean to flood the land. Overcome with remorse, the king decided to atone for his sacrilegious act by making a sacrifice that would impress on his people the sincerity of his repentance as well as appease the gods. Accordingly he built a boat of gold, provisioned it with enough supplies for one person for one month - and placed in it his eldest daughter. The boat was then cast adrift, with an inscription to inform anyone who should come across it that aboard was a princess. Days later a lone fisherman spotted the strange looking craft as it drifted off Dovera, near Kirinda. Drawing closer he read the inscription and carried the news to the King of this southern region, Kavantissa, who resided nearby. The princess was rescued, brought before the king, and given a warm welcome. Eventually Kavantissa married her and named her Viharamahadevi. She bore him two sons who were to become national heroes. The eldest, Gemunu, became King Duthugemunu (161 - 137BC), who united the Sinhalese for the first time after defeating the Tamil king Elara.