The Hindu : International : 5 soldiers, 8 civilians killed in Sri Lanka

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Saturday, Mar 31, 2007
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5 soldiers, 8 civilians killed in Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: At least 13 persons, five soldiers and eight civilians were killed on Friday in continuing violence in the north and east.

The military said the LTTE had detonated a claymore mine targeting a tractor carrying meals for the security forces personnel in Vavuniya killing the five soldiers and injuring one.

It said the eight civilians were killed and 15 were injured in indiscriminate LTTE mortar fire on the outskirts off Sittnadikudi- Batticaloa. The Tigers blamed the military for the killings.

Fighter jets launched strikes targeting three LTTE bases. The air force said the sea tiger base at Chalai in Mullaitivu area was pounded and the army confirmed that it was destroyed.

An LTTE mortar gun position located in Batticaloa was also targeted and destroyed. Another LTTE military base located in the Mullaitivu area was also destroyed in an air raid.

As per TamilNet, LTTE political head S.P. Thamilchelvan told media in Kilinochchi that the attack on the nerve centre of the air force in Katunayake was "a one hundred per cent successful mission" and the "precision air strike" was a "clear message to the Sri Lankan state, to end the sustained bombardment of the Tamil homeland."

The military reported that security forces personnel apprehended a lorry carrying steel balls and pharmaceutical items to the LTTE on the Madawachchiya — Mannar main road on Thursday.

It said over 15 million steel balls, 850 saline bottles, 25 acid barrels (20 litres each), iron acid barrels (35 litres each), 90 sugar bags (50 kg each), 10 dhal bags (25 kg each), 42 roles of barbed wire and other pharmaceutical items were found in the lorry.

Economic growth

Speaking at a function to mark the presentation of 2006 Annual Report of the Central Bank, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said economic growth of 7.4 per cent achieved last year despite an unprecedented series of obstacles is no accident and is a result of careful planning and efficient implementation.

"The main challenge faced by the county for the last 30 years is terrorism in the north and east and the search for a political solution to it. In addition, the country had to face rising fuel prices and natural disasters. During the last year, the Government's policy was to fearlessly combat terrorism and develop the economy, without making terrorism an excuse to delay development," said the President.

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