Sri Lanka Navy saved the lives of 643 civilians who had been fleeing amidst the LTTE's merciless firing. The Navy rescued them on the 18th March 2009 in the Northern seas. The naval personnel who were on the alert swiftly acting on the scene, foiled merciless LTTE motives to kill the fleeing civilians dispersing LTTE carders on board four dinghies.

The Associated Press 

The Sri Lankan military Wednesday accused international organizations of giving false information on the island's civil war, saying rebel sympathizers have "infiltrated" the groups.

by M.S. Shah Jahan 

"Thich Quang Duc self-immolated himself in protest of persecution of Buddhism in South Vietnam in 1963. I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think.... As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him".

500 metric tonnes of mixed food commodities  

The World Food Program’s second major relief food consignment of 500 metric tonnes of mixed food commodities (rice, wheat, flour, lentils, sugar and vegetable oil) reached Puthumathalan, the Government designated ‘safe zone’ along the North-eastern coast of Mullaitivu, on a Government arranged ship sailing under ICRC flag.

By Jacinta Cruz in California (California, Sri Lanka Guardian)

Written by “Sadith” a letter reproduced below is one of the many reactions to the ultra pro-LTTE demonstration held in Toronto on Monday March 16, 2009. It was reported by the eternal media fraud Tamilnet as attended by 75,000 demonstrators which included a large number of children who are enjoying their one-week March Break holidays.

Thousands cross over daily  

With the territory held by the LTTE diminishing progressively, the number of civilians braving LTTE threats and arriving in Government controlled areas is increasing day by day.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa vouched that his Government would not yield or be subjected to any conditionality to obtain monetary assistance from international agencies.

Addressing a ceremony to present appointment letters to the new Accountants of the State sector at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, the President said that some parties, without aligning with the Government to fight and resolve the crisis, are striving to obtain political leverage. 

Dr. P.A.Samaraweera

Today more than half the world is fighting terrorism in one form or another. Some of the countries directly involved are the US, the UK, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. Sri Lanka has been fighting terrorism for nearly three decades at a high cost-human and financial.

Response of Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat and Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, to discussion of Sri Lanka under Item 4 of the Agenda of the UN Human Rights Council 

Mr President, Sri Lanka is grateful for the concerns expressed for our situation by countries that have, while affirming their commitment to Human Rights, made clear their opposition to terrorism and terrorist activity. Let me also take this opportunity to thank the several countries that have helped us without ostentation in our struggle against terror.

Some time back TamilNet made much of a pernickety lawyer called Bruce Fein who had prepared genocide indictments against various Sri Lankans. Unfortunately he lost some of his sheen when, having challenged me to a debate, he backed off when I accepted with alacrity. Though he has popped up again once or twice, he has now been replaced by another lawyer, who works at the Illinois College of Law.

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Tamil Tiger separatists counterattacked with a failed suicide bombing in heavy clashes that killed at least 14 rebels, as hundreds more refugees fled Sri Lanka's war zone, the military said on Tuesday.

Rackets aiming at the Sri Lankan Diaspora brought to light relate to the route of the guerrilla  

Investigation  

The French Justice will be the first in Europe to look into the financing networks of the Tamil rebellion in Sri Lanka. Paris anti-terrorism Judge in charge of the case Philippe Coirre ended his investigations and should hand over the file to the Public Prosecutor at the end of March for summing-up.

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Consul General for Sri Lanka in Toronto, Bandula Jayasekara led a delegation to meet Hon Peter Kent, Canada’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to brief him on the current situation in Sri Lanka and the atrocities committed by the LTTE in Sri Lanka and the harassment to democratic Tamils and other Sri Lankans in Toronto. The group met with Minister Kent at the Wellington Building of the Canadian parliament in Ottawa

By Ravi Ladduwahetty- Sri Lanka Editor- Asian Tribune 

* Prabhakaran should be hiding in limited area if he is still alive  

* Troops only few kilometers away from beach and 400 meters away from safe zone  

* Over 1900 civilians cross the borders to liberated areas yesterday and today  

Colombo (Asiantribune.com): Top military officials in the battlefront are now firmly convinced that the war against the now- battered- and-bruised LTTE will be over within the next two or three weeks.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapksa along with a team of senior defence officials yesterday (Mar 16) met with the families of war heroes who had made their ultimate sacrifices for the motherland. The meeting took place at the Sri Lanka Army Gajaba Regiment Camp, Saliyapura, in Anduradhapura last morning.

The World Bank (WB) approved a US$160 million package of assistance to Sri Lanka to develop the country's national road network and to support the education system yesterday. 

According to a press release issued by the World Bank, the assistance package from the International Development Association (IDA), the lending arm of the WB, will provide a US$100 million credit to finance development of the national road network, and a US$60 million grant to support the education system.

Kulasekara climbs to No. 1 in ODI bowler rankings 

Cricinfo staff

Nuwan Kulasekara, the Sri Lanka medium-pacer, has moved to the top of the ICC ODI bowler rankings, ahead of Australia's Nathan Bracken and New Zealand's Kyle Mills.

B. Muralidhar Reddy  

COLOMBO: The United Nations on Monday said it holds grave fears for the safety of a U.N. national staff member and three dependent family members who were forcibly recruited over the weekend by the LTTE, inside the government-declared No-Fire Zone.

by Shamindra Ferdinando 

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the army was engaged in close quarter combat with the LTTE on the eastern flank. "We are making significant progress although the civilian presence will cause delays," he told The Island yesterday.

Ranil Wijayapala  

* LTTE’s last operational centre  

* LTTE Court complex captured  

The Security Forces who are now on the final leg of their battle against the LTTE has entered the outskirts of Iranapalai, the last operational centre of the top rung Tiger leaders including Intelligence Wing leader Pottu Amman with the troops clearing the last section of the built-up area in Puthkuduyiruppu East by yesterday evening.