Kavimal Suriarachchi

“Don’t support the LTTE terrorists, let Sri Lankan Tamils live in peace and harmony”. This is the sincere call from the Tamils in the North and East. Even the very Tiger cadres who flee from LTTE clutches in the midst of the ongoing battle there, make the very request to surrender to the Army. 

Thus they request their fellow Tamils to save their lives from those cruel tigers, thereby exposing the true nature of this tiger movement to the entire world. This way they drive home the fact that the LTTE’s defeat is imminent at this crucial movement.”

(By Walter Jayawardhana)  

The US based military strategy website, Strategy Page said, The LTTE attacks against the offensive campaign by the Sri Lankan security forces in their Northern stronghold so far failed , unlike during the last five to ten years, because the LTTE troops do not have a qualitative edge in the battlefield any longer.  

In an analytical piece the website in a December 30 issue said, attempts to push back the army with the LTTE's best soldiers left failed as "the soldiers stood their ground and stopped the LTTE attackers. That didn't happen 5-10 years ago, and is one reason why the LTTE are on their last legs. The rebels no longer have a qualitative edge on the battlefield." The website also added, "There are only a few bits of coastline where the LTTE can land stuff, so it's easier for the navy to catch the smuggling attempts."

Colombo, 31 December, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka will embark on a joint programme to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Sri Lanka next year. In this regard, Sri Lanka President has extended an invitation to President Raúl Castro Ruz, to pay a visit to Sri Lanka in year 2009, to commemorate this event. 

As the year 2009 marks the completion of 50 years of formal relations between the two countries which marked with the recognition of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, it was decided that both sides would identify special activities to celebrate this milestone in a fitting manner.

The Peace Secretariat launched a self employment programme for displaced Muslims in the Puttalam district recently, with the assistance of People’s Bank. One hundred young women are to receive loans of Rs. 50,000 each to help them start their own businesses. Dairy farming, brick making, home gardening and livestock development are amongst the sectors targeted.