Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that his Govt. is taking all possible steps for well being of displaced Tamils in the country. The primary responsibility of a Govt. is to look after all its citizens and I carry out this responsibility to the fullest.

He said that a wrong impression had been carried in Tamilnadu relating to this matter. This is far from the truth. They are our citizens and we take every measure to look after and provide for them.

Talking to media persons in his office the President maintained that - the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and India remained very strong and New Delhi had always helped us when necessary and supported us at every step.

Colombo - Tamil rebels launched a suicide attack on two merchant ships off a harbour in northern Sri Lanka causing considerable damage to the hull of one of the ships Wednesday morning, the Defence Ministry said.

The ships, carrying essential supplies for civilians in the north. came under attack off Kankesanthurai harbour, 410 kilometres north of the capital.

Navy spokesman Commander DKP Dassanayke said that three LTTE suicide vessels came for the attack and one of the boats exploded close to the merchant ship Nilwala causing damage.

Colombo  , Oct 21 : JVP (People’s Liberation Front) General Secretary Tilvin Silva has reportedly accused the Indian government of throwing a fresh lifeline to the LTTE as the army stepped up pressure on Kilinochchi.

Asserting that the government would eventually “give in to Indian pressure”, he attacked the SLFP leadership and its allies, particularly the breakaway JVP faction the National Freedom Front
(NFF) for blaming the ruling DMK for triggering chaos.

Sri Lankan Army on Monday captured Vannerikulam town and encircled Nachchikudha, the main sea Tiger base, after fierce fighting which left 33 soldiers dead.

Colombo – Sri Lankan troops advanced Monday into Tamil rebel-held areas in northern Sri Lanka despite heavy rains after losing at least 33 soldiers in weekend fighting, the Defence Ministry said.

The troops were trying to consolidate their positions and advance in the Akkarayankulam and Maniyankulam areas in Kilinochchi district, 370 kilometres north of Colombo.

The Defence Ministry said 33 soldiers were killed and three more were missing, while 48 more were injured in the fighting over the weekend in the same areas.

Colombo, Oct. 20: Sri Lankan troops have reportedly taken control of the strategic Tamil Tiger village of Vannerikulam, which lies west of the rebel capital Kilinochchi.

Reports reaching the Sri Lankan capital quoted army sources as saying that the village was captured on Sunday, and added that the march toward Kilinochchi has been made much easier.

No details on casualties from the battle were released. Army sources, however, said that dramatic progress has been made from a miliary offensive point of view in the northern parts of the island-nation.