46 rebels, 4 soldiers killed in Sri Lanka’s fierce clashes

At least 46 Tamil Tiger rebels and four
government soldiers were killed in Monday's sporadic clashes
in the northern Jaffna and Vavuniya districts, Sri Lankan
Defence Ministry said today.
''Forty-six LTTE terrorists were killed and another 5 sustained
injuries in these clashes. Further, 4 army soldiers were killed
while 13 others received injuries during these clashes that erupted
right throughout Monday,'' the Defence Ministry here said.
It said that the government troops continued to engage in
''offensive operation'' against the LTTE inflicting heavy damages
to the rebels on several fronts.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Army yesterday handed over to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 14 bodies of the
Tamil Tiger rebels killed during fierce clashes with the government
troops in the north-eastern Weli-Oya areas during weekend.
Director of the Anuradhapura base hospital Dr. Sarath
Weerabandara said that of the 14 LTTE bodies handed over to the
ICRC, six were brought to the hospital on Friday evening and the
remaining eight were brought on Saturday night.

Source: deepikaglobal.com

Lanka Opposition agrees to devolution package

Sri Lankan government's efforts to implement the devolution package for the embattled east and northern regions received a major boost with the main opposition party of the country agreeing to support the plan.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party last night expressed its fullest support for the implementation of the 13th Amendment (for devolution) to the Constitution, after a crucial meeting between President Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe on Tuesday, officials said.

Wickremasinghe said that since the interim proposals presented by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) had included the implementation of the 13th Amendment, and since it was the law of the land, his party would not oppose as it has no objection to the implementation of existing laws.

According to an official statement issued by the government last night, the two leaders also discussed the 17th Amendment providing for Constitutional council to ensure good governance in the country.

The Opposition leader had reportedly requested the APRC to submit a report on the progress of its deliberations to date.

Source: dnaindia.com

Sri Lanka Casualties reach 1,734

Fighting since January in northeastern Sri Lanka has killed 1,734 people, between Tamil rebels, soldiers and government police, according to sources from the Defense Minister.

Statistics released in Colombo during the course of the armed force's offensive against the positions and shelters of separatists of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers (TLTE) show 1,640 of their combatants died.

Meanwhile, fatal victims between soldiers and police reached 94.

A military dispatch reported the day's actions in which two soldiers died in armed clashes in Vavuniya region; the government forces reported two deaths and four wounded.

Source: plenglish.com