Saturday, February 2, 2008

Dambulla Blast-Updated

18 were killed and another 93 have also been injured in today's blast at Dambulla. The death toll may rise as surgeries are being performed on seriously injured civilians. Currently 18 bodies lie at Dambulla morgue. Severely injured civilians (including children) brought to Matale, Kurunegala, Kandy and Colombo hospitals had stomach and hip surgeries.

16 women, mostly elderly devotees were among the dead. The majority of those in the bus were on a pilgrimage to Ruwanveli Seya in Anuradhapura. Both the driver and the conductor survived.

The privately owned by bearing license plate number CP NA 0284 had left Kandy around 5.30am. It is feared that at least one suspected LTTE cadre had boarded it with the bomb at Matale. The bomb was placed on the right side of the bus, which side has been completely destroyed.

8 comments:

admin said...

It is feared that at least one suspected LTTE cadre had boarded it with the bomb at Matale.
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oh look at that. So they know a LTTE cadre boarded the bus, then why didn't you stop the bus. Get out the bomb and drive further?

nice lie.
tnx but i am used to sinhalese media spitting out lies and blaming tamils for everything.

defenceAnalyst said...

But you keep coming bank for more **Wink**. Its irresistible!

LKDOOD said...

LOL !

Sandun Dasanayake said...

Military versus 17,000 LTTE cadres in "Final Battle" or "Highway of Death"

(by Zacki Jabbar)
President Mahinda Rajapakse calls it the "Final Battle" while the LTTE speaks of a "Highway of Death" – terminology apart, the North-East war should be over in about four to five months time, authoritative military sources said.

This takes us to the battle front and the much disputed LTTE strength or more precisely its manpower.

The sources speaking to the "Sunday Island", said that the LTTE has between 15,000 to 17,000 cadres. "But, only a small percentage of this number is battle hardened. Their sea tigers add up to around 1,500. The others are mostly new recruits who have yet to face the litmus test."

Arms and ammunition are hard to come by and the LTTE is banking on home-made mortar and artillery with a firing range of about two kilometers, they claimed.

"The LTTE lost about 80,000 tons of mortar and artillery when seven of its Wanni bound ships were sunk by the Navy in the recent past. Three of its aircraft were destroyed during raids by the Air Force and 25 of their self-styled lieutenants have been killed. Our intelligence units are spot on. The LTTE is cornered and can do nothing about it", the sources asserted.

If the LTTE is on the run, what is delaying mopping up operations and why do you need five more months? – "We want to minimise casualties", the sources said.

Asked about LTTE idealogue, K. Balakumaran’s belief that the security forces would use the A-32 to enter Pooneryn or the A-34 to advance through Oddisuddaan, the sources said "We have other routes and will surprise them with our moves."

Balakumaran told the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT) recently that the LTTE will bring "clarity" to the ethnic conflict in 2008 through a demonstration of military strength.

"Whichever path the Sri Lankan government chooses to enter Wanni, they will have to directly confront our fighters. As a precursor to the anticipated battle, they are trying to chip away and also probe our strength through small-scale skirmishes at the periphery. We understand the tactics and haven't underestimated their strength either."

As the psychological war of words continue and the day of reckoning nears, the billion dollar question is whether the "Final Battle" or "Highway of Death", will be fought or the international community will prevent the "bloodbath waiting to happen

source: The Island

Unknown said...

VILAK UNATH NIL DIYA PIRI
VILAK NOVEI...
MALAK UNATH SUVANDAK NATHI
MALAK NOVEI....
SANDAK UNATH PASALOSWAKA
SANDAK NOVEI..
RATAK UNATH MAGE RATA VANI
RATAK NOVEI......

NAAVATH VATHURA MALA YATA INDA
NALA VATHURA....
THAMATH SITHIN KIMIDEMI
GANGA DIYA ATHARA....
KEEVATH GEETHA PITARATA SITA
MARU KATHARA....
TAAMATH HOREN KIYAVEI
PAL KAVI NITHARA....

SAAYEN HANDANA
DOO DARUWAN UDESAAMA.....
AYAEM MEHEVARATA
NORATUN LANGA MEHEMA......
BAANEN BANDI
SITIYATH YATHIYAN SEMA......
HEENEN MAGE RATE
NIDIYANA HAMADAMMA.....

~~~~NANDA MALANI~~~~

LKDOOD said...

Defencewire/guys

4-5 months ?

can it be done or not ?

ideas ?

Sun Tzu's disciple said...

What a waste of innocent lives. What atrocities in name of patriotism. What a tragedy. Each side blowing up the others women, children and men with each side cheering on or calling for more vengeance.

This war is beyond solution by its protagonists--each side believes its own shit too much for any meaningful conclusion.
It is high time for the International Community to force a solution--either Wipe out LTTE to solidify a Unitary State,or help defeat GoSL to give rise to an independent country, or best of all to force either partner through various direct and indirect means to accept a Federal/Confederal solution.

Jambudipa said...

Sun-Tzu,

The govt is not blowing up innocent Tamils deliberately. What benefit would the govt derive out of such a policy. What kind of 'Defence Analyst' are you?

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