Sea tiger base bombed. LTTE claims otherwise.

The SLAF's morning air strike on a large Sea Tiger base at Kiranchchi, situated 9km south of Devil's Point (Yak Thuduwa) in the west coast of Kilinochchi today, has been a success. Pilots have indicated direct hits.

Suicide craft, attack craft and logistical crafts of the LTTE Sea Tigers were believed to have been hidden inside the base. SLA sources indicate 8 tigers were killed and 13 others injured in the attack. No capacity to independently verify the exact death-toll as of now. However the LTTE has announced that old men, women and children were among those injured in the attack and are now lying in beds at Moolankail hospital, Kilinochchi.

Meanwhile the bus bomb at Mt. Lavinia seems to have been caused by a timing device. The bomb was detected under a seat by a passenger and the Conductor. The Driver took immediate steps to vacate the bus. The nature of the injuries were minor. The 18 injured persons at the Colombo South (Kalubovila) Teaching Hospital are expected to be discharged tomorrow.

In another development, the Sri Lanka Army recovered another 8 bodies of dead tiger cadres from Janakapura in Weli Oya today. The Bodies were brought to Padaviya hospital morgue. The ICRC is to take delivery of the bodies either tomorrow or Monday.

Bus Bomb at Mt., SLAF Bombs Oddusudan-Update

A powerful bomb placed inside a bus at the Mt. Lavinia bus stand completely destroying a bus as alerted passengers scrambled to exit it a little while ago this morning. The bus is still on fire. A motorcycle is also burning next to it. Several shops also damaged by the blast. Injured admitted to hospital. No confirmation of numbers killed/injured in the incident.

SLAF bombed an identified LTTE base east of Oddusudan in Mulaithivu at around 6.35am. details will follow.

6 more tiger bodies to ICRC

collateral damage waiting to happen- a woman forced to dig trenches with kitchen utensils

The Sri Lanka Army last evening notified the International Committee of the Red Cross to take delivery of 6 more bodies of LTTE cadres killed by the 59 Division at Weli Oya Janakapura yesterday. The bodies are to be handed-over to the ICRC at noon today. The LTTE has already been informed of the hand-over by the Red Cross.

The bodies were brought by the Army to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital last evening. They are presently lying in the hospital morgue. The Army also seized six (6) T-56 automatic rifles from the dead tigers.

Meanwhile Task Force I Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya has recently informed Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph that the Church should take full responsibility for any artillery or other attacks emanating from the Madhu Church premises.

He told the Bishop that in future, the sacredness of the Madhu Church would be of little significance to the Army and that the next occasion LTTE fires from the church premises, the Army would use all force necessary to retaliate. Immediately after this notice, all artillery attacks from Madhu Church premises ceased completely.

The SLA is confident of taking Madhu, including the Our Lady of Madhu Church premises, within the next week.