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| Sri Lanka |
| 16 killed as Sri Lanka captures rebel camp |
| 2008-07-21 |
| Sri Lankan troops have captured a strategically important Tamil Tiger camp on the islands western coast, the military said on Sunday, as government forces continue their push against the rebels' northern stronghold. The capture of the rebel base in the northwestern district of Mannar came three days after the military said it had struck a "fatal blow" against the Tigers by capturing the northwestern town of Vidattaltivu, the main base of the rebels' sea wing. "The army, with troops from 58 Division and Army Commandos captured the largest LTTE base in the Illupaikadavai area, about 10 kilometres north of Vidattaltivu," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. "Troops have now advanced nearly 2 kilometres ahead of Illupaikadavai and are now in the process of consolidating their positions." Nanayakkara also said 48-hour fighting in the area had killed 15 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of one soldier. Fighting in the 25-year civil war is now concentrated in the north after the Sri Lankan army, which has vowed to finish off the Tigers this year, drove the rebels out of their eastern enclave in 2007. There is still no clear winner on the horizon as the Tigers regularly retaliate with suicide attacks and roadside bombs, deterring some tourists and worrying investors in the $27 billion economy. An estimated 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 #1: Sea wing? is that like Buffalo Wings? Posted by: Steven| Ima telling Emily |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-07-21 19:13 |
| #4 Not really, gromky. Sri Lanka's GNP is up the past year, tourism is rebounding, and the Tamils are losing bases every week to the Army. The last major sea battle between the TT and the SL Navy was a disaster for the TTs, they have a much harder time replacing equipment now that all the major countries have defined them as terrorists. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2008-07-21 04:05 |
| #3 Sri Lanka, as an island nation, requires sea power in order to dominate. Thus the rebels have their own ships and such, and even a few airplanes for an air wing. I thought the Tigers were reeling back in March...they seem to be still holding out in a grinding war of attrition. The war is damaging the government's economy as it drags on. |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-07-21 01:30 |
| #2 No clear winner? This guy hasn't read his own article... |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-07-21 00:53 |
| #1 Sea wing? is that like Buffalo Wings? |
| Posted by: Steven 2008-07-21 00:34 |