LOC17:35
14:35 GMT
NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets
Friday claimed to have destroyed a sea base of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) and 20 rebels have been killed in ground clashes with the
government soldiers in the northern part of the island nation.
"SLAF fighter jets attacked LTTE sea base at Allampili in the Mullaithivu
area this morning," the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said in a statement in
Colombo.
The target was destroyed in the attack, the Ministry claimed.
In ground clashes, at least 13 LTTE cadres were killed today in
North-western Mannar, the statement said, adding government troopers suffered
no casualties.
In another incident, three LTTE rebels were killed at Palaikulli in
North-western Mannar region yesterday, news agency Press Trust of India
reported tiday.
In yet another incident at Parappakandal also in the Mannar region, as many
as three rebels were killed yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security
(MCNS) said today.
In Navathkulam in Vavuniya, at least LTTE rebel was killed, the MCNS said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has said it could invite the LTTE for negotiations.
"Once the government's devolution proposals are accepted by all democratic
establishments in the country, they would have to be ratified by a referendum,
" Sri Lankan newspaper 'Daily Mirror' reported Friday quoting Presidential
advisor and parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse said.
"After the proposals were ratified, the government would invite the LTTE
for direct talks based on the proposals," said Basil Rajapakse, the younger
brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. The President yesterday
urged all political parties to end their differences and agree on a final
draft on devolution package.
Rajapakse said the government would give a new set of proposals to the LTTE
based on the 'Mahinda Chintana', launched by the President for building a new
Sri Lanka.
Basil Rajapakse said the proposals would be drafted taking into
consideration the sentiments of all stakeholders in the protracted ethnic
conflict. The proposals would be preparted after the All Party Representative
Committee (APRC) submits its report to President Rajapakse. The APRC is likely
to submit its report by month-end, he added. (end)
dr.tg
KUNA 111735 Jan 08NNNN