Civilians have been moving into Jaffna town from outlying areas to escape the fighting and movement in the city is restricted, including access to the local hospital. More..

Sources said the constant booming of artillery and mortar within a five km range around Chundukulai, Pasaiyur and Ariyali had sent panic signals among the local people, who were now getting ready to sail to India. More..

Acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella said the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga was prepared to consider help, including from neighbouring India, but there was no formal offer.

"If any country is willing to mediate to bring the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to the negotiating table, we welcome it," Kiriella told parliament.

UNP legislator Karunasena Kodituwakku said the country had reached a decisive stage with Tamil Tiger guerrillas increasing pressure on government troops in the northern peninsula of Jaffna.

"We are at a critical stage when the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity is challenged," Kodituwakku said adding in parliament that the government must seek a peaceful end to the conflict without further bloodshed. More..

``Sri Lankan soldiers, you are occupying our land,'' the Voice of Tigers radio said in a broadcast in Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka's majority ethnic group and most of the country's soldiers. More..

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in a statement from their office in London that they were only half a mile from the administrative center of the city, hub of the battle-scarred Jaffna peninsula. More..

"In no way can the problem be solved without India playing a positive role," he told reporters after the meeting but parried queries on what specific role New Delhi should play to end the crisis in Jaffna.

Solheim, who has been trying to facilitate a dialogue between Sri Lankan government and LTTE, was here on a day's visit to discuss with India the situation arising out of the ethnic conflict. He also held a meeting with foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh. More..

The government Information Department further stated today that all computer, audio and visual reports being sent abroad are to be first presented to the Government Competent Authority for censorship before such reports are sent out of the country. The State further ordered that all TV programs including chat shows which fall under regulations of the present emergency are to be sent to the Competent Authority before being telecast.

"If Jaffna falls to LTTE it will not be the first time (such a development would take place)," Vajpayee said in an informal chat with newspersons here. More..

The rebels said they were now "posing a serious threat to government troops occupying Jaffna Peninsula."

However, government spokesman Ariya Rubasinghe said in a statement received in New Delhi, "Troops in strength continue to hold the bridge at Navatkuli. Troops have repulsed many attempts of the terrorists to get closer to the bridge." More..

Domestic news agencies quoted Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as reiterating that India could intervene only if both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) pressed for it.

Vajpayee ruled out any change in the Indian government's policy if Jaffna town fell to the LTTE. More..

"The pilots confirm that the terrorists bunker line at Ariyalai was completely destroyed," the statement said. Ariyalai is located just five kilometres away from the strategically important Jaffna town. More..

In addition to the renewed supply of arms, It is believed that troop morale will be strengthened by the fact that Indian naval vessels are reported to be keeping a discreet surveillance on Sri Lanka's northern coastline.

The LTTE statement says, "In a multi-pronged offensive thrust the Tamil Tiger commando units stormed into the Sri Lankan army’s defence positions in the early hours of the morning at Navatkuli, Ariyalai and Thanankillapu villages in the outskirts of the Jaffna town inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy forces. A two-kilometre stretch of A9 highway (Kandy Road) inclusive of the strategically important Navatkuli bridge has come under the control of the LTTE fighters. At Thanankillappu, the LTTE fighting units have advanced 2 kilometres interior and have launched a massive assault on the main Sri Lankan military base at Kovilkandy junction. At Ariyalai the advancing Tiger troops have occupied Maniyanthoddan after chasing away a detachment of government troops stationed there."

The government denies that the Tigers captured the Navatkuli bridge.

The Tigers further claim to have called upon the Tamil civilians residing close to battle areas to move to safer areas and that the people are responding.

The army meanwhile has moved in reinforcements and heavy fighting continues to rage in this area.

An Information Department press release also issued late last night said that "Around 3 a.m. on May 10, 2000 terrorists in large numbers launched a major attack on the troops manning defences at Ariyalai and Thanankillapu salients in Jaffna."

"Terrorists continue to fire a heavy volume of artillery and mortars. Troops fought back effectively repulsing a number of human waves of the attackers. Although there were a large number of casualties among the attackers, LTTE human waves continued to assault without any respect for the lives of junior LTTE cadres."

The Government statement maintains that ground troops are supported effectively by the Sri Lanka Air force. The official release admits that casualties are heavy on both sides as a result of the fighting.

"As with the issue of censorship, while we understand the seriousness of the crisis that Sri Lanka faces, we call on the government to avoid restrictions of civil liberties that could undermine the country's democratic institutions," he added. More..

Only India had the "moral right" to intervene in the ethnic conflict in Lanka and other countries such as the USA, Israel and Pakistan should not be allowed to enter the scene, Dr Ramdoss said. More..

LTTE'S PLEA TO PM: Even the LTTE has faxed a letter from its international headquarters in London, urging Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to "kindly lift the ban so that we can talk to you." More..

While the Tigers claimed to have taken control over sections of the Navatkuli bridge, sources in the Sri Lankan army refuted it this evening saying that while there were ``gaps in the Navatkuli-Ariyalai sector, the bridge is still with us''. More..

As long as the LTTE was suffering reverses, these parties and individuals had maintained a low profile. More..

Reports of the fighting were delayed in Sri Lanka, where the government has used wartime powers to impose censorship on news reports and prohibit news organizations from gathering information in some cases. More..

The Tigers, in their statement say that commando units of the LTTE "in a dramatic offensive push took control of a section of the strategic Navatkuli bridge barely 3 kilometres from Jaffna town today and cut-off the A9 highway in that sector."

The rebels claim that fierce fighting erupted close to the vicinity of Jaffna town when "the combat formations of the Tamil Tigers launched a massive offensive assault on three fronts in the early hours of the morning today." The LTTE claims that Sri Lankan military bases at Thanankilappu, Ariyalai and Navatkuli came under intense fire as the Tigers opened up heavy artillery and mortar bombardment.

The LTTE say that the offensive, code named "Unceasing Waves 3" resumed today after the Government rejected an offer from the rebels for a ceasefire. The LTTE two days ago, offered to hold their fire until soldiers were withdrawn from the peninsula. The government rejected the offer reiterating that Lankan troops would stay and fight until the last man to hold Jaffna.

"Our soldiers will fight to the last man. We will recapture Elephant Pass," the tought talking General Ratwatte told Parliament when he opened the debate on the motion for the extension of emergency.

Giving casualty figures, the General said that 358 troops including 21 officers were killed while 2,368 including 128 officers were wounded during the Elephant Pass and Pallai battles. A total of 349 troops including three officers were missing in action.

The extension of the emergency was approved with 118 voting for and seven against. The UNP abstained from voting while the TULF, the UPF and the Progressive Front voted against.

Meanwhile a government press release issued yesterday said, "during the early hours of the morning today terrorists in large numbers launched two consecutive attacks on the troops manning defences north of Pallai."

"Troops fought back valiantly replusing both assualta of the terrorists. Terrorists were compelled to withdraw southwards with their casualties."

"The first assualt lasted for approximately thrity minutes while the second assault was repulsed within about fifteen minutes."

"Troops continue to dominate areas ahead of the Forward Defence localities and improve the defences."

Winding up yesterday's emergency debate Minister Ratwatte said "I only ask each member to provide 100 youth to the security forces," in view of both the opposition and government members calling for united support for the war.

Premila Divakara, Head of the Police Children and Women's Department told Lacnet that the foreigner had been evading arrest for a long period of time by masquerading as a social worker for locals living in and around the area.

Ms. Divakara said a statement given to police by the local youth "is damning." She reiterated that the German national will be held in remand till the 22nd of this month before being produced for trial. In the event he is deported he will stand trial in Germany on the new laws that are now in effect to counter child abuse in Sri Lanka.