However, the ground situation continued to belie the rebels' claim. Though the LTTE had claimed yesterday that Jaffna was "as good as gone", a political commentator said he had received a call from Jaffna that suggested life was normal and no fighting was reported in the vicinity. More..

At his meeting with the President the two are said to have had a general discussion on diverse issues such as the Sri Lankan air capacity and the President's desire to resolve the conflict and her personal sense of loss at the present situation. More..

That is why whenever LTTE gets an upper hand in Sri Lanka, many refugees are fleeing to Tamil Nadu. More..

It is understood that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have chalked out contingency plans keeping in view the intensified campaign of the Sri Lankan forces against the LTTE in Jaffna. More..

In a joint operation security forces had destroyed the jetty at Sangupiddy, which links a spur from the mainland to the peninsula across the Jaffna lagoon. It said they had also destroyed a rebel communication centre in Pooneryn, which lies at the base of the spur. More..

Though, Air Marshal Tipnis was tightlipped, he is likely to brief the leadership here of the security situtation in Sri Lanka, fallout of the present fighting in Jaffna and views of Sri Lankan leaders on outside mediation to resolve the Tamil issue. More..

all but a few patients had been discharged from the city hospital -- which has about 1,000 beds -- because an army camp was nearby, and there was a shortage of medical supplies such as antibiotics and surgical materials. more...

''There are over 40,000 armed forces and police personnel stationed in the peninsula. Their families are concerned not only about their safety but also their welfare and transportation to and from Jaffna ... It should be our concern as well. More..

Urging the embattled soldiers to fight hard to defend the Northern Peninsula, Chandrika, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces, described the ongoing battle for the control of Jaffna as the most "Decisive Movement" in the history of the ethnic conflict. More..

The leader of the main opposition party branded the intensifying war as the island nation's ``greatest crisis'' since independence in 1948 and urged the government to protect the 500,000 civilians on the battle-scarred peninsula. More..

Energy Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte vowed in parliament Tuesday that soldiers would defend Jaffna to the last man and would also mount a fresh offensive to retake the Elephant Pass base located at the entrance to the peninsula. "We will fight to the last man and defend Jaffna," said Ratwatte who is also the junior defence minister. More..

Mr. Rubasinghe also said that the army had launched a counter-attack causing heavy casualties among the rebels. The government has cut off telephone services in Jaffna to prevent supporters of the LTTE from giving them information. More..

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.