Ten years ago, as a 17-year-old, he fled Sri Lanka after his sister died in an air-raid. Six months ago, his brother and cousin were kidnapped in Colombo by "agents" claiming to act on behalf of the island's Karuna Faction militia, now a de-facto extension of Sri Lanka's intelligence services. And last month he was approached outside his west London church by two Sri Lankan men claiming to know the whereabouts of his kidnapped relatives. They asked him to hand over his savings or his relatives in Colombo would face further violence and intimidation.

In Colombo his family have faced similar blackmail. His terrified aunt, Maria Regina, sold her home, took a loan she could never repay and handed over $25,000. Both the kidnap victims are still missing. They are not alone. In the last year alone, hundreds have been taken, never to be seen again. More... Discuss this story Published: Sat Apr 5 22:49:32 EDT 2008

Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka told the state-owned Daily News: “They [the priests] took away the statue as they were under LTTE pressure.”

According to the him, the statue was taken to Vellankulam, some 20 km north of Mannar, by the priests on Thursday evening under LTTE pressure. The Defense Ministry said that hardcore LTTE cadres were dominating the church after the priests had vacated it.

Lt. Gen. Fonseka said that though ground troops had surrounded the Madhu church, they did not even return the mortar fire directed at them by LTTE men since they did not want to damage the church. More...Discuss this story Published: Sat Apr 5 16:16:54 EDT 2008

Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government promises to capture the rebels' de facto state in the north and crush the group by the end of the year. But diplomats and other observers say the army is facing more resistance than it had expected.

A defense ministry official said the latest round of battles took place Friday near the front lines that separate government-controlled territory and rebel territory in the north. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

In the worst battle, army troops killed eight guerrillas in the northern Vavuniya district, while fighting elsewhere in the region killed seven rebels and one soldier, the official said.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.

It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because journalists are banned from the war zone. The government and rebels often exaggerate the other side's casualties and underreport their own.

The rebels have fought since 1983 for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, who have been marginalized for decades by successive governments run by majority ethnic Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.Discuss this story Published: Sat Apr 5 12:47:06 EDT 2008