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Boost for civilian life:
The Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Thomas Savuntharanayagam told the Sunday Observer that he was extremely happy about the 
opening of the A-9 highway and hoped that the route would now pave way for greater cordiality between North and the South.
Rt. Rev. Savuntharanayagam commenting on the importance of the road said that all these days the innocent civilians suffered terribly due to its closure.
"When I hear the news I felt very happy like any other person in the peninsula. The people in Jaffna underwent untold hardship due to its closure. The prices of essential items had sky rocketed on and off due to fuel prices and the distance.
For medication or examinations the Jaffna civilians had to pay heavily, therefore the opening will be a boost to the Jaffna civilians', Jaffna Bishop said.
Seven innocent Tamil civilians including two children, on their way to cleared areas seeking protection for their lives, were gunn
ed down by the LTTE terrorists this morning, 10 January.
According to the military sources, the civilians from Murusamoddai and Kanchipuram areas, were on their way to security forces' controlled area when they were attacked inhumanly by LTTE terrorists deployed on possible escaping routes to prevent civilian movement.
Two children, two females and three males are among the victims, military sources add
ed.
However, 49 more civilians of the same group caught up in the LTTE fire luckily managed to arrive at troops in Paranthan. Two of them also sustained injuries while others shocked due to the fatal experience.
24 children, 13 females and 12 males were able to escapes the LTTE's grip amidst LTTE gunfire, sources said.
The necessary treatments were given for the victims and later directed them to the welfare centers established in the Vavuniya area.
The bodies of innocent Tamil civilians have already been taken to hospital, military sources added.
"2009 d
awned with our troops taking full control of the Paranthan area. By January 2nd our troops were able to liberate Kilinochchi too from the clutches of terror. Elephant Pass was lost to our troops 9 years ago. Today, the troops of the 53rd the 55th divisions of the Army have spread their power across Muhamalai to Elephant Pass. It is our duty on this occasion to pay homage to all of our troops who have paid the supreme sacrifice towards this victory," H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated, officially declaring the capture of EPS by security forces today (Jan 9).
"The A-9 route is symbolic of the unity that exists between the North and the South of our country. Four years prior to this, our people who traveled on the A 9 route had to do so under the yoke of an illegal terrorists order. The LTTE obtained several million rupees from the fraudulent taxes they imposed on the people who used the A9 route. Our people had the misfortune at that time live in the face of such humiliation. This part of our history will never be forgotten by us, "he further asserted.
Victorious Sri Lanka Army today (Jan 9) fully liberated the 325 km stretch of Jaffna- Kandy (A-9) road from terrorist hold after 23 years. With this historic victory against terrorism, Po
int Pedro, the northernmost tip of the Island nation has been reunited with the Dondra Head, the southernmost tip of the island. The longitudinal distance between these two small towns is 480 Km.
Troops of Army 58 Division crossed the Elephant Pass causeway connecting the Jaffna Peninsula with the mainland this morning and wrested control over Elephant Pass, the most fortified LTTE garrison in the Northern theatre of battle. Meanwhile, troops of Army 53 and 55 Divisions marching southwards from Muhamalai beaten off terrorists from the Pallai and Iyakachchi areas and linked up with 58 Division on the A-9, north of Elephant Pass.
With the re-opening of the A-9 road, Sri Lankan citizens have regained their freedom of moveme
nt between Jaffna and the South. Since, the LTTE captured Kokavil in 1990, the citizens of Sri Lanka were denied of their right to travel to the Northern part of their own country via land route. Consequently, the terrorists had got the opportunity to extort the civilians extensively by collecting ransoms from those who wished to enter or leave Wanni. Later, the public called the road by the name "Kappang Highway" (Ransom Highway) due to this reason. No human rights champion uttered a word against LTTE for this grave violation of fundamental rights that continued more than 2 decades.
Raed more and pictures
OH!GOD! MEDIA FREEOM ?
nga has died in short while ago.Hospital sources confirmed.
Sunday Leader editor Lasantha shot
o 20 men stormed the Maharaja TV and Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation at Pannipitiya, 20 kilometres south-east of the Colombo, holding the staff at gunpoint and assaulting some of them before causing the damage early Tuesday, the spokesman said. 'The attackers opened fire inside the building, lobbed grenades and went on the rampage, damaging office furniture, equipment and the mobile vehicle used for outdoor broadcasts in an attack that lasted 45 
minutes,' the spokesman said.TV and radio programmes have been interrupted at the station, but management said they were making temporary arrangements to resume broadcast services.
Troops of 57 Division lead by Major General Jagath Dias have entered into the highly defended terrorists stronghold from the South and Southwestern boundaries while the Task Force 1 troops lead by Brigadier Shavendra Silva have marched in from the North and Northwest.
More Pictures and details;
Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets have carried out air strikes this morning (Dec 27) t
argeting two locations frequented by terrorist chief V. Prbhakaran.
Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told defence.lk that the jets have targeted a hiding place of the terror chief located in thick jungle 1 km southeast of Vishwamadhu tank around 8.45 AM. Then, the jets have pounded a secret meeting place of the senior LTTE leaders located 1.5 km southeast Puthukkudiyiruppu at 12.45 PM, he said. The second target was also a boat modifying workshop of the LTTE, he added.
More than 150,000 Pakistanis flocked to the mausoleum of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Saturday after some walked hundreds of miles (kilometers) to offer flowers and kiss her grave on the first anniversary of her assassination.Police officer Tanveer Odho estimated between 150,000 to 200,000 turned out at the mausoleum Saturday.
Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Dec. 27, 2007, as she was
leaving a rally in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, just outside the capital of Islamabad.
Her assassination shocked the world, fanning revulsion at rising mi
litant violence in Pakistan as well as conspiracy theories that the country's powerful spy agencies
were involved.
Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, took over Bhutto's party after her death and was elected president in September, facing a crus
hing 
economic crisis and soaring violence by militants also blamed for attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghan
istan.
The country of 160 million is now facing a fresh crisis triggered by last month's terror attacks on Mumbai, which India has blamed on Pakistani militants.
"She gave a voice to the people, gave a voice to the downtrodden, the poor and the laborers," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in a telev
ised speech. "She was a hope for
the people of this country, she was a hope for this region."
President Zardri was to speak to
mourners later saturday.Sher Mohammad
23, was among many supp
orters who trekked hundreds of miles (kilometers) to 
pay
respects. "She gave her life for the people of this country, so we can walk a few miles to pay homage to her dig
nity," said Mohammad, whose feet were swollen from the trip.
At United Nations headquarters in New York, Secretary
-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday he hoped a U.N. commission
would be est
ablished in the nea
r future to investigate Bhutto's killing.
Bhutto's party and Zardari have
demanded a U.N. probe, but have not followed up vague allegations they
made after her death that forces linked to then-President Pervez M
usharraf were inv
olved.
Musharraf's government blamed Baitullah Me
hsud, a Pakistani militant commander with reported links to al-Qaida, citing a communications intercep
t in which Mehsud allegedly congratulated some of his
henchmen. A
Mehsud spokesman has denied any involvement.
The United
States also said Islamic extremists carried out the attack.
The Security Council, the U.N.'s most powerful body, must authorize any investigating commission.
Tens of thousands of people have gathered at the mausoleum of Pakistan's former PM Benazir Bhutto to mark the first anniversary of her assassination.
Ceremonies in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, southern Pakistan, are expected to include prayers, poetry and speeches.
Mrs Bhutto was killed in a suicide bomb and gun attack in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, after an election rally.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says he expects an independent inquiry into her death to be set up soon.See Video Clip;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7800849.stm
Pictures with video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL5AtdMcUEg
Heavy security
People from all over Pakistan have been travelling by train, bus, car and even on foot to the Bhutto family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.
 | The tyrants and the killers have killed her but they shall neve  r be able to kill her ideas  Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari |
"She gave her life for the people of this country, so we can walk a few miles to 
Mrs Bhutto's widower, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, is expected to speak at the ceremony.
"In the tradition of a true Bhutto, she faced certain death rather than abandon her principles," Mr Zardari said ahead of the nationwide commemorations.
"The tyrants and the killers have killed her but they shall never be able to kill her ideas, which drove and inspired a generation to lofty aims," he said.
Thousands of police officers have been deployed in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, amid fears that Mr Zardari could also be targeted.
Multiple crises
Pakistanis are still dealing with the political consequences of Mrs Bhutto death, the BBC's Barbara Plett says.
 Many Pakistanis say they sorely miss Benazir Bhutto |
Her Pakistan People's Party went on to win February's elections, bolstered by a sympathy vote. Mr Zardari later became Pakistan's president, after General Pervez Musharraf was forced to resign.
But one year on, Mr Zardari's government is floundering, and is seen by many as unable to cope with the multiple crises, including an Islamist insurgency and an economic downturn, our correspondent says.
Relations with India are also tense following the deadly attacks by militants in Mumbai last month. Pakistan is reported to have redeployed some troops from the north-west to the border with India, while India has advised its citizens against travelling to Pakistan.
Cover-up claims
On Friday, the UN Secretary General expressed hopes that a UN investigation i
nto Mrs Bhutto's assassination could be set up in the near future.
In a statement, Mr Ban said he was committed to helping Pakistan's search for "truth and justice".
Earlier this year, British detectives investigating the fatal attack in Rawalpindi said Mrs Bhutto died from the effect of a bomb blast, not gunfire.
Their account matched that of the Pakistani authorities.
But Bhutto's party has insisted she was shot by an assassin, and has accused the government of a cover-up.