European nations call unsuccessfully for an independent investigation of alleged war crimes by both sides and unhindered access for aid workers to the more than 300,000 displaced. Instead, the Human Rights Council passed, by 29 votes to 12 (with six abstentions), the resolution that Sri Lanka itself submitted entitled “Assistance to Sri Lanka in the promotion and protection of human rights”.
Timeline of events under "Military operations" issue
The Sri Lankan military reports the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief ‘Pottu Amman’, and ‘Soosai’, the head of the Tiger’ naval wing.
The Government of Sri Lanka announces a complete victory against the LTTE. Its military forces recaptured all remaining LTTE controlled territories in the Northern Province, including notably Killinochchi (2 January), the Elephant Pass (9 January) and the ultimately the entire district of Mullaitivu (18 May).
Government forces capture the Tamil Tigers' de facto capital of Kilinochchi.
The LTTE reports that Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam, chairperson of the North East Secretariat for Human Rights (NESHOR), was killed in a claymore mine allegedly detonated by government soldiers.
Sri Lankan rights group University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) finds state security forces responsible for murder of 17 Action Contre La Faim (ACF) aid workers.
According to the Defence Ministry, over 2,500 LTTE cadres have been killed by the military since 1 January 2008, and more than 7,200 Tigers have been killed since December 2005.
20 civilians, including 11 children, are killed and 14 others injured in a claymore mine attack of a bus near the Madhu shrine, in LTTE-controlled north-western Mannar district. The LTTE blamed the attack on the 'Deep Penetration Unit (DPU)' of the Sri Lanka military; the military denied any involvement.
Air strikes of a meeting of top rebel leaders kill S.P. Tamilselvan, the head of the LTTE’s political wing and five others.
The Sri Lankan government captures Thoppigala, in what is claimed as the last LTTE base in the Eastern Province. Army chiefs claim that the "victory" gave the government control of the area for the first time in 13 years.
Sri Lankan senior defence officials state that the latest military campaign against the LTTE could continue for a further two to three years.
The Sri Lankan army takes control of Vaharai and Kathiraveli, both LTTE strongholds in Batticaloa.
The Sri Lankan air force claims it aerial bombed a Sea Tiger base in Mannar. The LTTE spokesmen said the air raid had killed 15 civilians, including four children, in a fishing village.
At least 45 Tamil civilians are killed in Vaharai, Batticaloa by the Sri Lankan military. The Sri Lankan government defends the allegation on the basis that the LTTE was using civilians as 'human shields'.
The Sri Lankan government announces that its military has taken control of strategically important Sampur.
