The European Union has driven another nail in the terrorists' coffin including that of the LTTE. Oana Lungescu, BBC News Brussels states that "EU justice and interior ministers tightened existing laws" to prevent "public provocation to commit terrorist attacks , as well as recruiting and training people for terrorism.. " . It was stated that such laws will make such action "punishable offences throughout the EU". The decision was taken at a meeting recently of EU justice and interior ministers in Luxembourg. The ministers added that they also agreed to design " an action plan to prevent terrorist groups from getting explosives" . Explosives have been a favorite means to kill individuals as well as to target groups without any consideration for the lives of non - combatant 'innocent' civilians by many Terrorist groups. These terrorists include the Al Qaeda willing to eliminate anyone they consider enemies of Islam and its close rival , the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) . Explosive devices including roadside devices which killed the son of the Dutch Commander in Afghanistan.

The emphasis on the prevention of the use of explosives by the EU nations is of critical interest to Sri Lanka in eliminating terrorism .Explosives packed trucks killed hundreds when LTTE suicide cadres drove into the Central bank Building in the heart of Colombo during the rush hour some years ago. Another truck bomb exploded again during the rush hour in the commercial capital Pettah .Explosives devices are the favorite killing weapon of terrorists from the explosive packed "car" bomb masterminded by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) , truck bombs driven by suicide cadres to the Suicide jacket or belt device with toggle ropes and devices to trigger the explosion claimed by the LTTE as their own novel killing inventions as the device which killed the former Indian prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi and President of Sri Lanka R. Premadasa and Sri Lankan Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle with 14 Athletes including the coach , a former Olympian marathoner when under starters orders to run the Marathon in mid April 2008.

Hundreds , if not thousands of civilian lives as well as those of the Armed Forces have been destroyed due to the "unlimited " use of explosives in the form of anti- personnel mines, claymore mines, roadside bombs, land mines , etc by the LTTE using their favorite C 4 explosives. The Sri Lankan Armed forces have recovered well over 3451.75 Kg of C 4 on information provided by civilians as well as in search operations conducted in the past one year. Troops recover at an average of 200 LTTE anti- personnel mines a day .

The EU anti - terrorism coordinator known as the "Terror Tsar", Belgian Politician Gilles de Kerchove who took over from Dutchman Gijs de Vries in September 2007 after the Madrid bombings with the aim of "defining the EU's role in the field of counter - terrorism stated that "the threat of terrorism in Europe had not diminished and about 5,000 internet sites were being used to radicalize young people" . Britain Spain and Italy "already punish public incitement to terrorism".

Sri Lankan Media reported the listing of the LTTE by the EU with effect from May 17th. . So did the Indian English Daily "The Hindu" on 19th May 2006 . The decision was taken by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU at a meeting in Brussels . The EU decision resulted in the "freezing of LTTE assets in 25 countries across Europe and put and end to its efforts to raise funds for funding its terror campaign in Sri Lanka". Since then EU nations have taken stern action against LTTE fund "raisers" and "The assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and the attempt on the life of Army Chief Sarath Fonseka convinced the European Nations that the Tigers had not changed their stripes ". The EU has stated that the "LTTE did not represent all the Tamils" and the European Parliament called on it to "allow for political pluralism and alternate democratic ices in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, which would secure the interest of all peoples and communities".

The British Home Secretary Jaqui Smith described the threat of terrorism facing UK as "severe" and " growing". She has stated that : There are 2000 individuals they are monitoring . There are 200 networks. There are 30 active plots that has increased over the past two years . Since the beginning of 2007, 57 people have been convicted on terrorist plots ...Nearly half o them leaded guilty . So this is not some figment of imagination . It is a real risk and a real issue we need to respond to. We can't wait for an attack to succeed and then rush in new powers. We've got to stay ahead".

The Sri Lankan armed forces have "liberated " the Eastern province and elections for local bodies were held in the Batticaloa district despite critics who predicted violence . There were only 26 incidents reported of elections related incidents but none of them were serious. Elections are scheduled to be held for the Eastern Province Provincial Councils on 10th May 2008 which will allow the people an opportunity to select their own representatives which had been denied to them by the terrorists for years.

The new EU legislation to tighten existing law against terrorism and the previous legislation regarding the prevention of terrorist fund raising and arms procuring and smuggling is encouraging to nations battling to eliminate terrorism . The legislation only confirms that terrorists as the LTTE may change the jungle but have not "changed their stripes".