Forces closing in on LTTE in Wanni, says Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: At least 40 cadres of the LTTE and eight soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed in continued battles between the forces and the Tigers along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the north, the military said on Thursday.

A statement by the Defence Ministry claimed that security forces in an “offensive operation to liberate Wanni” are advancing further towards the LTTE stronghold, inflicting heavy casualties. It said 29 LTTE cadres were killed while another 14 were wounded during the clashes at Vavuniya, Mannar and Weli-Oya defences on Wednesday.

The ministry said troops ambushed an LTTE convoy at Periyantrichurchchan and interception of LTTE communication revealed that four LTTE cadres were killed in the attack.

The military said three soldiers were killed and one was injured in two separate incidents at Pokkaravani and Umayaratuvarankulam. In the Mannar front, troops attacked a group of LTTE militants at Parappakandal killing two Tiger cadres.

Two soldiers were killed during a confrontation that erupted at Adampan area. In Weli-Oya front, one Tiger cadre was killed at Kokkuthuduvai. Seven soldiers sustained injuries in the attack.

In the same area, troops attacked a group of LTTE terrorists and killed four cadres, the military said.

In another confrontation in Kokkuthuduvai five cadres of the LTTE were killed and six others injured. Three soldiers were killed and 14 injured in this clash.

The ministry said that in Janakapura, troops launched an attack targeting LTTE bunkers and killed six Tiger cadres. One soldier was injured. Security forces launched an attack on an LTTE bunker in Vavuniya, killing two militant cadres.

Source: The Hindu