LTTE fires at Army sentry point for fifth time

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Army Observation Post in Mahindapura in Trincomalee came under LTTE fire for the fifth day yesterday despite Army complaints to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission about the LTTE's provocative act on four earlier occasions, military sources said.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News that three uniformed LTTE cadres who were at a distance of 200 meters fired at a group of soldiers returning to the Mahindapura Army detachment after a routine patrol in the area around 10.30 am.

The LTTE cadres were seen in the Government controlled area in Mahindapura. "The LTTE cadres while firing 30 rounds of ammunition had thrown a hand grenade towards soldiers, but it had exploded without injuring any of them," Brigadier Ratnayake added. "Our soldiers acted patiently without reacting to the LTTE cadres," he said.

According to civilians 15 armed LTTE cadres had been seen around the Government controlled areas of Mahindapura, Brigadier Ratnayake added. The Army on April 9, 14, 16 and 18 complained to the SLMM on the LTTE firing.

SLMM Spokesperson Helen Olaffsdottir told the Daily News that truce monitors were visiting the area regularly. She said she was not in a position to confirm the incident.

"We have received complaints over the weekend from the Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE about the firing incidents," she added.