Forces retaliate major attack on Jaffna FDLs

Ranil Wijayapala

JAFFNA: Security Forces in Jaffna yesterday retaliated a major LTTE artillery and mortar fire on Muhamalai and Nagarkovil Forward Defence Lines (FDL) from 5.45 p.m. yesterday, Senior Coordinator to the Media Centre for National Security, Major Upali Rajapakse told the Daily News.

Fierce fighting erupted at 5.45 p.m. as security forces began retaliating the LTTE fire with the Tigers continuing with their artillery fire that commenced at 5.10 p.m.

"Security forces retaliated the LTTE artillery and mortar fire at 5.45 p.m. since there was no sign of the LTTE ceasing their artillery attacks," Major Rajapakse said.

Fighting was continuing at the time of this edition going to press. According to civilians in Jaffna, the LTTE has warned the people from Puloli, Eluthumadduval, Kilali, Manthuvil, Varani, Kachchai, Kodikamam and Meesali areas to flee from their villages close to the FDLs in Jaffna.

"This is another attempt by the terrorists to displace the civilians inside the peninsula and to create a situation similar to what they created in Muttur," the Media Centre for National Security said in a statement last night.

Meanwhile, Air Force fighter jets yesterday bombed two identified LTTE targets in the Batticaloa district in support of the ground troops engaged in the operation 'Watershed' to take full control of the Mavilaru area, Major Rajapakse told the Daily News.

Major Rajapakse said the Air Force had taken two LTTE targets which can be considered a threat to the ongoing operation to take full control of the Mavilaru area to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to the people living there.

"The Air Force had taken the targets that cannot be taken by long range artillery of the Security Forces," he added.

A Reuter report filed from Colombo quoting LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief S. Puleedevan in Killinochchi said many of the LTTE cadres had been killed due to the ongoing operation by the Security Forces.

According to Major Rajapakse no casualties were reported from the Security Forces side yesterday, since there were no heavy calibre artillery attacks on the ground troops.

"There were only mortar fire yesterday but no heavy calibre artillery attacks," Major Rajapakse said.

The Army put the death toll of the Security Forces to nine due to artillery and mortar fires of the LTTE on Thursday as five soldiers succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to hospitals.

Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva told the Daily News that the Air Force took two LTTE targets in Batticaloa yesterday morning and afternoon which were considered as a threat to the ground troops engaged in the Mavilaru operation.

"We are taking all LTTE targets which are going to be a problem for the ongoing operation," he said.

According to military sources from the battle front, ground troops were reportedly further consolidating the Mavilaru area and continuing their operation to take control of the second gate under their control located another one kilo metre ahead.

Security Forces took control over one sluice gate and carried out an air attack to open the other gate located ahead for the ground troops to restore the water supply to more than 15,000 families in Seruwila, Ichalanpattu and Muttur areas on Tuesday night.