LTTE fires at Selvanagar camp

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: The LTTE yesterday directed artillery and mortar fire on the Selvanagar Army camp, a few miles off Sampur as sporadic clashes continued in the area.

The Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said troops successfully repulsed the attack forcing the LTTE to flee. "There is intermittent firing though on a small scale." Over 200 Tiger cadres were killed in the ongoing conflict in Sampur according to the Minister.

One soldier was killed and seven others injured in yesterday's incident.

"Due to the escalation of violence in Sampur and surrounding areas over nine days many civilians were displaced. Our objective is to consolidating our position and resettle the civilians in Sampur," Minister Rambukwella told the Daily News.

The LTTE cadres who are retreating from Sampur town and the coastal area are attacking nearby camps as part of their strategy. The Sampur town is under full control of the Army, the defence sources said. Forces took control of Sampur after a 9-day battle with the LTTE. Sampur lies across the Trincomalee port and a strategic naval base.

The LTTE cadres were using Sampur town and the coastal areas to fire their artillery and mortars on the naval base and port which is the maritime lifeline for some 43,000 troops.