70 Tigers dead in last week’s operations

Rajmi MANATUNGA

COLOMBO: Seventy LTTE cadres have died and many injured in military operations conducted in the North and the East last week.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the media yesterday that the LTTE has suffered severe damage during the operations launched after the LTTE attacked the Security Forces west of Omanthai.

“Today the LTTE is confined to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. This has compelled them to direct such attacks to retain whatever areas over which they still have control,” he said.

Nine security forces personnel have died and 18 injured in the operations which also left one civilian dead.

The Brigadier said the peace loving people of the North and the East continued to provide information to the Forces regarding LTTE activities.

“This enabled us to prevent a number of terrorist acts which would have caused mayhem in the country.

“We appreciate the assistance of the people in this regard,” he said.