Heavy fighting in Muhamalai

30 LTTE, six soldiers killed:

Rafik Jalaldeen

Heavy fighting erupted when LTTE cadres attempted to advance on the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line early yesterday morning. The Security Forces countered LTTE artillery and small arms fire killing 30 LTTE terrorists and injuring 30 others, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The Security Forces successfully repulsed the LTTE attempt to breach and advance on the Muhamalai FDL at around 5.30 am.yesterday “ Tiger cadres fired artillery and small arms towards troops manning the Muhamalai FDL’s and the Security Forces in a counter attack killed 30 LTTE cadres and injured 30 others”, Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

The Security Forces advanced and captured the LTTE FDL’s. “Countering the LTTE attack the Security Forces took control of the LTTE FDLs in Muhamalai occupying them till 7.30 am and returned to base”, the Brigadier said.

He said the LTTE suffered heavy casualties and were seen carrying their dead and injured cadres and loading them into five vehicles.

Six soldiers were killed and 25 others injured in the confrontation. Twelve injured soldiers were air lifted from the Palali air base to the Colombo National Hospital.

A cache of arms and weapons too were uncovered by the forces.