Forces hunting for fleeing LTTE cadres

Security in the South has been tightened as the Forces continue to hunt for small groups of LTTE cadres who may have entered the area after fleeing from the East, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. He also said the LTTE attacks on Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in Muhamalai has been neutralised by the Forces.

The Muhamalai FDLs were frequently attacked by the LTTE since last month. The Security Forces were able to advance and attack the LTTE who were attempting to breach the FDLs, he said.

“The Security Forces launched an attack on the LTTE FDLs in Muhamalai last Wednesday and caused heavy damages. The fierce fighting lasted for one and half hours. More than 60 LTTE terrorists were killed and many injured while the Forces lost 11 of its members while 52 were injured.

The Security Forces also destroyed many LTTE bunkers during the confrontation. The Security Forces recovered 80 LTTE bodies from October 10 to November 14 including 20 Tigers killed at the Anuradhapura air base attack. 60 LTTE bodies were handed over to the ICRC.

Yala too has been subjected to tight security, leaving no room for an LTTE infiltration into the sanctuary extending to 324,000 acres. Block-1 is open for public and Block-2 open for authorised people. Block 3,4 and 5 are highly secured and declared restricted areas.

“There were several incidents during the past week including the killing of five farmers in the Tissamaharama area and a claymore explosion in Talgasmankada where a Yala sanctuary officer was killed and a civilian injured.

“We have information that small groups of LTTE cadres who are fleeing the East had taken up hide-outs and committing these crimes,” he added.

The Security Forces detonated a claymore mine targeting a group of LTTE cadres travelling in a Defender Jeep on Tuesday at around 4.00 p.m. in Palampity, Mannar. Four LTTE cadres travelling in the vehicle were killed in the explosion.

“LTTE weapons expert in Mannar, Pullavan Annan was among the dead,” Brigadier Nanayakkara said. In another incident, a Tiger cadre was killed by the Security Forces when he attempted to hurl a hand grenade at a Security Forces foot patrol in Jaffna at around 3.00 a.m. yesterday.