Forces advance continues in Mannar

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

COLOMBO: The troops operating in the Mannar battle front yesterday advanced further in to Tiger territory on three fronts from Thiruketheeshvaran, Uyilankulam and Palakkuli amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE, a senior Army official told the Daily News.

“At least 15 to 20 Tiger cadres were killed in these confrontations,” the official added.

Troops for the first time advanced further North of Thiriketheeshwaran and took a nearly 800 metre stretch under their control during a two-day battle on Saturday and Sunday.

In Uyilankulam sector troops captured a stretch of more than one kilometre close to the Uyilankulam tank bund area.

Meanwhile, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said Air Force fighter jets carried out an air strike targeting a Tiger base used by area leader yesterday morning on information provided by ground troops.

The LTTE base is located some five kilometres north of Giant Tank, in Parappakandattan. “This is believed to be the base of the Mannar area LTTE leader.

We are yet to receive confirmation about the damages caused to the LTTE base in the air strike,” he added.

Many senior level cadres are now leading the ground cadres with a large number of their middle level cadres killed within the past two years.

Heavy fighting also erupted in the Vavuniya front in Mullikulam, Periyapadivirichchan and Koilmadu on Saturday.

More than 20 Tiger cadres were killed in these confrontations.

Meanwhile, eight bodies of Tiger cadres killed in Weli Oya on Saturday were due to be handed over to the LTTE through the ICRC in Vavuniya yesterday.

Troops captured this LTTE strong point on Saturday morning around 7 a.m. and recovered eight T-56 weapons, three hand grenades and two communications sets along with the eight bodies.