Air Force raids Tiger gathering

MANNAR: Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships raided an LTTE gathering point in the general area of Iluppaikkadavai, five Km north of Vidattaltivu, yesterday afternoon.

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said the close air support mission to support ground troops was launched around 12.15 p.m after observing a gathering of the LTTE cadres by the air surveillance. Terrorists have asked for more vehicles to evacuate their casualties, the spokesperson added.

As the Army Task Force 1 and the Commando Brigade operating on the Mannar warfront liberated strategically important Vidattaltivu, LTTE terrorists have started to withdraw towards Iluppaikkadavai, North of Vidattaltivu, defence sources said.