LTTE bid to regain Vavunikulam foiled

55 Tigers including two senior leaders killed in fighting:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

MALLAVI: The Army yesterday recovered the bodies of 29 LTTE cadres including those of two senior leaders from Vavunikulam.

The bodies were found after the troops successfully repulsed a LTTE counter-attack on Vavunikulam tank bund south of Mallavi, which the troops captured earlier.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said among the dead were Pallavan and Anbuwan from the elite Charles Anthony brigade of the Tigers.

”So far the troops have collected 36 Tiger bodies in the Vavunikulam area killing more than 55 of them during the battle to capture Vavunikulam tank bund and the subsequent attack to repulse the counter attack by the LTTE to regain control of the area,” Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

The troops attached to the 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias who are advancing towards Thunukkai and Mallavi, the second most important administrative centre of the LTTE, on Thursday captured the Vavunikulam tank bund area and another ten square kilometres adjacent to the Vavunikulam tank bund killing 25 Tiger cadres.

“Troops attached to the 57 Division repulsed the Tiger counter attack in Vaunikulam tank area on Thursday night killing 29 Tiger cadres from the elite Charles Anthony Brigade,” the Brigadier added.

Troops are now consolidating their positions in Vavunikulam area, the Brigadier added. This is the largest recovery of Tiger bodies by the Security Forces engaged in the Wanni liberation operation. Earlier the troops attached to the 57 Division recovered 25 bodies of the Charles Anthony Brigade after launching an attack on 5-4 Base located in Cheeraddikulam area.

During the battle in Vavunikulam tank area on Thursday troops also captured one 120 mm mortar launcher, two 80 mm launchers and five T-56 guns.

According to ground sources LTTE leaders including Bhanu and Lakshman are in an utterly confused situation after they suffered heavy damage during these battles. They are on the retreat unable to withstand the Security Forces attack.

”Tiger cadres are withdrawing from the area further towards Kilinochchi following this attack,” ground sources added.

Thunukkai and Mallavi are the next targets of the Security Forces now engaged in the Wanni liberation operation.