SLA artillery attacks on Eachchilampattu villages continue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 July 2006, 16:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Chief of Staff Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi, remains at Kallaru army camp in the Serunuwara police division directing the military operation to capture Mavilaru area amid announcement by SL Defence Ministry spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in Colombo Sunday that Sri Lankan troops are now about one km away from Mavilaru. Sources in Serunuwara said that there is a likelihood of troop movement from Kallaru to Mavilaru area early Monday morning.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has been continuing its multi-barrel artillery fire towards the Mavilaru area.

At least twenty artillery shells had been fired Sunday, sources in Serunuwara said.

Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi is camped in Kallaru since Friday.

Meanwhile, Venerable Elle Methananda Thera, leader of the all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said at a press briefing held in Colombo accused the government for delaying the military thrust on the LTTE to capture Mavilaru area.

He added that JHU parliamentary group leader Venerable Athureliya Ratana Thera would not leave from Kallaru to Colombo until the closed sluice gate of Mavilaru is re-opened.

Venerable Athureliya Rata Thera came to Kallaru on Thursday and has continued his agitation for a military operation to capture Mavilaru located in the LTTE controlled area, sources said