SLA advance in Jaffna repulsed - Radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in its night news broadcast today that the Liberation Tigers had counter attacked and stalled an attempt by the Sri Lankan army to move into the Kudaththanai and Amban areas in Vadamaradchi east in Jaffna yesterday.

The army had indiscriminately shelled the villages when their advance was thwarted by the LTTE said the radio.

Asokan Atputharani, three months pregnant was killed by SLA's mortar fire which was directed on her village. The army had taken away the woman's body when it retreated from the area the VOT said.

The Tigers have become increasingly active in Jaffna's southeastern coast and its narrow hinterland in recent months.

The SLA which is hard pressed for manpower is unable to establish camps in the area and dominate it.

Earlier, the army was able to routinely patrol Vadamaradchi east. But since beginning of this year, the Liberation Tigers, according to SLA sources in Jaffna, have acquired enough fire power to stop the army from entering the area.