Four SLA soldiers, policeman, civilian injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 07:52 GMT]
Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), a policeman and a civilian were injured in three separate incidents that took place Wednesday morning in Batticaloa district. They were injured in grenade attack and firing by unidentified men, Police sources said. All the incidents were reported on Batticaloa-Valaichenai highway within 17 km distance between Eravur and Valaichenai. Security is beefed up by the Sri Lanka Army and Police following the attacks along the highway.

In the first incident in Batticaloa on Wednesday, two unidentified attackers riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade into a bunker at the entrance of the 232 Detachment of the Sri Lanka Army which is located at Mavadivembu in Eravur. Two soldiers, Nimal Jeyathilake and M.J. Weeraratne, injured in the grenade attack, Police said. Also, a civilian Mr. M. Dissanayake, who was driving a lorry at that time, was injured in the attack. The driver is admitted to Batticaloa Hospital. Eravur Police is conducting investigations.

The second incident took place at Cobra junction of Valaichchenai at 8:30 a.m. Two unidentified men lobbed grenade at a group of soldiers riding in an army truck to supply meal to the soldiers in the area. Two soldiers, Mr. Santha, 20, and Mr. Herath, 25, were injured in the incident. SLA soldiers opened fire for more than ten minutes following in the attack. Injured soldiers were rushed to Polannaruwa hospital. Valaichenai police is conducting investigations into the attack.

One policeman injured in the third incident when unidentified lobbed grenade and fired at police personnel. This incident took place at Santhiveli junction in Eravur Wednesday morning around 10 a.m., sources said.