SLA opens new front?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fighting is reported between the Liberation Tigers and the troops of Operation Jeyasikurui in the Vanni forward areas this morning, said sources. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and the LTTE continued to exchange mortar fire, said sources in Vavuniya.

Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) helicopter gunships were flying sorties from the northern town of Vavuniya till 10 a.m. today, the sources said.

Further details of the fighting are not known.

Meanwhile SLA troops have advanced southeast from their positions in the Paranthan base in the Kilinochchi district towards Vaddakkadchi, said unconfirmed reports from the forward areas.

The troops had not met any resistance from the Tigers so far, the reports said.

Army sources said that the troops are consolidating their positions in Ampakamam, north of Olumadu following heavy fighting that raged in the area between May 28 and 30.

Sporadic clashes and mortar fire were continuing in the area, the sources said.

Officially however, the Sri Lankan military is maintaining a silence on the heavy fighting that has raged in the Vanni and on the ongoing military activity.

Furthermore, though it is the SLA's usual practise to bring its wounded troops to the Anuradhapura Hospital in the central province, no wounded soldiers have been brought to the hospital since May 30, said sources in Anuradhapura.