LTTE official killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 12:12 GMT]
An LTTE official, Major Kapilan, was killed and at least one cadre was wounded when Sri Lankan Intelligence operatives and paramilitary cadres ambushed a LTTE tractor in LTTE held area in Vadamunai near Welikande in Batticaloa-Polannaruwa border, Thursday around 9 a.m., LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. Sri Lanka Army's 23-1 Brigade camp in Welikande backed up the withdrawing ambush group with 5" mortar fire from their base, the sources added. Meanwhile, S.Puleedevan, the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretaraiat, speaking from Kilinochchi, condemned the attack on their cadres in the east and accused Colombo for playing "double game, betraying its pledge to cease the violent campaign."

"Despite the gesture of goodwill already expressed by the LTTE, with the release of a policeman in our custody, the attack on our cadres in the East continues with mortar fire from the SLA base," Puleedevan said questioning Colombo's commitment to the Norwegian facilitators.

The attack on LTTE cadres within 24 hours of the much publicized agreement between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, facilitated by Norwegian Minister Eric Solheim, to hold talks in Geneva does not bode well for building of trust between the parties before talks, he added.

The ambush group had used Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) to attack the LTTE tractor, LTTE officials in Batticaloa told TamilNet.

Vadamunai is located 6.6 km southeast of Welikande.