Dead body of Mankerni SLA Major located in Panichchankerni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 October 2006, 15:47 GMT]
LTTE Trincomalee Political Head Sunday said the Tigers in Vaharai located 3 more bodies, 2 Sri Lankan troopers and a paramilitary cadre, in LTTE controlled Panichchankerni. A Sri Lanka Army Major who led the crack forces and paramilitaries into Tiger territory, identified as Major W.S.A Wijetunge, was among the dead. Nine bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers were dug up, in addition to the 2 bodies recovered later, and handed over to the ICRC by the Tigers in the presence of Trincomalee District SLMM in Vaharai Sunday. Earlier, Sri Lanka had declined to receive the bodies.



The slain SLA Major was responsible for military activities in areas Punanai, Valaichenai and north of Valaichenai, according to Sri Lankan military officials in Batticaloa.

The dead soldiers were identified as S. P. Fernando, D. M. Muthubanda, T.M.C. Pushpakumara, C.J.M Ariyaratne, K. Premachandra, R.M.K. Ratnayake, L.G. Bandaranaike, S.M. Silva and E.D.Gunawardene, according to Batticaloa District Assistant Magistrate M.B.M Hussain who inspected the bodies that were received by SLA officials in Navalady in Batticaloa around 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

Although Colombo finally urged the ICRC to receive the dead bodies of the Sri Lankan armed forces, they declined to accept the bodies of the 6 paramilitary cadres killed in action.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials also met the wounded Sri Lankan soldier, K.M.S Ratnayake.

Meanwhile, medical sources in Polonnaruwa said 53 Sri Lankan troops, including paramilitary cadres, were admitted at Polonnaruwa hospital. At least 6 seriously wounded were airlifted to Colombo for further treatment.

A fighting formation of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces under the supervision of LTTE Speicial Commander Col. Sornam, "boxed" an area of 10 square kilometers and defeated Sri Lankan offensive towards Vaharai Friday.