2 SLA troopers, 1 policeman injured in Chenkalady mortar attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 00:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Batticaloa said two of its troopers including a woman, and a policeman were injured in a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) mortar attack launched Tuesday from 3:45 p.m until 4:15 p.m on its sentry post at the Black Bridge on the Chenkalady-Badula road leading into LTTE held region. Two mortar shells fell and exploded near the sentry post injuring the victims, the source added.

The victims were M. Senaratne, 39, Ms. R. Menike, 24, and W. Chandraratne, 34, a policeman. The three were treated at Morokodanchenai Army camp.

The LTTE attack was retaliated by rocket fire, the SLA added.

Following the exchange of mortar fire Chenkalady town was deserted with all shops and other establishments shut immediately while the people fled in panic from Chenkalady, residents of the town said.

Chenkalady-Badula road was closed by the SLA, causing inconvenience to people who had entered Chenkalady and those who travelled to LTTE held areas.

The SLA in Batticaloa is continuously shelling LTTE held territories of Karadiyanaru, Illupaiyadichenai, Pankudaveli, and Koduvamadu areas, Batticaloa sources said.

Chenkalady is located 15 km north of Batticaloa town.