SLA launches artillery attack on LTTE territory in Vavunathivu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 January 2007, 12:22 GMT]
Soldiers from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Vavunathivu camp fired mortar and artillery shells from 5:10 a.m Tuesday on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas in Vavunathivu in Batticaloa, sources from Batticaloa said. SLA spokesperson Prasath Samarasinghe said the attack was retaliation to the LTTE artillery fire on Vavunathivu SLA camp areas from 5:45 a.m to 6:45 a.m Tuesday. He added that one SLA trooper was injured in the LTTE attack.

Unconfirmed reports said that a sentry point on the LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) caught fire in the attack.

On New Year day Monday, the SLA launched mortar fire from their camps in Kiran, Chenkalady Black Bridge and Vavunathivu from 12:05 a.m towards the LTTE held Vavunathivu, Kurinchamunai, Navatkadu, Pankudaveli, Illupayadichenai and Pulipainthakal areas, sources in Batticalao said.

SLA said that the attack launched by them Monday on the LTTE territory was in retaliation to earlier LTTE attacks on their camps.