Vanni military activity continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 19:15 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported in the Mankulam sector, the town which the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) said it captured from the Liberation Tigers yesterday morning. Reports from the northern Vavuniya said Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombers carried out sorties in the area around 7 a.m. today.

Details of casualties in today's fighting are not yet known. However, sources said SLAF helicopters were transferring SLA wounded to the Anuradhapura hospital today.

Meanwhile large quantities of ammunition, weapons and other supplies were being sent through Vavuniya to Vanni front.

Sources said build up of ammunition has been underway for the last two weeks.

The supplies included large numbers of gunny bags which are filled with sand to make fortification, said sources.

A pres release issued by the Ministry of Defence said "troops had destroyed strong-holds of the LTTE on the Mankulam-Kanagarayankulam road and captured the southern and eastern parts of Mankulam town and that the troops were in the process of consolidating their positions in the captured areas."

On Tuesday one of the main armouries of the troops fighting Operation Jayasikurui blew up at Kanakarayan Kulam, 7 kilometers south of Mankulam. The cause of the massive explosion was not known sources said.