Renewed fighting in Mankulam

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 08:09 GMT]
Fierce fighting erupted yesterday between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) when the troops of 'Operation Jeyasikurui' attempted to advance towards north of Mankulam, the Liberation Tigers said in Vanni.

Atleast 30 SLA soldiers were killed and several others wounded in the heavy fighting, and four SLA bodies were recovered by them, the Tigers said.

Fourteen Tigers died in yesterday's fighting, they added.

Meanwhile, army sources said 30 SLA soldiers were killed and 113 were wounded in fighting in the Mankulam sector yesterday.

Forty Tigers were killed and several others were wounded in the fighting that lasted for several hours, the sources said further.

Reports from northern government held town of Vavuniya said that the troops had attempted to advance through LTTE defence lines along Kanakarayan Aaru (river) around 9.00 a.m. yesterday and the advance was repulsed by stiff LTTE resistance.

Meanwhile, two SLA soldiers and a Tiger were killed in a confrontation near Mankulam on Monday said sources.

Tigers said Achchutha (Singarasa Rathika, Batticaloa) died in this confrontation.