Woman killed, School destroyed in SLAF bombardment in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 15:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Monday morning bombed a civilian area in Maruthoadai, Nedungkea'ni Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vavuniyaa, killing a 20-year-old female. A government school, Maruthoadai Tamil Mixed School, was destroyed in the bombardment. A Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society building, a rice mill and two civilian houses were also damaged in the bombardment that took place twice between 6:40 and 7:10 a.m. A couple, owners of one of the houses, were seriously wounded in the air-attack.

The female victim, identified as Ariyaratnam Subajini, 20, from Paandiyan Ku'lam, Karumppu'l'liyaan, Mallavi, was wounded when the six passengers of the bus, the driver and the conductor were seeking safety from the air attack. Subajini later succumbed to her wounds.

The wounded husband and wife were identified as Chinnakkuddi Thiyaakaraasa, 63, and S. Kanakamma, 54.

The Maruthoadai school, destroyed in the attack, is situated along Nedungkea'ni - Othiyamalai Road, 6 km from Nedungkea'ni junction.

The school, with 67 registered students, has been closed for vacation.