Gunfire marks New Year

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 January 1999, 12:00 GMT]
Gunfire by the Sri Lankan Government troops and Tamil paramilitary groups in the northern Vavuniya marked the birth of the New Year while midnight prayers were held in the churches and songs were played over loud speakers said sources there.

The firing went on for 20 minutes. Reports of bomb blasts were heard along (the MSR) A 9 trunk road north of Thandikulam the sources said.

Local residents said this is the first time the New Year has been marked gunfire in Vavuniya.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Ashraff, a 14 year old boy, was critically wounded by a stray bullet when Sri Lankan security forces in the eastern port town of Trincomalee town fired their weapons to celebrate the new year.

The boy was wounded on his neck and has been admitted to the Trinomale hospital sources said.

In a similar incident last year, a baby was critically wounded whilst being breast-fed by his mother.