18 SLA killed in Vavuniyaa, SLA bodies recovered - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 14:23 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Sunday said they put up stiff resistance to a three-pronged attempt by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to break into their territory in Paalamoaddai, Vavuniyaa. 18 SLA soldiers were killed and three dead bodies of the SLA, two of them severely damaged, were located by the Tigers. More than 31 SLA soldiers were wounded in the confrontations, according to the LTTE. Three T-56 assault rifles with kit-bags, holsters and ammunition have been seized by the LTTE.

The fighting began at 5:00 a.m. Sunday. The SLA attempt on two fronts were thwarted around 7:30 a.m.

Heavy fighting, backed by heavy artillery and mortar barrage, continued till 3:45 p.m. when the ground movement of the SLA was thwarted by the their fighters, according to the LTTE officials.

The LTTE has not issued details on their casualties.