Heavy fighting in Mankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 January 1999, 04:21 GMT]
15 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 50 wounded when the Liberation Tigers intercepted and attacked an attempt by the army to thrust north of its positions in Mankulam on Friday said sources in the Vanni this morning.

The army had begun the operation spearheaded by its elite Special Forces commandos to advance from positions held by it ahead of Mankulam into territory held by the Liberation Tigers.

However, according to an announcement by the Tigers in the Wanni this morning, fierce fighting had erupted when they had intercepted the SLA advance.

The army was forced to retreat in the face of fierce resistance the Liberation Tigers said.

Three T-56 rifles, 13 grenades, 200 rounds of PK LMG linked ammunition, 100 rounds of AK LMG linked ammunition, medium rounds 3800 were recovered from the army the Tigers announced.

The Tigers said one of their fighters, Lt.Sivarooban (Kandasamy Manoharan of Batticaloa) was killed in the fighting they said.