SLA repulsed at Mankulam - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 January 1999, 12:13 GMT]
Two bodies of the Liberation Tigers killed in confrontations with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Mankulam yesterday have been handed over to Vavuniya hospital by the SLA yesterday around 6.45pm, sources said.

Both are female members of the Liberation Tigers said the sources adding that arrangements are underway to hand over the bodies to the LTTE through the ICRC.

Informed sources said that there had been confrontations yesterday evening and in early morning today in the general area of Mankulam.

Four soldiers were injured in the confrontations and admitted to Anuradhapura hospital they said.

Meanwhile, the LTTE said in the Vanni that an SLA thrust by a commando unit in the Mankulam region towards the LTTE's Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) yesterday was repulsed.

Heavy causalties were inflicted on the SLA units, the Tigers said adding some arms and ammunition had been captured.