Three SLA casualties in Mullaithivu fire fight

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 July 1999, 13:15 GMT]
Three commandos of the Sri Lanka Army's Special Forces (SF) were killed yesterday when the Liberation Tigers attacked the troops as they advanced from the Janakapura detachment in the Veli Oya region, towards the areas held by the LTTE in Mullaithivu district, sources said.

The advancing troops broke from their forward defence lines around noon and confronted the LTTE. The fighting went on till 5 p.m. sources added.

However the forces retreated to their bases at Janakapura in the evening.

SLA sources said that the troops inflicted damages to the LTTE. However, the details of damages caused to the LTTE were not known, they added.

Meanwhile, one soldier was wounded when the Liberation Tigers counter ambushed a SLA party in Pulmoddai, about 45 km. north of Trincomalee.

The incident took place near the Agricultural Services Centre in the Pulmoddai area.