SLA strengthens Thenmaradchy camps

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 February 2000, 08:01 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has been strengthening the defences around the camps in Thenmaradchy sector following the downing of a helicopter last week in Eluthumattuval, an area under the control of the SLA, said sources in Jaffna.

SLA is constructing earth bunds around the Chavakachcheri town camp using heavy machinery, including bulldozers, and strengthening sentry points using palmyrah and coconut trunks, cut-down from nearby estates, sources said.

Anticipating a Tiger advance towards Chavakachcheri town from Thanankilappu and Aruhuvelli areas, the SLA is also building additional sentry points in the Hindu cemetary in Kannadipiddy, near Chavakachcheri, sources further said.

Meanwhile, in the Achchelu Brigade camp soldiers are kept in high alert. Sources said that the authorities periodically check the state of readiness of soldiers by sounding the siron early mornings and at midnight.