Heavy shelling in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2001, 18:21 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army launched an intense artillery and aerial attack Saturday on the positions of the Liberation Tigers in the southern Jaffna peninsula, sources in Jaffna town said. Heavy artillery and multi-barrelled rocket launchers (MBRLs) targeted LTTE defences in the Eluthumadduval and Pallai areas, they said.

Israeli-built jet bombers of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) provided support, they added. Jaffna residents said SLAF helicopter gunships flew over the northern town on their way to the southern parts of the peninsula.

The shelling, which began in early in the morning, was continuing into the night, they added. The Liberation Tigers have not commented on the attacks which come a few days before the LTTE’s unilateral ceasefire, is due to expire.

The ceasefire initially declared Christmas Eve last year for a month, has been extended three times since. The Sri Lankan government has refused to reciprocate the LTTE ceasefire, dismissing it as a ploy by the Tigers.