Heavy SLA casualties in Jaffna fighting

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2001, 19:11 GMT]
Heavy fighting between the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops continued Wednesday night with both sides using heavy artillery, official LTTE sources said. Over 100 SLA troops have been killed and 400 wounded in 24 hours of pitch battle in the Kilaly-Eluthumadduval-Nagar Kovil axis, the sources said.

Fighting began when the SLA troops attempted to advance on several fronts in the Kilaly-Eluthumadduval sector, under heavy artillery cover supported by jet bombers.

LTTE fighters had repulsed the advance on the Kilaly sector, forcing the government troops to retreat to their original positions, the sources said.

Heavy fighting was continuing late Wednesday night, the sources added.