SLA sources differ on Kilinochchi situation

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources at the Palaly base in Jaffna said that fighting in the Kilinochchi area was continuing till this afternoon. They said that thus far fifty soldiers have been confirmed killed in the fighting. The SLA sources were unable to confirm whether army casualties will mount further.

They said that the army is yet to link up with the troops which are fighting the LTTE in the southern sector of the Kilinochchi base.

However, SLA sources in Colombo claimed that the LTTE had been beaten back and government troops are currently engaged in a clearing operation.

Meanwhile, a truck distributing food to the Jayasikurui troops about two kilometers east of Kankarayan Kulam junction was hit by an LTTE claymore mine yesterday.

One soldier was killed and four were wounded said SLA sources in Vavuniya.