4TH LEAD

Claymore attack on SLA vehicle in Jaffna, Seven dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 04:29 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army soldiers and an SLA official were killed in a Claymore mine attack on a SLA tractor in Irupalai, 5 km North east of Jaffna town Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., police said. The explosion took place 200 meters west of Irupalai junction on Jaffna - Point Pedro road. SLA soldiers at the site opened fire following the attack and cordoned off the site, civilian sources said. Traffic remains blocked and the civilians were seen moving from the area.

At least ten soldiers belonging to the SLA Division 51-2 were returning to Irupalai camp in their tractor which was hit by the Claymore mine. They were returning after supplying morning meals to the soldiers stationed along the streets in Kalviyankadu, military sources said.

Lt. D.V.Mutugalage, Corporal B.K.Samarasinghe, Corporal K.A.Sumith Kumara, Privates K.M.P.Attanayake, K.G.Dayawansa, W.G.I.Wijetunga and H.A.S Udayasiri were the troopers who died in the claymore attack.

Irupalai is located 5.2 km southwest of Neerveli where two Tamil farmers were shot and killed last Thursday allegedly by paramilitary and intelligence operatives collaborating with the Sri Lanka Army.

Kaithady-Kopay road which branches off from A9, meets Point Pedro-Jaffna road at the Irupalai junction.