3RD LEAD (added details)

Eleven SLA soldiers killed in Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 07:36 GMT]
Eleven SLA soldiers were killed and six wounded in a Claymore ambush on a Sri Lanka Army convoy near the Regional Bus Depot, 1 km south of Point Pedro town on Jaffna-Point Pedro road at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, Police said. Three civilians who were shot by the SLA troopers following the ambush were rushed to Point Pedro Teaching Hospital, medical sources said. Tension prevails in Point Pedro.

Three soldiers with serious wounds were rushed to Palaly military hospital, sources added.

Four soldiers and three civilians were admitted at Point Pedro Teaching Hospital (Manthikai hospital), medical sources said.

Mr. Nallathamby Thangarajah, 40, from Polikandy, Ms. Sivagowri Subramaniam, 24, from Puloly and Mr. Kandiah Subramaniam, 53, from Thumpalai, were the wounded persons. Two of the civilians, seriously wounded, were transferred to Jaffna Hospital.

The attack took place when the SLA troopers were on their way to a nearby spot where a grenade was lobbed by unidentified attackers around 12:20 p.m., sources added.

So far, this month, 28 SLA soldiers and 14 Sri Lanka Navy personnel were killed in various attacks, SL military sources said.

A group that identifies itself as "The Roaring Peoples Force," has claimed responsibility for the various attacks that have taken place in Sri Lanka Army controlled area stating that the attacks were in retaliation to the SLA and SLN violence that has claimed the lives of civilans.

Sri Lanka Army has alleged that the group was being operated by the Tigers.

The group, in a recent fax message sent to local media, has renewed its warning of the escalation of attacks on Sri Lankan troopers following the killing of five Tamil civilians in Jaffna on Saturday.