LTTE hands over bodies of SLA soldiers to ICRC

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 July 2006, 07:03 GMT]
Leaders of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Batticaloa district handed over the bodies of 12 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who were killed in the confrontation at Vakaneri to representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) at Black Bridge ('Karuththapalam') located in Chenkalady, around 8.30 a.m., Saturday, army sources said.

The bodies were first taken to Valaichchenai government hospital by the ICRC team.

An SLA officer identified the bodies at the Valaichchenai hospital. Later a SLA team transferred these bodies to Pollonaruwa general hospital with the facilitation of the ICRC for post-mortem examination, the sources said.

Twelve Sri Lanka Army soldiers and 4 LTTE members were killed in the confrontation at Vakeneri, Friday morning.

The LTTE said they have captured one SLA soldier. The SLA said Lance Corporal R.M.KArunarathne is still reported missing

The soldiers were attacked when an SLA unit comprising more than 100 soldiers moved 5 km inside LTTE controlled territory in Batticaloa district.