5TH LEAD (ADDS PHOTOS)

Multiple air strikes target civilian infrastructure in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 October 2008, 13:22 GMT]
A key sluice transporting water to thousands of acres of agricultural lands in Vanni sustained damage in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) indiscriminate bombardment Friday morning around 9:30 a.m., at Paravippaagnchaan, near Ki'linochchi town where LTTE's Peace Secretariat is located. Meanwhile, SLAF bombers dropped bombs in the vicinity of the UNICEF office located at Kaneasapuram in Ki'linochchi three times between 3:35 and 4:00 p.m. Centre for Women's Development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) was heavily damaged in the air strike.



Two local employees of the UNICEF, who were inside the office, narrowly escaped from the attack as the roof of the building was shaken by a bomb that hit the fence of the office, according to initial reports. Neighbouring house sustained heavy damage in the attack.

The sluice at Paravippaagnchaan, located east of the A9 road, channels water from Paravippaagnchaan tank to agricultural lands in Paranthan, north of Ki'linochchi. The tank gains water from the rainfalls and from Ki'linochchi and Ira'naimadu tanks. The destruction would cause flooding. 3 huts belonging to IDPs and a small shop were completely destroyed and 12 houses sustained damage.

At Kaneasapuram, seven houses in the vicinity of the UNICEF office were damaged.

In the meantime, the SLAF bombers also attacked a civilian settlement near Vettimanai, a counseling aid center for mentally ill women, causing tension and panic among the few patients who were being transferred from the counseling centre at Kanakapuram. .