Renewed SLA operation in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 07:50 GMT]
Fighting broke out between SLA soldiers and the Liberation Tigers in the Nayaatruveli area along the Mannar-Pooneryn main road this morning when SLA troops began advancing north from Paappamoddai, said sources in the area. At least 15 SLA soldiers have been reported killed in the fighting today.

Hospital sources in Anuradhapura said 35 wounded SLA soldiers have been brought to the hospital until noon today.

Residents in Mannar said that the SLA has been firing artillery shells from its base at Thallaady since 5 a.m. this morning.

Details of LTTE causalities were not known.

The Liberation Tigers have also fired artillery shells on the SLA troops near Nayaatruveli and at Thallaady camp, the sources added.

SLA operation appears to be aimed at gaining control of Vidathaltheevu on the Mannar-Jaffna highway said sources in Mannar.

The Sri Lankan Army moved into Paappamoddai and southern parts of Vidathaltheevu following 'Operation Rana Gosa-4' launched on June 11.

Paappamoddai is located 12 km. south of Vidathaltheevu and 8 km north of Mannar, on the Mannar-Pooneryn road.

Meanwhile two SLA soldiers were killed yesterday, June 25, in the general area of Madhu, when one of the soldier's guns accidentally went off while he was trying to clean it.

The two soldiers, Shaminda and Samantha, were killed when the bullet went through one of the soldiers' stomach and then hit the other, who had been seated, on his back.

Their bodies were brought to the Vavuniya hospital yesterday evening, hospital sources said.