Fighting said ongoing in Olumadu area

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 October 1999, 10:44 GMT]
Fighting between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was going on tonight in the Olumadu-Ampakamam region, where seven SLA soldiers were killed and over 70 wounded this afternoon, said security sources.

Initial reports said the Tigers attacked the SLA troops with heavy weapons as they were preparing to move forward from their positions.

Olumadu is an interior village, about 10 km. east Mankulam junction, on the Mankulam-Mullaithivu road.

Wounded SLA soldiers have been air lifted to Anuradhapura hospital the sources said adding that evacuations continued till late evening.

Hospital sources said the condition of many of the wounded was critical.

Vavuniya residents said there was intense activity by helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) till about 8 p.m. tonight.