50 Government troops killed -VoT

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 December 1999, 04:59 GMT]
More than 50 Government troops were killed and several others wounded in the fierce fighting in the north of the country, yesterday, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said this morning.

The Tigers recovered 16 bodies of the government troops along with a large haul of arms and ammunition, the radio said.

According to the radio, arrangements are being made to hand over the 16 bodies to the Sri Lanka Army, through the ICRC.The radio said 4 Liberation Tigers were killed in the fighting.

The radio also said that heavy fighting broke between the Sea Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy in the north yesterday.

The radio, however, did not mention where the clashes had taken place.

SLA sources said troops repulsed an attack by the Liberation Tigers on the western defence lines of the Elephant Pass base yesterday.

They said at least 4 LTTE boats were also destroyed in the Jaffna Lagoon.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Army sources in Jaffna said troops conducted a limited operation in Arukuveli, Maravanpulou and Maniyam Thoddam areas from the early hours of the morning yesterday.

Sri Lanka Air Force jets and helicopters were deployed in the operation, which began around 2.30 a.m. and lasted till noon, the sources said.

Sources in Jaffna said many civilians were seen moving from the Thenmaradhci Division yesterday.