Tigers to return SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 May 2000, 11:25 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have recovered the bodies of several Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from the recently captured town of Pallai and are making arrangements to return 50 which are in good condition to the SLA, LTTE sources in London said Monday.

The LTTE said in a statement Sunday it has taken control of the SLA garrison town of Pallai and the surrounding villages after 12 hours of heavy fighting.

The Tigers are consolidating in the captured areas, LTTE sources in London told TamilNet Monday.

The bodies of fifty SLA soldiers recovered in "good condition" would be returned to the SLA via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the sources said.

The bodies of SLA troops which were too severely damaged for identification would be cremated with full military honours, the sources added.

The sources also said a large quantity of arms and ammunition had been recovered from the captured SLA base at Pallai, but did not provide details.