SLA shells Batticaloa villages - residents

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2001, 22:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers stationed at the 23-3 Brigade HQ in Batticaloa fired several rounds of shells towards the villages of Kannankudah, Thaandiyadi, Arasadithivy and Kokkaddicholai in the western hinterlands of the district Friday night residents said.

The shelling, which began around 9 p.m. went on for nearly 45 minutes, they said. The reason for the shelling was not apparent, they added.

Details of casualties or damage were not immediately known. Transport between these villages in the LTTE held Paduvaankarai region and Batticaloa town is blocked during nights by the Sri Lankan security forces.