WANNI, NORTH & EAST: TROOPS straying into Tiger strongholds and their defensive positions for another day on Thursday (3) inflicted further losses and damages to the enemy destroying bunkers and claiming several Tiger lives.
The WELIOYA sector where pitched confrontations lasted in the north of KIRIIBBANWEWA and JANAKAPURA areas killed five Tigers and injured at least about twelve terrorists between 7.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.
From the same areas 236 anti personnel mines and 13 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were found by Engineer troops conducting de-mining as areas fall to troops. Similarly, explosion of three anti personnel mines in the same above areas wounded three soldiers.
Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) T-55 AM2 Main battle tanks - Mannar front
In the MANNAR sector several intermittent clashes in PERIYAMALAYNKULAM, PALAMODDAI, VIDATTALTIVE, PERIYAMADU and NADDANKANDAL in VAVUNIYA claimed lives of at least twenty-seven Tigers as confirmed by technical sources. Terrorist transmissions also affirmed the numbers. Nine bunkers of the terrorist were smashed in a fight near PERIYAMADU around 5.00 p.m. where twenty-five Tigers were reported badly injured.
Tigers in WACHIRAMADU received another beating from artillery and Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) when the enemy started firing artillery. Aerial cover given by Sri Lanka Air Force jets for this attack helped the marching ground troops enormously. Likewise, an IED explosion injured two soldiers in PALAMODDAI areas on Thursday (3) at about 7.40 a.m.. Two soldiers fighting in VIDATTALTIVE-PERIYAMADU areas who had gone missing were yet to marry up with the rest of the troops as of Friday (4) noon.
Meanwhile, troops still on search and clear operations in DANGELIYADDA, THOPPIGALA areas in the east unearthed thirty anti personnel mines on Thursday (3).
In the meantime, explosion of an anti personnel mine in MUHAMALE, JAFFNA at about 7.30 p.m. last night (3) injured one soldier. A total of sixteen soldiers received injuries during Thursday (3) in fights and LTTE mine explosions.
Troops meanwhile engaged in a search and clear operation in the general area of CHEERATHIVU, JAFFNA on Thursday (3) around 7.30 a.m. found sixty 7.62 x 39 ammunition rounds from a wayside hide-out.
(Courtesy : Sri Lanka Army )