Forces poised to destroy Tigers
The Sri Lankan military wants to destroy the Tigers and conclude 25
years of war after the ceasefire ends today, a military spokesman said
yesterday. Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
in Colombo that the military was already putting pressure on the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at various fronts in the North.
"If we continue like this we will be able to defeat the LTTE," he
said. According to earlier statements, the military leadership is hoping
for a victory over the LTTE this year.
Nanayakkara said the Government had to revoke the ceasefire because
of the increasing attacks launched by the LTTE. Meanwhile security
forces further advanced into LTTE defences in multi fronts from Jaffna,
Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya killing a total of 40 terrorists, including
22 alone in clashes North West of Parappakandal, on Monday.
According to Army Jaffna sources, at least 10 terrorists were killed
and two LTTE bunkers destroyed in clashes escalated along the defences
at Averikadu, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in Jaffna.
Six soldiers were also wounded in separate incidents at the Northern
defences including four, due to an IED explosion at Muhamalai, sources
said. Meanwhile, troops removed seven anti-personnel (AP) mines laid in
general area Ponnar, Jaffna security sources said.
During clearing operations conducted in general area Marakayarkulama,
Vavuniya troops defused 10 AP mines, Wanni sources said.
Military sources in Vavuniya front said that, eight more terrorists
were killed on Monday in clashes at defences of Periyapantdivirichchan,
Vilathikulama, Kattikkulama, Palaikkulai and Kokkuthuduvai.
SLA said that, three soldiers received injuries due to an AP mine
explosion at Kurisuddakulama, and were rushed to the general hospital at
Vavuniya.
Intercepted LTTE communications revealed that many terrorists were
badly wounded in the fighting, though exact figures were not available.
An LTTE terrorist was killed when soldiers attacked a group of LTTE
cadres last evening (January 15) north of Navathkulama area on the
Vavuniya front, defence sources said.
According to the sources the confrontation has taken place around
05.05 p.m. when troops detected a group of terrorists moving towards the
security forces' defence.
Troops are advancing further into LTTE defences at Wanni and no
damages were caused to own troops during the confrontation, military
sources added. |
