1000 SLA troops killed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 November 1999, 17:08 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said today they had captured vast areas of Ampakamam from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). In a statement issued from its London offices, the LTTE said its fighters "swept westwards" today in the direction of the A9 highway. Over 1000 SLA soldiers have been killed, the LTTE said, adding 60 of its fighters also died in the fighting so far.

Extracts from the LTTE press release follow:

"In the fighting that is raging ferociously in the Karupaddamurippu - Ampakamam sector, east of Mankulam, the LTTE forces have overrun the Sri Lankan front defence lines and taken control of vast sections of strategically crucial Ampakamam area, situated 5 kilometres north of Karupaddamurippu"

"After several hours of sustained fighting the LTTE units destroyed several mini-camps at Ampakamam today and caused heavy casualties to the enemy.

"LTTE fighters are also engaged in a fierce battle in the jungle areas between Nedunkerni and Pulliyankulam, as Sri Lankan troops attempted to advance from bases at Pulliyankulam towards Nedunkerni sector. Heavy exchange of artillery and mortar fire is taking place in the area."

"The LTTE's offensive campaign, code named 'Unceasing Waves 3', continues ferociously for the third day today as the LTTE fighting formations swept westwards of Mullaitivu in the direction of A9 highway posing a serious threat to Sri Lankan bases on the Vavuniya-Kilinochchi route."

"Over one thousand Sri Lankan troops have been killed and many more injured in the three days of intense fighting. So far 60 LTTE fighters have died in the battle."

"The LTTE fighters have cremated, with military honours, hundreds of decomposed bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers scattered all over the jungle areas as ICRC was unable to get clearance from the Sri Lankan military establishment to handover the demised soldiers."

"In Vanni area, jubilant crowds of civilians in thousands are actively supporting the offensive campaign of the LTTE. Civilian crowds are supplying food to the fighters and are helping to remove vast amounts of arms and ammunitions from various Sri Lankan armouries in the liberated areas."

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