2ND LEAD

SLA mini-camp in Yala overrun - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 October 2007, 14:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) have overrun a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp near Yala sanctuary in southern Sri Lanka Monday evening, LTTE field officials in Ampaa'rai told TamilNet. 6 SLA troopers were killed, and many wounded in the raid which took place 40 km south of Poththuvil, the Tigers said, claiming that the camp was under their control for 3 hours during which time they seized arms and ammunitions from the camp. The Yala sanctuary, one of the island's main tourist attractions, lies on the southern end of the Ampaa'rai district.

More than 20 SLA troopers of the Sinha regiment were stationed in the camp at the time of the attack, according to LTTE field officials in Ampaa'rai.

Four T-81 automatic rifles, one T-56-2 rifle, one T-56-1 rifle, 2 low band communication sets, four military kit-bags, five bullet-proof jackets, seventeen T-81 magazines, three T-56 magazines and five-hundred 7.62 mm rounds were among the weapons and ammunitions seized by the Tigers.

The camp was set ablaze when the Tiger commandos completed their mission, the LTTE officials said, adding that the raid coincided with one month commemoration of three Lieutenant colonels, Lt. Col. Pavamaaran, Lt. Col. Ajoni, Lt. Col. Mithulan and Major Erimalai who were killed in action.

Earlier, SLA officials in Colombo told media that a "SLA post" at Thalgasmankada, south of Paanama was under attack Monday around 6:30 p.m . 55 SLA troopers were stationed there, according to informed military sources in Colombo.

Additional troops were rushed to the camp, military sources in Colombo said.

Paanama is located 61 km southeast of Ampa'rai town and 63 km northeast of Kathirkaamam (Kataragama), which is on the southern edge of the Yala national park in the southeast of the island.

The southern edge of the Yala park is contiguous with the southern province.

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