SLA advance stalled - VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in the morning broadcast today that the Liberation Tigers had successfully stalled a 3-pronged attack by the troops of Operation Jaya Sukurui to capture Mankulum yesterday.

The VoT said that the massive 3-pronged attack by the SLA had begun around 1.50 pm yesterday, and that the Liberation Tigers had stopped the advance from Olumadu, Mannakulam, and Moondumurippu lying in the east, southwest and further southwest of Mankulum respectively.

The radio said that a large number of soldiers were killed in the LTTE's counter attack and that the LTTE had captured five bodies of SLA soldiers.

Four Tigers were killed in the fighting.

The VoT also gave the list of weapons that were captured by the Liberation Tigers from the army in yesterday's fighting:

1. PK Light Machine Gun (LMG) - 2

2. AK LMG - 3

3. T-56 with stock - 4

4. T-56-2 - 1

5. T-81 1

6. 40 mm pistol 1

7. PK LMG Linked Rounds - 200

8. Medium Linked Rounds - 552

9. AK Magazines - 6

10. AK LMG Linked Rounds - 500

11. Kit Bags - 7

12. Helmets - 7

The radio said that the fighting was continuing and further details are awaited.