Heavy fighting in Olumadu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
11 SLA soldiers have been killed and another 5 reported missing since fresh fighting erupted as troops of Operation Jaya Sukurui attempted to advance in a 3-pronged offensive to capture the strategic Mankulam junction, said army sources in Vavuniya. More than 72 SLA soldiers, including 2 senior officers are injured in the latest fighting, they said.

SLA has claimed that the army had captured a LTTE bunker line in the general area of Olumadu towards Mankulam. Olumadu is about four kilometers from Mankulam.

The fighting intensified again from 3 p.m. (10.00 GMT) this afternoon after a brief lull, said sources in Vavuniya.

The Operation 'Jaya Sikirui', launched on 13 May last year with the stated aim of opening a supply route to the SLA's Jaffna garrison in the north, is the longest military operation in a civil war in the South Asian region.