2ND LEAD (Adds details and correction)

One SLA soldier dead, two injured in grenade attack in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 September 2005, 12:53 GMT]
Unidentified men riding in motorbikes lobbed a grenade and fired at three Sri Lanka Army soldiers in Chenkalady around 5:00 p.m. Monday. The three SLA soldiers, who were on duty on Batticaloa-Chenkalady road sustained serious injuries in the attack. One of the soldiers, SLA Corporal R. P. Banadra, 35, later succumbed to his wounds at Batticaloa hospital, Eravur Police said.

One of the injured soldiers was located later as he had relocated himself far away from the spot following the attack, souces added.

The attack took place near Chenkalady public market.

The other two soldiers, R. P. R. Rajapaksa, 28, and R.P. Pathmasri, 30, are being treated at Polannaruwa Hospital, sources said.

The injured soldiers were rushed to Chenkalady Hospital and later transferred to Batticaloa Hospital and to Polannaruwa Hospital.

Traffic along the main road came to a hault following the grenade attack and tension prevailed in Chenkalady, civilian sources said.

Chenkalady is located 15 km north of Batticaloa.