2ND LEAD (DETAILS)

Two STF soldiers, policeman killed in two attacks in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 September 2005, 14:23 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan armed personnel were killed, five Special Task Forces soldiers and five civilians were injured in two separate clashes when unidentified gunmen attacked STF soldiers and policemen who were monitoring the Batticaloa - Kalmunai Road in Manmunai, 7 km south of Batticaloa between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

The first clash erupted at Manmunai where unidentified armed men lobbed a grenade and fired at the STF and police personnel on Batticaloa - Kalmunai Road. At least one policeman was wounded in the attack, Police said.

The second attack occured at 5:45 p.m. on Mariyamman Kovil Road where an unidentified group of attackers lobbed a grenade into an STF vehicle carrying soldiers and policemen who were returning to Manmunai STF camp from Thalankudah.

Two STF soldiers, Mr. M. S. Santhana, 30, and Mr. M. L. Amarasingha, 32, were killed. Five STF soldiers, Mr. R. Wijesundara, 35, Mr. W. Rupasinghe, 33, Mr. M. L. Rosantha, 30, Mr. S. M. Karis, 32, and Mr. W. P. Kulasekara, 30, were severely injured.

At least 5 civilians including a van driver from Amparai, Mr. S. Samankumar, 40, and Mr. A. L. Herath, 35, were injured in the attack.

Injured STF soldiers were airlifted to Polannaruwa Hospital from Batticaloa, hospital sources said.

Tension prevailed in Manmunai following the attacks.