SLA officer killed in Nelliady firefight

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 May 2006, 12:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officer, Lance Corporal Chandraratne, 41, was killed during a firefight between SLA group on foot patrol and unknown gunmen along the Jaffna Point-Pedro road, between Nelliady junction and Malisanthai junction at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said.

The firefight which lasted nearly 15 minutes occured near the Telecommunication Tower in the area which has 24-hour SLA protection, sources said.

The body was taken to Manthikai Hospital from where the body was transferred to Palaly Military Hospital as directed by Point-Pedro acting judge, Mr V Kumarasamy, hospital sources said.

Sources also said two SLA troopers were injured in the same incident and were taken to Palaly Military Hospital. Details of the injured troopers have not been confirmed.