Wounded civilians transferred, 1 hour cessation of hostilities observed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 14:28 GMT]
Sri Lankan armed forces and Liberation Tigers in Muttur observed one hour cessation of hostilties to enable humanitarian organisations to transfer wounded civilians and policemen from Muttur area Thursday evening, NGO sources said. Sixty nine Muslim civilians among the refugees sought asylum injured in two artillery attacks which hit Muttur Arabic College and Thoppur Al-Noor Mahavidiyalayam in Muttur division Thursday afternoon were admitted to the Trincomalee general hospital Thursday evening. They were brought to navy gun boat to the Trincomalee civilian jetty from Muttur jetty, civil sources said.

One of the injured Muslim civilians said they took risk on their own and travelled in two lorries without any security to the Muttur jetty. They were taken in small boats to the navy gunboat in the mid-sea from there they were brought to Trincomalee jetty, he added.

Of the 69 injured admitted in the Trincomalee hospital, medical sources said about seven were in critical condition and warded in the intensive care unit.

Twenty two Muslim civilians who sought refuge in Muttur Arabic College and Thoppur Al-Noor Mahavidiyalayam were killed in two separate artillery attacks.

In Muttur Arabic College ten Muslim civilians were killed and twelve were killed in Thoppur Al-Noor Mahavidiyalayam, sources said