SLA directs artillery fire towards LTTE area in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 18:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) from its Vavunativu camp directed artillery fire on Wednesday from morning 7.00 a.m. till evening 5.00 p.m towards the LTTE controlled Vavunativu and Ayiththiyamalai area in Manmunai West Divisional Secretariat Division.

Meanwhile the LTTE repulsed an attempt by a group of SLA soldiers to penetrate the LTTE's Forward Defence Lines (FDL) in Vavunativu around 3 p.m. Wednesday. A corporal, Nissanka Wijayaratne, 33, was killed and a bunker was destroyed in the attack.

"SLA directed its artillery fire to threaten the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who took refuge in Ayiththiyamalai area. These IDPs fled from Mankikattu, Eachchantivu, Navatkadu and Kurinchamunai on Tuesday following the shell attack by SLA," Mr.P.Dayamohan, Political Head of LTTE for Batticaloa District said.

Ponnuththurai Dilany, 08, Ponnuththurai Vijenthiran, 16, and K.Paramasivam, 41, three members of one family people were injured and 6 houses were damaged in Tuesday's artillery fire.

Tension prevailed in Batticaloa town due to artillery fire launched by the SLA towards Vavunativu, sources said.

Meanwhile, around 250 families from Vadamunai- Uththuchchenai area in Koralai Pattu West Divisional Secretariat Division, fled to Pulipainthakal and Eeralaikkulam out of fear, because of the pre-dawn attack in Vadamunai area by SLA, Tuesday in which 2 civilians were killed, Mr.Dayamohan further said.