3RD LEAD (PHOTOS UPDATED)

LTTE captures SLA soldier, locates 75 dead bodies of Lankan troopers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 13:48 GMT]
LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan Wednesday evening told media that the Tigers had repulsed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensive Wednesday. SLA troopers who broke through the LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions in Kilali and Muhamalai were defeated, leaving around 75 dead bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers inside the LTTE territory in Kilali. A soldier was captured alive by the Tigers, he said. Three tanks were damaged and one destroyed, according to LTTE military spokesman. Meanwhile, SLA sources in Colombo claimed 35 were killed and more than 300 wounded in the Sri Lankan offensive.

Six LTTE fighters and four members of LTTE's auxilliary forces were killed in action, he said.

LTTE was making arrangements to recover the SLA bodies, Ilanthiryan added.

More than 20 bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers have been brought to Kilinochchi.



"The SLA offensive inside the LTTE territory disregards the expectations of International Community, and brushes aside Co-Chairs's call to cease violence and engage in talks," Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

The Tigers have urged the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials to inspect the offensive site, he further said.

The wounded SLA soldier, identified as 18-year-old Samantha Veerasinghe, in LTTE custody, was rushed to a hospital in Kilinochchi.

LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan Tuesday accused Colombo for being the "aggressor" despite the International Community's efforts to bring the parties to negotiation table and called on the International Community to ensure SLMM access the demarcated Forward Defence Line localities.

According to eyewitnesses in Mirusuvil, Thenmaradchi, 20 civilian buses were engaged in rushing SLA casualties from Muhamalai and Kilali northwards.

Meanwhile ambulances in Colombo made 40 trips carrying unknown number of wounded soldiers to Colombo Hospital from Ratmalana Airport to which the SLA troopers were air-lifted from the north, media sources in Colombo said.

The SLA advanced breaking through the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE Front Defense Line FDL at Kilali Wednesday around 6.30 a.m.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) kfir jets continued to bomb northern parts of the Vanni mainland Wednesday in the LTTE territory, according to LTTE sources.