Artillery duel along Jaffna FDLs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 March 2007, 20:05 GMT]
Exchange of heavy mortar and artillery fire and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire continued between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Forward Defence Lines (FDL) from Muhamalai to Kilali in Thenmaradchy and Nagarkovil area in Vadamaradchy east area, Monday evening untilTuesday evening, sources in Jaffna said.

SLA launched mortar and artillery fire from Thenmaradchy south, west, Kokilakandy and Thanankilappu areas towards LTTE held positions.

Hundreds of fishermen fishing in the Jaffna lagoon narrowly escaped when shells fell and exploded in the lagoon.

Meanwhile, SLA and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) jointly conducted war rehearsals Monday evening from Palaly military base to Kankesanthurai naval base, indicating an imminent escalation of conflict between the LTTE and Sri Lanka Armed Forces, civil sources in Jaffna said.

The exercises also took place in the seas of Valvettithurai, Myliddy and Kankesanthurai and the adjoining coastal areas, lasting for more than hour.