SLA intensifies artillery barrage on LTTE held Poonakari

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 November 2008, 13:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna stepped up artillery barrage since Friday and continues to pound Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held Poonakari across Jaffna lagoon from its bases in Jaffna town and suburbs. The noise of artillery fire from the bases close to Jaffna Teaching hospital has severely affected the patients warded in the hospital, medical staff in the hospital said.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLA) helicopters were engaged in surveillance over Jaffna lagoon for long hours since Friday.

The SLA troops manning the sentry points along the Jaffna lagoon coast also were firing across the lagoon towards LTTE held Poonakari throughout Saturday night.

The heavy artillery fire launched from the bases in Jaffna town including Thuraiappa Stadium and Kaakkaitheevu since Saturday evening continued through the night creating fear and tension among the residents on the coast of Jaffna lagoon.

The persistent and intensified artillery barrage signalled impending clashes between the SLA and the LTTE, the residents said.