SLA claims occupation of Paranthan junction

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 2009, 16:38 GMT]
Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on Thursday claimed that its troops reached Paranthan Junction, which is situated north of Ki'linochchi town on A9 Road. Informed military sources said the SLA suffered high casualties as the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) put up heavy resistance. The occupation of Paranthan junction comes after SLA suffering three major debacles in which several soldiers, including child soldiers and young recruits have been killed.

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) also occupied Paranthan 10 years ago and sustained it for two years from 1996 to 1998 when it lost again after offensive operations by the Tigers.

The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said the occupation of Paranthan junction would enable the SLA to launch further attacks on LTTE strongholds in Vanni.

The LTTE has not released details of the defensive battle in Paranthan.

Meanwhile indiscriminate bombardment by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the SLA have targeted several civilian settlements east of Paranthan in Murasumoaddai killing 10 civilians and wounding 50 within the last 30 hours.