Tigers shell base, Jaffna coast

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2000, 19:32 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers fired artillery and mortar on the Elephant Pass base and on Sri Lanka army (SLA) positions on Jaffna's southeastern coast from this morning said sources in Jaffna today.

The Tigers had bombarded SLA camps and defences from their positions in Kilinochchi and the Vettilaikerni- Kaddaikadu sector, on the southeastern coast of the peninsula which is under their control now.

The morning bus from Jaffna town to Thalaiyadi, an army controlled village on the same coast was turned back at Kaththaappu junction by the army. Soldiers from the Maruthankerni camp who turned the bus back had said that there was heavy shelling in the interior, east of the Kandy road (A9) and in the coastal areas.

Meanwhile two artillery shells fired by the Liberation fell at Navatkuli junction last night. Navatkuli is close to Jaffna town by the A9 highway.

The Liberation Tigers and the SLA also continued their daily mortar attacks on each other's defences south east of the Jaffna town sources said.

As a consequence of these engagements the SLA has banned farmers from visiting or working in their fields in this sector.