Tigers overrun another coastal garrison

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2000, 10:46 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army base at Thalaiyadi on Jaffna's southeastern coast was overrun by the Liberation Tigers this noon around 12.30 p.m. Civilians who fled the fighting today said that the Tigers are pressing on with their attack on the SLA camp at nearby Maruthankerni. A LTTE field commander directing operations in this sector told residents that the camp is expected to fall by evening today.

A wounded civilian who was brought to the Manthikai hospital today said that more than ten civilians were injured in the heavy fighting in the Thalaiyadi sector since last night. Most of them are unable to come through for treatment due to the heavy fighting he said.

The Tigers are continuing to ferry hundreds of troops from the Wanni by sea to Sembiyanpattu and Maamunai sources said. A large number of commissariat units of the LTTE comprising village and border forces have also been moved for the operation's logistical work they claimed.

The LTTE is also stepping up the attack on the SLA camp at Maruthankerni junction said civilians who fled the war zone today. This is a strategic junction on the road between the A9 and Jaffna's southeastern coast.

They said that more than fifty bodies of SLA soldiers killed in the fighting are strewn at Thalaiyadi. The female fighting formations of the LTTE also suffered heavy casualties in last night's fighting according to them.

Meanwhile Israeli built Kfir jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force continued to bomb the villages of Thalaiyadi and Maruthankerni. The coast was also pounded by Sri Lanka Navy gunboats civilians who fled the area today said.

The SLA base at Nagar Kovil has come under heavy mortar attack military sources in Pt.Pedro said.