MoD issues casualty figures

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 13:20 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army said today that 975 officers and soldiers were killed or are missing in action when the Liberation Tigers overran the Kilinochchi base complex on September 28. The Operational Headquarters of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a communiqué this afternoon giving a break down of the casualties.

The communiqué directed the parents and relatives of the soldiers to seek information from four special centres that have been opened by the SLA.

The Operational HQ release said:

"Details of battle casualties occurred (sic) during the confrontation between Paranthan and Kilinochchi are as follows:


Killed in Action - 4 officers and 182 other ranks.
Missing in Action - 18 officers and 771 other ranks.
Wounded in Action - 21 officers and 401 other ranks.

Information centres are functioning at the following places to cater for (sic) the parents to get any information with regard to the casualties occurred (sic) during the confrontation at Paranthan and Kilinochchi:

1. Directorate of Personnel Administration
2. Directorate of Pay and Records
3. Headquarters of 21 Division
4. Directorate of Recruiting."

The statement also said that more than 771 Tigers were killed and 1100 wounded in the fighting.

The Liberation Tigers have handed over the bodies of 674 SLA troops killed in the Kilinochchi battle to the ICRC, which has returned these to the SLA.

SLA spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennakoon said on October 1 that the SLA had identified 400 of the dead soldiers. However,the MoD only placed 186 as KIA.

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