2ND LEAD

SLA bombards LTTE areas from Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 06:45 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Tuesday launched sustained artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire towards Tamil Tiger controlled territory from Koaddai and Palaali in Jaffna. The sudden and intensive SLA bombardment has raised fear among the residents of the northern peninsula that fighting may break out on the Front Defence Lines (FDLs). The SLA said the barrage was in retaliation for an LTTE artillery attack in which at least ten shells had been fired at the Palaali base complex from LTTE-controlled Poonakari on Tuesday at around 8:45 a.m.

The SLA said in a statement on its website the LTTE shells “fell short” without giving details.

The LTTE has not commented.

The SLA shelling comes a day after a senior Sri Lankan military delegation, including Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapkse and the Commanders of the three Armed Forces visited the Jaffna peninsula to review troops’ preparations there.

Two days ago SLA artillery heavily bombarded the Poonakari area. Several houses were damaged in Thikkuvil, Jeyapuram. One person was wounded.

The Sri Lankan armed forces have been conducting a series of military exercises in the Jaffna peninsula in recent months.

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