5TH LEAD (Update, New Photos)

30 SLA killed, 7 bodies recovered, arms seized in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 May 2008, 07:53 GMT]
30 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed, seven dead bodies of SLA troops were recovered after heavy fighting at Ka'rukkaaykku'lam Friday morning, LTTE officials told media. Five bodies were recovered Friday morning, LTTE spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. Two more bodies were recovered Friday night, according to latest updates by the LTTE officials. Two PK Light Machine Guns, three AK LMGs, five T-56 assault rifles and military hardware including ammunitions were seized by the Tigers. The SLA, while pulling back was towing an Armoured Personnel Carrier that had caught fire, the Tigers said. Ka'rukkaaykku'lam is located 2 km east of Adampan.



The Tigers had put up heavy resistance confronting the SLA in its attempt to advance with the support of air-attacks by the Sri Lanka Air Force and indirect fire using Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), artillery and mortar. The fighting which began at 5:30 a.m. ended around 8:00 a.m. when the SLA units were forced to retreat.

Arrangements were underway to handover the SLA dead bodies through the ICRC, the Tigers said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army claimed only 2 of their soldiers were killed in action, claiming that Adampan had been brought under their control. 15 Tigers were killed, the SLA claimed. As LTTE announced that it had recovered five dead bodies of the SLA troopers, the SLA said five of their soldiers were 'missing'. At the end of Friday, the Tigers said they had recovered two more SLA bodies.

The pass office of the LTTE, during the CFA period, was once located at Ka'rukkaaykku'lam.