Five killed in clashes

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 March 1999, 10:21 GMT]
Three policemen were killed when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a police patrol this morning around 8 a.m. in Murunkan, about 15 km. from Thallady in the Mannar district. The Police said the patrol was on a route and bunker clearing operation, 400 metres off the main road, towards Nanaddan in the Murunkan.

The dead policemen have been identified as Seneviratne, Prasath and Premathilake. The bodies were handed over to Mannar hospital around 1.15 p.m. today.

Police said the attack was repulsed and details of casualties suffered by the Tigers were not known. They said a search operation was conducted in the area.

Sources said this is the first attack on the Police after it took over duties from the Sri Lankan Army last month.

Meanwhile two Sri Lankan Army soldiers were killed and three were wounded in a clay more mine attack by the Liberation Tigers, yesterday at 10 a.m. in sector 7 at Kanakrayankulam area along the A-9 road. The army personnel were on a foot patrol, sources said.

The wounded have been taken to Anuradhapura hospital.