Fresh SLA operation in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 17:20 GMT]
Sources in the Vanni said that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had attempted to advance from its positions northwest of Madhu towards Periyamadhu yesterday and that the Liberation Tigers had thwarted the move.

Periyamadhu is a village on the road linking Palampiddy and the Vidaththaltheevu junction on the Mannar Pooneryn highway. The capture of Periyamadhu will give the army ready access to the main road along the west coast of the Vanni to Pooneryn.

It will also cut off the access the Liberation Tigers currently have to the villages such as Vattakkandal, Aandaankulam, Adampan, Pallamadu which are immediately north of the SLA's Uyilankualm entry point on the Mannar - Vavuniya highway.

Sources in Madhu said that heavy shelling was heard yesterday in the direction of Periyamadhu. They said that the shelling continued today as well.

The SLA declined to comment on the reports about troop movement towards Periyamadhu yesterday.

Meanwhile posters appeared in the Thatchanamaruthamadu area near Madhu urging civilians to not to assist the Sri Lanka Army. The Sri Lankan Army moved into the Madhu in an operation code named Rana Gosa.

Sources said that the SLA soldiers tore off the poster as soon as it had been spotted.

Meanwhile the SLA has permitted the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to resume its ambulance service between Vavuniya and the LTTE held area of the Vanni from tomorrow, K.Ganesh the Government Agent, Vavuniya said today.