Fighting eases in Olumadu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 15:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army sources said that soldiers who were preparing to launch 'Operation Water Shed" were attacked by the Liberation Tigers with machine gun and mortars on Thursday around 11 a.m.

They said 35 SLA soldiers, including a captain, were killed and 291 wounded in the ensuing clashes on Thursday and Friday.

Hospital sources said 27 bodies of the SLA soldiers were brought to Anuradhapura and eight died Thursday night at the hospital.

According to SLA sources 89 Liberation Tigers were killed in the fighting on Thursday and Friday.

The Liberation Tigers are yet to comment on the latest clashes.

Sources said fighting has eased since yesterday evening.

Meanwhile several hundred villagers of Vaddakkachchi, Thiruvai Aary and Umayalpuram in the Kilinochchi districts have been displaced due to continuous shelling from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base at Elephant Pass, said sources.

Sources said several houses have been reported damaged in the shelling which has been continuing for the last two days, and added that details civilian casualties were not known.

The villagers have sought refuge in schools and other public building, they said.

The shelling has continued this morning, the sources said.

Events in the war zone could not be independently verified as journalists are not permitted to travel in to the area.