Tigers overrun SLA detachment in Trinco

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 July 2000, 07:36 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers overran the Sri Lanka army detachment at Vilgam Vihare, northeast of the Trincomalee town Monday night around 8.30 p.m. military sources in the eastern port town said. SLA troops had retreated from their positions in the first phase of the attack when the Liberation Tigers had fired mortars on the detachment.

The Tigers blasted the buildings in the camp before they withdrew from the area the sources said.

The Chief Priest of the Vihare and two soldiers were wounded in the incident according initial reports.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area and are conducting a search operation there SLA sources said.

Vilgam village is a recent Sinhala settlement under the state-sponsored colonization scheme. It is situated on the Trincomalee-Anuradhapura trunk road about 2 km. from Kanniya. It is about 3 km heading towards the interior from the Anuradhapura-Trincomalee trunk road. The camp was set up to protect this Sinhala settlement and the Vihare.

Kanniya is a Tamil village, about 8 km. north of Trincomalee, where historic hot wells are found.

Remnants of a Hindu temple are seen in the area, known as Periyakulam by the Tamils. This historic Hindu temple is known as Nathanar Kovil.