Sri Lanka: Military claim LTTE fleeing with heavy losses

Successive LTTE offensive attempts were thwarted and terrorist elements kept at bay confined to defences at the boarders of Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu, as troops advanced further consolidating its positions in Wanni and North, security sources said.

According to military sources, at least 32 LTTE terrorists were killed and many injured during clashes between LTTE and troops during the past 24 hours.

At Welioya today (January 19) at 1.00 p.m. in Kiriebanwewa, two LTTE terrorists were killed in a confrontation with troops, security sources said.

Earlier yesterday(18), SLAF fighter jets targeted an LTTE armoury facility at Wallipurama, North of Puthukuddiiruppu in Mullaittivu, at 10.45.a.m. "Pilots confirmed that the location was completely destroyed", MCNS reported.

In Northern defence lines at Muhamalai and Nagarkovil, security forces said, that six terrorists were killed when troops launched heavy gun fire attacks at identified LTTE positions, ahead of the defences, yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, two other terrorists were believed killed or seriously injured when troops further advanced into LTTE defences around 9.35.p.m, security sources said. Earlier, troops on patrol at general area Periyathivu, Jaffna, recovered one hand held radio communication set, security sources added.

On the Wanni front yesterday (18), military reports state that at least ten terrorists were killed in separate clashes at Pullippankiyarkulama, Vilathikulama, and Janakapura areas. Separately, troops consolidating defences at general area Palaikkuli, Mannar observing an LTTE bunker construction site opened fire killing three terrorists, at 1.10.p.m, security sources said. According to SLA sources, six more terrorists were killed when troops comprehensively thwarted an LTTE regrouping attempt, sources said.

Three other terrorists were also killed in a separate confrontation between troops and LTTE at Pallaikuli, around 6.30.p.m, SLA said. Meanwhile, troops attacked an LTTE bunker defence at JANAKAPURA, WELIOYA, killing two terrorists and injuring another, at 4.20.p.m, SLA sources reported.

During the attack, a soldier lsot his life while two others were wounded, SLA sources said.

Source: Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka