Fierce battle cost 39 lives in Sri Lanka

Fri, May 16 07:57 PM

At least 36 Tamil Tigers and three security force personnel were killed in running gun battles while a rebel stronghold was pounded by Air Force jets in embattled northern Sri Lanka, the military said on Friday.

The Sri Lankan Airforce attacked a sea tiger base at Mullaithivu this morning, the Defence Ministry said. The jet fighters also targeted a LTTE base in Nayaru Lagoon in Mullaithivu on Thursday, it said.

In ground offensive, two Tiger rebels were killed in Virawapuliyankulam in Vavuniya during clashes with security forces yesterday while two others were also gunned down in Palampiddi in the region, the defence ministry said.

Separately, troops killed 10 Tiger rebels in Periyamadu in Vavuniya in intense clashes yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

Meanwhile a police sergeant was killed in an attack by LTTE in Murunkan in Mannar on Friday, the defence ministry said.

In another clash, at least four Tiger rebels were shot dead at Palamodai area in North-west of Vavuniya on Thursday, the MCNS said.

One soldier lost his life during a confrontation at Vilayakkavattikulam in the region on Thursday; it said adding troops killed one Tiger militant in Muhamalai in Jaffna.

At least two militants were also shot dead in Janakapura in North-eastern Welioya while three other rebels were killed in Nayaru in the region, it said.

Separately, three Tiger rebels were killed in Andankulam in Welioya during clashes with troops yesterday, the officials said.

As many as nine Tiger cadres were killed in confrontations with the troops in Alankulam and nedunkandal in Mannar on Thursday, they said.

In a separate confrontation, a solider reportedly lost his life during clashes in Janakapura north, the MCNS said.

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