LTTE claims Lanka army attack killed civilians in Kilinochchi

Colombo, Oct 25 (PTI) Sri Lankan army intensified their
pressure on the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi, destroying bunkers, as Tamil Tigers Saturday claimed that the advancing government forces had launched an artillery barrage on a village, killing two civilians.

"Sri Lankan Army carried out artillery barrage last
evening targeting Sivanakar, a village 7 km west of
Kilinochchi. In this attack former Cooperative Society Manager
Sinaiya Ramalingam (68) and his son, a schoolteacher,
Ramalingam Vijiyananthan (32) were killed," a Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) statement said.

The pro-tiger website 'Tamilnet' said the two were
shifting to a safer place when the attack took place, in which
a tractor driver narrowly escaped death.

The Sri Lankan defence ministry reported heavy fighting
in four places around Akkarayankulm, Iranamadu, Kokavil and
Kalmadu areas, all close to the rebel stronghold of
Kilinochchi. It did not provide any details of casualties, in
keeping with the new government line.

"Troops of the 57 Division operating east and west of the
Akkarayankulama Tank bund, Kilinochchi, made further strides
into L.T.T.E. positions inflicting heavy damages to L.T.T.E.,"
the ministry quoted the sources as saying.

According to military, two separate confrontations were
reported in general area of Akkarayankulama while sporadic
fighting were also reported northeast of the same area.

Separately, troops of the 57 Division flanking the
eastern Kilinochchi battlefront and moving towards Iranamadu
area met with stiff L.T.T.E. resistance at around 7.30 pm on
Friday, the ministry said adding L.T.T.E. suffered heavy
casualties.

"Troops engaged artillery and heavy mortar fire
neutralising the L.T.T.E. resistance after hours of fighting
with L.T.T.E.," the defence ministry quoted sources as saying.

During subsequent search operations, troops recovered a
T-56 assault riffle, 01x light machine gun and an I-com set,
military sources said.

Similarly, fighting between troops and L.T.T.E. were
reported in general areas at Kalmadu and Kokavil in
Kilinochchi, while military claimed destroying an L.T.T.E.
bunker overhead at Kalmadu, in a swift raid conducted Friday
morning.

Security forces also inflicted casualties on L.T.T.E.
during clashes in Vilakkavetiikulam in Vavuniya Friday, the
Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said.

Fighting was also reported between Sri Lankan Security
Forces and the L.T.T.E. at Nagarkovil in Jaffna, the M.C.N.S.
said adding that the tiger rebels sustained heavy casualties.

Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda
visited the Northern Naval Area yesterday to commend the
members of the elite Fast Attack Craft Squadron (F.A.C.) and
Harbour Defence Unit for thwarting the L.T.T.E. suicide attack
to destroy the two Merchant Vessels, 'MV Nimalawa' and 'MV
Ruhunu' on Wednesday, the Navy said.

The Navy Commander inspected the cargo unloading process
of MV Nimalawa and MV Ruhunu, which were carrying essential
cargo to Jaffna.

He also ascertained the harbour operations in the North
after the successful repulsion of the attempted L.T.T.E.
suicide attacks on the two merchant vessels, the Sri Lankan
Navy said in a statement.

Karannagoda appreciated the efforts of the personnel
involved in expediting the unloading process of the cargo on
the two merchant vessels, it said. PTI