Border villages in Monaragala district threatened by LTTE activity

File Photo: Children from Kiriwewa, Sevanagala, Monaragala District, Sri Lanka

by Defencenet

(December, 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is now a well known fact that a group of LTTE cadres managed to infiltrate into Yala sanctuary after their bases in Vakarai region fell to the SLA's Special Forces. Although warnings of their presence in the region had been issued by both civilian and Military intelligence sources for a while, real countermeasures began only after the LTTE raid on Thalgasmankada Army camp. Massive search operations that continued for a number of days were followed by a firefight near Panama.

Military intelligence has now reported that after this firefight, LTTE cadres have fled towards Kotiyagala which is situated north of Yala. This area is surrounded by dense jungle terrain, effectively aiding LTTE's guerilla operations. Although this latest move minimizes the risk of LTTE attacks on border villages in the southern province, is poses a new threat to the villages in the Monaragala district. LTTE operatives can easily launch small scale hit and run attacks on border villages in the Monaragala district from the jungles in Kotiyagala. It is needless to say that if such events occurred they would seriously affect the day to day life of the entire district.