Northern Theatre Heating Up

Image: Hartal called by 'PLOTE Kannan' in Vavuniya on yesterday.

by Defencewire

(February 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Sri Lanka Army launched an attack on the LTTE FDL in Kilali and Nagarkovil early this morning. Infantry and Main Battle Tanks (MBT) from the newly formed Mechanized Infantry Regiment, backed by artillery and Mi-24 helicopter gunships launched this coordinated attack.

Official sources indicated that troops have caused serious damage to the LTTE 1st FDL in Kilali, Nagarkovil, and areas north of A-9 and that 12 LTTE cadres have been killed in the attack. The Tigers had rebuilt parts of the FDL damaged in a pre-dawn attack by the SLA on the 30th. Tiger cadres retreating from today's attack have carried the bodies of their fallen comrades. The SLA does not collect Tiger corpses in this area due to logistical problems in delivering them to ICRC. Five soldiers with serious injuries were taken to Army Hospital Palaly.

Meanwhile a Hartal called by 'PLOTE Kannan' in Vavuniya, under the auspices of the Army, has had major success. Vavuniya Town was completely desolate today. Private enterprises, government offices, public transportation all ground to a halt.The Hartal was declared as a protest against the Thachanamarandamadu, Colombo Fort, Dambulla and Weli Oya bomb blasts targeting civilians. The organizers of the hartal and citizen groups put up hand-written posters at public places condemning the attacks.