Fighting rages south of Kilinochchi

(October 20, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Heavy fighting erupted between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today and yesterday when SLA forces moved further into LTTE territory south west of Kilinochchi. Troops from the 57 division have captured large parts of the LTTE built earth bund at Akkarayankulam, overrunning 19 bunkers in the process. Meanwhile 58 division units were able to gain control of Vennerikulam region, including the Vennerikulam tank, amidst heavy LTTE resistance today. However fighting is still going on in north east of Vennerikulam and Adampanmoddai where small groups of LTTE fighters are still at large. On the Mullaithivu front the 59 division units at Andankulam captured a 100m stretch of land ahead of their FDL.

Both parties have suffered heavy casualties in the renewed rounds of fighting with nearly 30 SLA soldiers being killed and around 140 being wounded in the past two days alone. Although the LTTE has not issued any official statement on casualties, their casualty figures are much higher as per intelligence reports. Similar bloody battles are expected as troops now seem to be mounting a full scale advance on de facto LTTE capital, Kilinochchi.

Meanwhile there is still no confirmation on whether Cheliyan was killed in the LRRP attack last week. What is confirmed is that a senior LTTE leader was killed along with two other cadres. No precise intel has been gathered on the identity of the senior leader so far.
-DefenceNet Report - Sri Lanka Guardian