SLA troopers feared killed in Thenmaraadchi artillery exchange

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 July 2007, 14:49 GMT]
Several Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are feared killed and many
injured during sustained exchanges of artillery fire across
Thenmaraadchi Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) between the Liberation
Tigers and the SLA during Thursday, Friday and Saturday, informed
sources in Jaffna said. Sri Lanka Military has not officially released
casualty figures but sources said many bodies have been transferred
from Palaali to Colombo during the three days, and several troops have
been admitted to the Palaali Military hospital.

SLA casualties were caused by several LTTE fired artillery shells
falling within central locations within SLA camps in Ezhuthumadduvaal,
Usan and Mirusuvil, according to sources.

Meanwhile, reports from Jaffna say Sri Lanka Military is conducting
war exercises on the eastern side of Palaali High Security Zone (HSZ).
Sounds of explosions and gunfire were heard near areas surrounding
Thondamaanaaru and Vazhalaai from early morning 1:00 a.m. for more
than an hour according to reliable sources.

Sri Lanka Palaali command had ordered electricity cut-off to Jaffna
peninsula for nearly three hours during the war-exercise, residents
there said.

Further, SLA construction crew are making urgent rehabilitation of the
Thondamannaar bridge to facilitate easy movement of military hardware
to eastern front lines from Palaali, sources in Jaffna said. The
bridge that passes over Thondamannaar lagoon was destroyed during 1987
SLA offensives preventing easy access to Palaali and Vazhalaai areas
from the eastern side of the Peninsula from Valvettiththurai to Point-
Pedro and eastern shores.

The bridge will enable SLA to transport military hardware to eastern
FDLs directly via the northern coastal road from Thondamannaaru to
Valvettiturai, Point-Pedro.

Without the bridge, the SLA is forced to use the circuitous route from
Naakarkoayil, Manthikai, Nelliyadi, Karaveddi, Vallai, Atchuvealy to
reach Palalali.