SL denies LTTE's claim of overrunning army camps

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Colombo, Aug 2: The government of Sri Lanka today denied pro-LTTE media reports that the Tamil Tiger rebels have overrun a key army camp in the Eastern Trincomalee district and claimed that fierce rebel attacks on the strategic camp have been repulsed, killing over 40 rebels and wounding 70 more.

''The Sri Lankan Security Forces totally deny the report carried by a pro-Tiger website to the effect that Tiger terrorists have overrun the Sri Lankan Army camp in Kaddaiparichchan and they have advanced one Km inside the Muttur town and also that Ghandinagar and Palathoppur areas have come under Tiger control,'' the National Security Media Center said.

Claiming that ''the above mentioned three locations are under full control of the Sri Lanka Army'', the National Security Media Center said that the LTTE fired a large volley of mortar and artillery shells targeting naval detachment in Muttur.

According to the media center report, five security force personnel were killed and 24 more wounded during pre-dawn attack of the LTTE.

It said that one civilian was also killed and ten more wounded during the shelling.

Heavy artillery and mortar fire were directed at Kaddaiparichchan, Palathoppu, Panchanoor and Mahindapura camps in the Trincomalee district after the LTTE attack on the Trincomalee harbour yesterday.

The government denial has come hours after the pro-LTTE Tamilnet website claimed that the fighting formations of the LTTE had overrun the Kaddaiparichchan the biggest of the four camps that came under attack and was moving into the government-held Muttur areas.

''The Tigers overran Kaddaiparichchan Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located nearly 800 meters from LTTE's Sampoor Forward Defence Line (FDL) and advanced 1 Km inside SLA held Muttur town,'' the Tamilnet report said.

The rebel firing started around 2 am local time and continued well into mid morning, residents told UNI over telephone, adding that the shelling and aerial bombardments are still under way. At least 20 people with injuries had been admitted to the Trincomalee hospital, hospital sources said.

Analysts said that the Tigers were attempting to divert the military's attention elsewhere and curb the military from providing reinforcements to supplement the Sri Lanka Army's advance in the eastern province to capture the Verugal Aru sluice gates closed down by the LTTE.

The Army advance towards Verugal in the Trincomalee district began Sunday as they sought to dislodge the LTTE rebels who had closed down the sluice gate of the Verugal river since 20 July.

The government blamed the LTTE of depriving water to some 15,000 families in the Verugal area by closing down the sluice gates and said the military advance was purely aimed at securing the release of water to civilians living in government controlled territory.

UNI

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