International   

40 Tigers killed in clashes: Colombo

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka military on Sunday claimed that at least 40 cadres of the LTTE were killed and scores of other Tigers injured in clashes with the security forces along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the past 24 hours.

A statement by the Defence Ministry said here that a soldier was also killed during a confrontation in the Muhamalai area, Jaffna. It said three cadres of the LTTE were killed by troops when they launched an attack in the Muhamalai area and destroyed a bunker.

It said that troops forced into LTTE defences at Adampan, south in Mannar, assisted by heavy artillery and multi barrel rocket (MBRL) fire and destroyed three LTTE bunkers. At least 19 LTTE cadres were seriously injured during the attack. In the clashes two soldiers were also wounded.

In clashes along the Wanni defences at Vavuniya and Welioya at least eight cadres of the LTTE were killed and three wounded, the Ministry said. Two LTTE cadres were killed in a confrontation with troops in general area of Parayanakulama, Vavuniya. Four other Tiger cadres were reported killed when troops advanced into LTTE defences ahead of Kiriibbanwewa at Welioya, in three separate incidents.

Separately, the final list of candidates for the Batticaloa municipal elections will be handed over to the Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake this week, according to the Assistant Election Commissioner for Batticaloa T. Krishnanandalingum.

Elections to the local bodies in Batticaloa district were postponed in 2004 due to the prevailing law and order situation. After the ouster of the LTTE from the east, the government is committed to holding elections to the local bodies as well as the eastern provincial council.

Reports from Batticaloa town suggest that tensions are running high and several incidents of pre-poll violence have been reported. Police have promised to provide security to candidates if they require.

Around 2,70,471 voters are registered in the district. There are 285 polling booths and nine will be for Internally Displaced People. The Batticaloa election office till Friday accepted 52 nominations that include 30 parties and 22 independent groups. There are six main parties contesting the election. Five candidates are from the UPFA, four candidates from the SLMC, eight from the TMVP, another four from the JSP and eight from the EDF. The National Congress (Athaullah Party) has only one candidate.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Indonesia declares week-long mourning
Key tunnel recaptured from militants, says Pakistan Army
40 Tigers killed in clashes: Colombo
Palestinian leader George Habash dead
Bangladesh bird flu situation alarming, says official
Egypt moves to close Gaza border
U.S. satellite may crash into Earth
India, Oman to promote ties

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu