Mankerni defended; Terrorist purged 5km in to un-liberated areas

Sri Lanka News

The security forces successfully defended their Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Mankaerni and Kadjuwatte against the enemy infiltration attempt made since the Friday morning. The security forces have completed their clearing operations yesterday (Saturday the 7th of October) and are now engaged in consolidating there defences in the area.

The debriefing reports of the operation says that the security forces have flushed out the terrorist at least 5km behind the enemy defences during the own retaliatory attack.

According to the reports 13 soldiers made their supreme sacrifice at the battle field. Earlier it was said that two soldiers were killed and twelve others were reported missing.

Meanwhile the LTTE has clamed nine bodies of slain soldiers in its possession and a wounded soldier in its custody.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said last night that the ICRC had so far refused to go to Vakarai despite a request by the security forces to facilitate the transfer of nine bodies of the soldiers who were killed in the Friday battle in Mankerni

Army has also informed the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission of the arrest of Pvt Ratnayake and requested SLMM facilitation to secure his release.

"We are trying our level best to secure the release of the soldier and transfer the nine bodies," said Brigadier Samarasinghe.

It is believed over 50 LTTE cadres were killed in the security forces retaliation. Military officials in the field said advancing troops also saw over 40 bodies of the fallen LTTE fighters, most of them lying close to the security forces forward defence lines.

Twelve bodies of LTTE cadres were yesterday transferred to the Valachchenai Hospital and were expected to be handed over to the LTTE through the ICRC.

Radio transmission among the LTTE units overheard revealed that twenty more LTTE cadres were killed in the Naval attack on five LTTE boats bringing reinforcement to the LTTE in Mankerni. Three boats were also destroyed in the attack.

Meanwhile, un confirmed reports obtained by the intelligence sources revealed the Karuna faction had overrun LTTE positions in Kadiramulla Kulam, 10 km west of Vakarai.

According to the reports, over 40 LTTE cadres were killed in the clash. Five Karuna fighters were killed and 18 wounded.