29 September 1998


KILINOCHCHI ARMY POSITIONS FALL TO LTTE

After three days of fierce fighting the Sri Lankan military installations of Kilinochchi covering a distance of over 15 Kilometres have come under the full control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

A brigade command post, three medium size army camps and several mini-camps had been overwhelmed by the Tamil Tigers. This nodal Tamil town was captured by the Sinhala armed forces two years ago in three successive operations code-named Sathjeya 1, 2 and 3.

Hundreds of Sinhala soldiers are reported killed in the Kilinochchi debacle. Tanks, artillery and mortar pieces together with other military hardware belonging to the army had been destroyed. The losses are in the region of several million rupees.

The present LTTE attack for the recapture of the region is named 'Oyatha Alaigal 2' in Tamil which translates as 'Unceasing waves' in English. 'Oyatha Alaigal 1' was the name given to the Tamil Tiger's military operation for the capture of the huge Mullaitivu army base in July 1996.

The control of Kilinochchi was an asset to the Sinhala military as it lies on the Vavuniya-Jaffna highway. The Jeya Sikuru military operation for the opening of a main supply route is set back permanently.



(English translation of the news released by LTTE International Secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom. Tel:0181- 503 4294)