60 killed in Sri Lanka as LTTE intensify attacks

State Radio here said that an ASP, three sub inspectors, 11 police constables and five villagers were killed when they were ambushed at Gravelkanda in Aralaganvila by the LTTE, which was fully resisting all attempts by the army to push rebels out of the Northern Jaffna peninsula.

Meanwhile, 39 LTTE rebels and a child were killed as the Sri Lankan army continued to advance into the small stretches of areas captured by the guerrillas in Northern Jaffna.

A defence release said here on Friday that the troops continued to advance into the Muhamalai area in Jaffna amid heavy resistance from the LTTE. Troops continued to engage the rebel positions with heavy artillery in which 14 rebels were killed and 50 to 60 others were wounded.

Seven soldiers of the army sustained injuries in Thursday’s battle, the defence ministry said adding that three rebel were killed and three others were wounded when troops fired artillery on the rebel positions at Arialai in the peninsula. 21 more rebels were killed in army attacks on LTTE positions at Nagar Kovil, Kattiratan and Kovilvayal areas on Thursday, it said.

Latest reports said that the fighting continued in several places in the peninsula where the army was attempting to push back over 1500 heavily armed LTTE guerrillas who managed to get a strong foothold at the beach heads on the eastern side of the peninsula and cut off a vital supply route to the army’s biggest garrison located in a narrow causeway at Elephant Pass.

The fighting broke out on April 26 when the LTTE launched a massive counter attacks to regain control of the peninsula.