Fresh battles in north

Government troops yesterday launched a fresh offensive against Tiger guerrillas in Muhamalai to capture rebel-controlled areas and neutralize mortar and artillery positions, military sources said.

At least 27 soldiers were killed and 113 injured as the army backed by air support advanced into LTTE-held areas, taking control of the first forward defence lines held by LTTE at Muhamalai, they said.

Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the offensive was launched after the LTTE continued to fire artillery and mortars towards the army forward defence lines at Muhamalai, the gateway to Jaffna peninsula through the Wanni.
The offensive launched from three locations was aimed at neutralizing the LTTE’s artillery and mortar positions, the military sources said.

There were no details about LTTE casualties.

Fresh fighting is likely to further delay the reopening of the A-9 road, leading to the Jaffna peninsula, the military sources said.

Minister Rambukwella responding to demands by the LTTE that the security forces should withdraw from Sampur or face a full-scale war, said the army would not withdraw from the strategic area.

He said control of Sampur was essential to ensure the security of the vital Trincomalee port and the adjoining Navy base. Thus the army had taken over the area and would remain there.

Meanwhile the A-9 road has remained closed for the past four weeks, severely curtailing the flow of food and essential items to the Wanni and the Jaffna peninsula. The shortage of food has resulted in prices of food items drastically increasing. Sugar has shot up to Rs. 200 a kilogram and rice prices to Rs. 60 a kilo.

The government on Wednesday dispatched the second shipment of food and medicine with 3,800 metric tons of food for the Jaffna peninsula. The unloading of the food was taking place yesterday.

However residents in the area said that due to the closure of the A9, severe shortages of food and essential items were reported with long queues outside retail shops.

Essential Services Commissioner D.S. Divaratne said 400 lorries loaded with food items have been dispatched to the uncleared areas.