25.6.2008

Troops engaged in counter terror offensives in the North yesterday (June 24) gave heavy beating to the terrorists on the battlefield. According to the military reports received from the battlefronts, 40 terrorists were killed, 17 others wounded, and 18 more were believed to be either killed or wounded. Also, 4 soldiers were killed and 14 others were wounded during these clashes.

In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops had several confrontations with the terrorists in the Elathumadduwal and Muhamalai areas last evening and claimed one terrorist killed. Two soldiers were also killed due to terror small arms fire at one of the incidents occurred in the Muhamalai area.

In the Wanni theatre of operations - Vavuniya front , troops pushing their forward defence had daylong clashes with the terrorists at several areas.

At Ilamaruthankulam troops attacked an LTTE bunker and a hut using small arms and RPG last morning and claimed 3 terrorists were killed and the bunker partially destroyed.

In the general area Periyamadhu , troops had two separate confrontations during morning hours . The first incident was reported around 8 am when troops confronted with a group of terrorists . Both ground sources and radio transmission confirmed 6 terrorists were killed and 3 others suffered injuries in this incident. Also, one soldier was killed and 3 others wounded. During the subsequent search, troops found 3 bodies of slain LTTE cadres along with three T-56 weapons and one radio communication set. A similar incident was reported around 11 am and troops claimed 2 terrorists were killed while own suffered no casualties. During the subsequent search, troops found one body of an LTTE cadre, one T-56 weapon, one radio set and a pouch.

In the Chiriddikulama area, troops attacked and captured two trench defences manned by LTTE terrorists around 10 am. Both ground sources and radio monitoring confirmed that 2 terrorists were killed and 2 others wounded. Meanwhile, one soldier suffered injuries due to an Anti Personnel (AP) mine explosion.

Troops engaged in clearing operations removed 20 AP mines and one improvised explosive device (IED).

On the Mannar front , troops reported have confronted with the terrorists in the Mullikkandal, Minnaniranchan and Marattikannaddi, and Morotondivan during the day and claimed that 21 terrorists were killed and 9 others wounded. Also, one soldier was killed and six others wounded during these clashes.

On the Welioya front , troops had daylong clashes in the North of Janakapura and North of Kiriibbanwewa areas and claimed 5 terrorists were killed , 3 wounded and 18 more were either killed or wounded. One soldier was injured due to an IED explosion in the North of Jankapura area last afternoon.

Limited offensives are continuing.