According to reports received, at least 15 terrorists were killed and 8 wounded in the fresh round of clashes erupted ahead of LTTE defences in Mannar at 9.15.a.m. Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships provided air cover to ground troops, while continuously raiding identified LTTE bunker defences, security sources said. Ground troops confirmed that 8 LTTE bunkers were destroyed in simultaneous air and ground assaults.

Meanwhile, intercepted LTTE communication has revealed that 10 terrorists were killed and 8 seriously wounded during confrontations in Mannar defences on Saturday.

Two soldiers have laid their lives while 4 others were wounded during the advance, security sources said. The number of LTTE terrorists killed and injured due to the on going operations at Mannar is on the rise, the sources further said.

During clashes at Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya fronts yesterday (7), 31 terrorists were killed in confrontations with SLA while a soldier was killed in action, military sources reported. According to reports received 14 soldiers and 3 terrorists' sustained injuries in yesterday's confrontations.

Meanwhile, SLA made preparations to handover bodies of two LTTE cadres killed in separate skirmishes at Vavuniya and Welioya.

Courtesy - Sri Lanka Defence