LTTE terrorist yesterday (May 18) made an abortive attempt to halt the army advance on the Mannar front by attacking the Nadunkandal army deployments.

According to military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara the terrorist launched heavy mortar fire around 1.40 pm. One soldier was killed in this incident. Later, the terrorists attacked the army defence around 3 pm. Troops gave an effective retaliation killing 11 terrorists and forcing the others to withdraw, he said. 4 soldiers suffered injuries in this incident, he added.

The terrorist again made an attempt to capture the Nadunkandal army defence around 5.45 pm but failed in the face of army counter offensive, Brigadier Nanayakkara further said. During this incident which was lasted for more than one hour 21 terrorists reported to have killed and 12 other suffered injuries. Also, 5 soldiers were killed in action and 3 suffered injuries, he added.

Meanwhile in a separate incident, army attacked and captured an LTTE bunker defence in the Karukkandal area around 6, last morning. 7 terrorists reported to have killed in this incident while 4 soldiers were killed 3 went on missing and 4 suffered injuries.

At Alankulma , troops reported to have killed one terrorist in a confrontation occurred around 2.20 pm .

Limited counter terror offensives are being continued.