Kebitigollewa II: Dealth-toll Rising

15 civilians were killed and 23 other injured in an LTTE claymore attack at Abimanapura, 14km off Kebitigollewa around 8.15 this evening. The death toll is expected to rise to 23. Abimanapura is situated on the Kebitigollewa-Padaviya Road. The bus was plying from Anuradhapura to Janakapura.This was the second such attack in the area and both attacks were made at 8.15 in the morning.

On 15th June 2006, 69 civilians, including 15 children, were killed and over 90 others were injured when a state-run passenger bus carrying 150 passengers was destroyed in a twin side-charger claymore mine explosion in the Anuradhapura district. The Government's spokesperson on security issues, Keheliya Rambukwella, blamed the LTTE for the attack saying, "There is no iota of doubt that it is the LTTE." The United States' department of State condemning the attack said that the attack 'bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam'. The LTTE denied its involvement and blamed the Government for the attack.

Three days later on June 18, three police personnel were killed in a LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion targeting a bowser carrying water to Dutuwewa Police station on the Vavuniya- Kebithigollewa road. In this attack, a group of LTTE cadres infiltrated government areas from a place called 'Gona Mariyawa'. This area is uninhabited.

Kebithigollewa has 103 villages and a population of 20,762 representing 5,879 families. It is traditionally a farming area but prolonged periods of drought have forced many of the men to seek employment elsewhere. The women have been forced to seek work as unskilled labourers. More than 80% of the families live on an income of less than one euro a day. There are 27 primary and secondary schools in the area. The standard of education in Kebithigollewa is comparatively low.

Yala: One Tiger Body Recovered

Sri Lanka Army Commandos have recovered a dead body of an LTTE cadre killed in last evening's confrontation at Sector 2 Yala. Four more cadres are believed to have been injured in the same attack. Meanwhile another Commando Team and Regular Infantry started combing the area last evening, looking for the remaining members of the 12-man team. Blood trails of the injured Tigers are guiding the Commandos engaged in the pursuit. Meanwhile the Army estimates at least 5 'Field Commanders' of the LTTE may have been killed during recent clashes in the Wanni. Troops are engaging the Tigers intermittently in Kilali, Nagarkovil, Mullikulam, Vilattikulam, Periyathampanai etc.