A game of wits from Mannar to Weli Oya

Troops operating in Elanthivaan in Mannar have managed to kill 26 LTTE cadres on Monday. LTTE radio communications monitored last evening confirmed that 26 Tigers, mostly females were killed in the attack.

The incident took place on 10th morning when experienced SLA units tricked a platoon of new LTTE recruits to return to their defences (8 bunkers) after they ran away fearing an early morning limited operation in the same area, leaving behind IEDs targeting SLA troops.

The Tigers have developed a habit of going into hiding as soon as an SLA team moves in. More experienced cadres have booby trapped the footpaths to protect the new recruits. The Army has countered this tactic by defusing the IEDs and using the same against the Tigers who eventually return to the same location due to a lack of experience. One soldier was also killed in the fight.

Troops are now in control of almost all the main roads leading upto Adampan in Mannar south, West and East. Troops from the 582 Brigade are now in control of Chettikulam on the Manthai-Adampan road. The 581 brigade heading west towards Madhu have captured Puliyankulam- 40 miles from Puliyankulam proper on A-9 MSR. The A9 Main Supply Route (MSR) heads north from Omanthai to Puliyankulam proper and from there to Kilinochchi via Kanakaraayankulam and Kokaavil.

Meanwhile the 59 division (five nine) today killed four Tigers in the general area Weli Oya, Janakapura. They also recovered 101 Anti-Personnel mines from Kokkuthuduwai. The 59 Division has been attacking all elite regiments of the LTTE, including Ratha Regiment, which has lost a large number of cadres in the last few weeks. The Malathi Regiment has withdrawn a large number of its cadres from the Weli Oya front and redeployed them in the Northern FDL.