Elite units kick in

Operating independently as the Commander's Reserve, the elite units of the Sri Lanka Army have added fresh impetus to the fighting in the North as of late. On the 11th and 12th of this month (Friday and Saturday), The Sri Lanka Army's Special Forces successfully ambushed an LTTE Tractor and Double-cab respectively in the general area west of Weli Oya.

The double-cab was part of an LTTE leader's security detail, but the leader was missing during the attack. The tractor, however, was full of reinforcements and vital ordnance for LTTE units in the Nayaru sector.

Last Thursday and yesterday, three 4-man teams of elite Commandos (2CR) crept into areas south of Veduthalthivu and launched a daring, face to face combat operation killing over two dozen experienced LTTE cadres from the Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian Regiments.

The battle that lasted the better half of that day culminated with the induction by the LTTE of 200 of its own 'elite' units to which 2 Commando Regiment also responded by adding another three 4-man teams. Four Commandos laid down their lives in this operation.

Yesterday, an 8-man team of Commandos crept into an LTTE bunker-line east of Veduthalthivu and launched another devastating attack on Tigers. Commandos brought back 5 bodies of Tigers from the scene.

Commando operations in the Mannar sector is being conducted under the direct supervision of Brigadier Shavendra Silva who is the Brigade Commander of the Unit.