Heavy fighting. 50 SLA KIA. 120 WIA

The total SLA KIA in four days of intense fighting in Akkarayan, Vannerikulam and Murikandi rose to 50 with another 120 soldiers injured, mostly walking wounded. The worst unit affected was 4 Sinha Regiment (4SR) under Lt. Col. Ravipriya, which suffered stiff resistance at Akkarayan north.

4 SR forms part of the 571 Brigade. A total of 29 bodies were captured by the Tigers in the fighting and these displayed to junior cadres and civilians in LTTE areas as a morale booster. The Brigade Commander of 571 and Battalion Commanders remained unmoved over the incident. But the 4SR maybe out of action for a while.

The Tigers have thrown all its firepower and experienced fighters at this unit, which has performed a yeoman service by supporting 571 from Madu to Uylankulam and now Akkarayan. It seems that several small teams from 4SR failed to link-up with the main body of the 571 during the confrontation and got surrounded and bogged down further by the terrain.

A Special Forces team on an LRRP mission was also detected north of Weli Oya today but managed to return to base safely this evening. LRRP units were on the trail of a top LTTE leader when they were detected.