Heavy casualties to both sides at Sempankundu Villu

Heavy fighting was reported last evening between the Sri Lanka Army's 58 Division and the LTTE at Sempankundu Villu. Reports indicated 30 Sri Lanka Army dead and another 50 injured in this fight as troops edged to within 2.5kms of the Pooneryn-Paranthan road.

The firefight occurred in open terrain and 11 SLLI troops fought against defended LTTE positions killing at least 30 cadres. LTTE supremo has appointed Stanley, a field commander that served under Karuna who is also a Jeyanthan 'Brigade' Cadre and a group of LTTE 'Commandos' from Batticaloa to guard this area from the Army.

Stanley was heard informing his cadres that this fight was a do-or-die situation that could either make or break the LTTE. But 58 Division Commanders were confident of reaching the Pooneryn-Paranthan road within the next 7 days.

Meanwhile troops of the 59 Division today captured the strategically important village of Kumulamunai situated in the general area northwest of Nayaru. From Kumulamunai, the buildup areas begin and span all the way upto Mulaitivu Town. The drawbacks of fighting in a buildup area is the limited artillery support. But the Army is glad to leave the jungle behind them as the Malaria season draws near.

It is likely that the 59 Division will now march eastwards to Alampil and then to Mulaitivu--a 13km journey. The LTTE still uses Alampil for sea Tiger activities. The advantages of fighting in a buildup area is that the Army now has access to an elaborate network of roads. As a result, the mobility of the 59 will increase drastically. It is also difficult for the LTTE to bury large numbers of mines and booby traps in buildup areas, like they did inside the jungles.