Army advances 1km in Muhamalai, Kilali

After holding the LTTE's 1st FDL for the last 3 days the SLA today officially declared it had taken control of the 1st Muhamalai and Kilali LTTE FDL. The SLA increased skirmished into the LTTE FDL for the last three to five days gaging and gradually working away at the LTTE's resistance until finally holding onto the newly captured 800m to 1km area by today morning.

Casualties to both sides are high with the SLA suffering around 300 casualties, including those killed and the walking wounded. Casualties to the LTTE could be less. The narrow corridor of terrain makes it difficult for either side to advance, but the objective of this latest venture into LTTE areas seems to be to force the Tigers concentrated defenses away from the 58 Division, which is now 6km west of Paranthan.