Heavy casualties and flooding of battle zones due to heavy rain has forced a pause in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operations in the north, specifically in north-western Mannar region.
Over 55 SLA soldiers were killed in heavy fighting between the SLA and the LTTE on Saturday, March 22 at Iththikkandal in Paalaikkuzhi, Mannar.
Around 120 SLA soldiers were wounded in the heavy fighting that lasted from 4:20 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. on Saturday in Paalaikkuzhi battlefront, according to the LTTE Operations Command in Mannar.
The fighting intensified as SLA captured some LTTE points in Paalaikkuzhi. The Tigers re-captured the points from the SLA and the fighting raged on as both the SLA and the LTTE were fighting for the control of the points.
Finally, at 5:00 p.m., the SLA was forced to retreat after 10 hours of fighting in which the SLA sustained heavy casualties.
On the same day, elite Black Sea Tigers, engaged in a confrontation with a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) fleet in the seas off Mullaiththeevu, attacked and sunk a SLN Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC).
At least 14 SLN sailors were killed in the clashes. LTTE announced that three Black Sea Tigers, Lt. Col. Anpumaran, Major Niranjani and Major Kaninila, were killed in action in the fighting that lasted for 45 minutes.
The SLN claimed that the FAC had hit a sea mine and was completely destroyed before it sank. Denying confrontations in the sea, the SLN said it had launched a search operation to locate the missing sailors.
The next day, on Sunday, 4 SLA soldiers were killed and 7 wounded at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa district, according to LTTE Vavuniyaa Operations Command. The fighting lasted for more than an hour.
Fighting was also reported on three fronts in the Northern Front at Kilaali, Naakarkoayil and Mukamaalai on Sunday. At least one SLA soldier was killed and several others were wounded when the Tigers counter attacked the SLA soldiers.
According to Sri Lankan military sources, other than the heavy casualties, another factor that is impeding operations is the flooding of battle zones in the northwest Mannar district.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara said the offensive against the Tigers was continuing, but flooding had caused supply bottlenecks.
"Rain has created problems with some of the bunkers filled with water," Nanyakkara told Reuters. "The movement of vehicles and supplies are restricted to main roads, although much of the fighting relies on ground troops," he said.
Heavy rains have also prevented the army using helicopter gunships against the LTTE, who were digging new fortifications along the frontlines of their northern strongholds, according to Sri Lankan news paper, Sunday Times.
Ground forces were also held up by knee-high floodwaters and marshlands, with only sporadic artillery and mortar fire.
The Sri Lankan military, which has been battling to break through LTTE defences in Vanni from three fronts, has had no significant gains in over eight months of continuous attempts.
With no significant shifts in forward defence lines, the Sri Lankan military has resorted to claiming wildly exaggerated casualties for LTTE to claim the upper hand in battles.
According to the Sri Lankan government, it has killed 2,343 Tigers since January against the loss of 136 of its own troops.
In the latest news release the military claimed clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Manal Aaru left at least 100 LTTE and five soldiers dead.
Over 55 SLA soldiers were killed in heavy fighting between the SLA and the LTTE on Saturday, March 22 at Iththikkandal in Paalaikkuzhi, Mannar.
Around 120 SLA soldiers were wounded in the heavy fighting that lasted from 4:20 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. on Saturday in Paalaikkuzhi battlefront, according to the LTTE Operations Command in Mannar.
The fighting intensified as SLA captured some LTTE points in Paalaikkuzhi. The Tigers re-captured the points from the SLA and the fighting raged on as both the SLA and the LTTE were fighting for the control of the points.
Finally, at 5:00 p.m., the SLA was forced to retreat after 10 hours of fighting in which the SLA sustained heavy casualties.
On the same day, elite Black Sea Tigers, engaged in a confrontation with a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) fleet in the seas off Mullaiththeevu, attacked and sunk a SLN Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC).
At least 14 SLN sailors were killed in the clashes. LTTE announced that three Black Sea Tigers, Lt. Col. Anpumaran, Major Niranjani and Major Kaninila, were killed in action in the fighting that lasted for 45 minutes.
The SLN claimed that the FAC had hit a sea mine and was completely destroyed before it sank. Denying confrontations in the sea, the SLN said it had launched a search operation to locate the missing sailors.
The next day, on Sunday, 4 SLA soldiers were killed and 7 wounded at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa district, according to LTTE Vavuniyaa Operations Command. The fighting lasted for more than an hour.
Fighting was also reported on three fronts in the Northern Front at Kilaali, Naakarkoayil and Mukamaalai on Sunday. At least one SLA soldier was killed and several others were wounded when the Tigers counter attacked the SLA soldiers.
According to Sri Lankan military sources, other than the heavy casualties, another factor that is impeding operations is the flooding of battle zones in the northwest Mannar district.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara said the offensive against the Tigers was continuing, but flooding had caused supply bottlenecks.
"Rain has created problems with some of the bunkers filled with water," Nanyakkara told Reuters. "The movement of vehicles and supplies are restricted to main roads, although much of the fighting relies on ground troops," he said.
Heavy rains have also prevented the army using helicopter gunships against the LTTE, who were digging new fortifications along the frontlines of their northern strongholds, according to Sri Lankan news paper, Sunday Times.
Ground forces were also held up by knee-high floodwaters and marshlands, with only sporadic artillery and mortar fire.
The Sri Lankan military, which has been battling to break through LTTE defences in Vanni from three fronts, has had no significant gains in over eight months of continuous attempts.
With no significant shifts in forward defence lines, the Sri Lankan military has resorted to claiming wildly exaggerated casualties for LTTE to claim the upper hand in battles.
According to the Sri Lankan government, it has killed 2,343 Tigers since January against the loss of 136 of its own troops.
In the latest news release the military claimed clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Manal Aaru left at least 100 LTTE and five soldiers dead.
