M A I N   N E W S

Land route to Jaffna ‘with LTTE’

COLOMBO, April 23 (UNI) — The Sri Lankan army today said it had “relocated’’ its defence lines north of Elephant Pass, raising speculation it lost control of the crucial land route to the Jaffna peninsula.

The LTTE said yesterday they had overrun Elephant Pass after storming nearby Yakachchi camp. Also, according to the rebels, more than 1,000 Sri Lankan troops were killed in yesterday’s “action’’.

“LTTE fighters are now in full control of the Yakachchi-Elephant Pass sector and have amassed a huge haul of heavy weapons, ammunition and military vehicles,’’ the rebels said.

“The fall of this crucial base...will facilitate the LTTE to gain its strategic goal of liberating Jaffna.’’

But the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Defence said today 79 security personnel, including seven officers, were killed and 625 troops injured in the latest fighting (according to PTI, 128 soldiers have been killed since yesterday).

While relocating the defence lines to ensure the security of the Jaffna peninsula, the security forces redeployed most of their weapons and vehicles. But some of the military equipment that could not be moved were made “unserviceable’’ to prevent the enemy from using them, the defence statement claimed.

Fighting was continuing in general areas of Soranpattu, Settikadu and Massar and the Sri Lankan air force was engaged in identifying terrorist targets, it added.

According to the defence statement, at least 12 rebels were killed this morning.

Meanwhile, the opposition United National Party (UNP) demanded an emergency session of Parliament to discuss what it called the military debacle in the north.