TNS CornerHeavy Clashes in Mannar, Sri Lanka, Rebels’ Aircraft seen over Trincomalee
Jul 14, 2007, 15:50

Colombo, The Sri Lankan Armed Forces (SLA) clashed with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mannar, Northwest of Sri Lanka. Heavy fighting ensued between rebels and the SLA as SLA moved into the rebels’ territory in two directions

16 soldiers dead and 45 others seriously wounded, 15 of the wounded soldiers were amputated according to the military sources. Military sources further said, they attacked the mortar position as their soldiers were forced to confront an apparent trap.

Meanwhile a rebel’ aircraft has been sighted what believed to be rebel’s training mission by the civilians and Sri Lankan forces as it flew over the costal area of Trincomalee according to the civilian sources. The Sri Lankan Navy also observed the air craft according the Sri Lankan Navy official.

The LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan warned early this week, peace was "not possible" with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, pouring cold water on international community hopes of halting a deadly new chapter in a two-decade civil war.” Our targets would be in the future major military and economic structures of the government of Sri Lanka," "They will targets which help the government sustain its military operations and military rule," he added.

Early last month, Northwest region seen worst fighting where over one hundreds soldiers were killed, many hundreds wounded and Sri Lankan military lost sizable military hardware to the LTTE including armored vehicles said military analyst.

Sri Lankan monks urged the government to continue its self claimed eastern victory march and completely defeat the LTTE, in a march in Colombo today.

Past 12 months of intense battles in the North and East between government and rebel forces will make the tireless efforts of the Royal Norwegian government much more difficult to sustain in coming days says observer in Colombo.

5000 people have been killed and 500,000 people are internally displaced in past 20 months of intense battles between SLA and LTTE.