Tigers raid SLA camp, checkposts on A-15 road in Batticaloa

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched heavy artillery shelling on Sri Lanka Army camps located in Morakkoddanchenai and Mavadivembu, and on the checkposts along Trincomalee Batticaloa A-15 road in a pre-dawn attack inflicting damage to the SLA positions in the area north of Batticaloa. LTTE fighters raided at least one SLA camp, located at Mavadivembu, according to initial reports. SLA sources claimed to have located 8 bodies of LTTE fighters after the raid which lasted for more than 2 hours. At least 4 SLA troopers were killed and 8 SLA troopers were seriously wounded in LTTE shelling that started around 12:45 a.m. The LTTE is yet to release details about the attack.
Two civilians, Kathamuthu Marimuthu, 54, Soudararajah Saraswathy, 42, were killed in retaliatory fire by the Sri Lanka Army.

A SLA mini camp in Mavadivembu was almost destroyed in the raid and the Morakkoddanchenai SLA base sustained significant damage due to heavy artillery firing.

LTTE artillery fire also targeted Kommathurai and Chenkalady Black Brdige SLA camps, south of Mavadivembu and Murakkoddanchenai and Kumpurumoolai in the north along the A15 road Main Supply Route (MSR) of the Sri Lanka Army.

SLA troopers fired mortars and artillery shells into SLA controlled areas infiltrated by the LTTE fighters who came in small groups, according to Sri Lankan military sources.

28 civilians, sustained wounds in shelling, were admitted at Batticaloa hospital, according to M. Muruganantham medical officer at the hospital.

All traffic between Valaichenai and Chenkalady has been stopped.