by Norman Palihawadena
The LTTE on Wednesday night directed artillery
fire towards the Mavil Aru from the Verugal Aru in a bid to
recapture the sluice, Defence spokesman Minister Kheliya
Rambukwella said yesterday.
One soldier was killed and 15 others were
injured in the attack. The artillery fire was directed from a
distance of about nine miles.
Rambukwella said that under no circumstances
would the Mavil Aru be allowed to fall into LTTE hands again as
it irrigates about 30,000 acres of paddy land and is the main
source of water supply for about 15,000 families.
The Tigers renewing attacks on Mavil Aru is an
indication that they have suffered heavy military defeats and
are now aiming at civilian targets, the Minister said
Soldiers stationed at Mavil Aru responded with
artillery fire towards Verugal Aru and Air Force jets conducted
surveillance flights to spot the Tigers’ artillery positions
before embarking on destroying them.
