Tigers advancing towards Kilali

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO, MAY 2. A key Army base in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula has come under threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), following its advances towards Kilali, 24 km from Jaffna town.

In addition, the presence of the Tigers on the southeastern Jaffna coast also raises the possibility of a further advance towards the northern port town of Point Pedro, which could bring the northern Palaly airbase under threat.

The twin threats also place the situation of thousands of Sri Lankan troops, estimated to be a maximum of four divisions, under threat. After the Elephant Pass pullout the Government had redeployed the troops in other sectors of Jaffna. With telecommunications to northern Jaffna remaining severed since mid-April, there is no information about the condition of an estimated five lakh civilians in the peninsula.

The LTTE's moves come as the most serious advance after the overrunning of the Elephant Pass military complex on April 22.

The Tigers had claimed control over Soranpattu and Pallai on the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 Highway two days ago before advancing towards Kilali, on the southern coast of the Jaffna lagoon. The threat to the Kilali base, which includes a naval detachment, is significant in that the base defends Jaffna's southern coast from movements of the rebels from the mainland into Jaffna.

Also, the presence and possible consolidation of the Tigers at the Nagar Kovil theatre, on the southeastern side, opens up the option of a strike towards the northern port town of Point Pedro.

Access to the Point Pedro area would give the LTTE a complete run on the eastern arm of the peninsula as well as provide them the twin advantage of bringing Sri Lankan Navy as well as the Air Base in Palaly under artillery threat. Prior to the Elephant Pass runover, the Tigers had consolidated on the south-eastern arm of the peninsula and were poised for a consolidation of the positions up to Point Pedro.

There has been no comment from the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on today's fighting.

Chandrika meets Ranil

The drastic military reversals have resulted in a meeting between the Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, in Colombo today.

During the one-hour meeting, the Opposition Leader was briefed about the ``critical'' situation on the military front, officials said, adding that no discussions were held on the possibilities of an external involvement.

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