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Sri Lanka: high-profile LTTE hideout bombed

COLOMBO: The Air Force on Wednesday claimed to have “launched successive air-strikes on key LTTE locations” in Kilinochchi and Mullathivu, including a “high-profile” hideout in the Vattakachchi area, which is frequented by the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabakaran.

An LTTE statement acknowledged the air raid. However, it alleged the raid injured civilians and destroyed houses and shops.

This is not for the first time the Air Force has bombed a location frequented by Prabakaran. A few months ago, in the face of persistent denial by the LTTE, the government said Prabakaran was injured in one such air raid. Air Force spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara said the target had been identified as an LTTE hideout and was engaged on real-time information received of the “presence of a key LTTE figure.”

“This is a site most frequented by the terror chief and LTTE is expected to remain tight-lipped on the casualty figures. Heavy traffic in enemy communication circuits was experienced immediately after the attack and subsequently had died out, maintaining silence over the circuits, said sources citing LTTE electronic emission and radio monitoring reports,” said the Defence Ministry.The LTTE, in a statement posted on its website, said three civilians were injured and were taken to Kilinochchi Hospital.

The Air Force further added the raids also targeted an LTTE “ammo and arms storage” north of Udayarkattukulama, in Mullaittivu. Separately, the military claimed forward deployed forces on all three battlefronts in the Wanni theatre have stepped up their operations. It said LTTE cadre were building new defences to delay the soldiers from marching towards Kilinochchi. Heavy clashes had broken out in Akkarayankulam since Monday as the Army’s 57 Division troops pounded LTTE field fortifications. At least 37 LTTE cadre were killed and 39 others were injured, said the military.

Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) condemned what it termed as indiscriminate bombardment of civilian area in Vattakachchi. In a statement, the TNA alleged that the Air Force dropped bombs on a densely populated settlement of internally displaced persons. In a related development, a number of civil society representatives expressed concern over the directive to the UN and other aid agencies to move out of LTTE-held territory.

Civil society organisations said this decision was unfortunate as it comes at a time when the need for their services is greater than ever.

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