Continuous losses to LTTE; 14 terrorists killed

More than 14 LTTE terrorists were killed and 12 sustained injuries as the security forces advancing further in Mannar front to consolidate defences in recently liberated Parappkandal area yesterday, January 9, defence sources said.

Security forces confronted with a group of LTTE cadres at Parappakandala while the troops engaged in consolidating operations in recently liberated areas yesterday. An LTTE group comprising 30 - 40 terrorists was detected and has launched a massive assault at them causing heavy damages to the enemy around 1.50 p.m, ground sources said. More than 8 terrorists were killed while 12 received injuries due to the confrontation, ground sources further confirmed. Four army personnel also sustained injuries, defence sources added.

Meanwhile, 4 LTTE cadres were killed in a separate confrontation erupted in the Parappakandal area yesterday, January 9. According to the defence sources the confrontation occurred at 8.45 a.m. and a body of slain LTTE cadre along with the dog tag was found in a subsequent search.

Separately, Army snipers gunned down two LTTE cadres manned in the LTTE defences at Narikkulam in Mannar yesterday, defence sources in Wanni said.

Senior LTTE leader Shankar gunned down by STF

Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel gunned down an area leader of LTTE terrorists at Saukade in Batticaloa this afternoon (January 9), defence sources said. Terrorist leader in charge of Batticaloa district, Shankar was killed in the shooting incident that occurred around 12.45.p.m, sources added.

The incident occurred when the police commandos acting on civilian information were engaged in a cordon and search operation in the area. The STF personnel have shot the terrorist leader when he had attempted to escape the cordon throwing a hand grenade. No STF casualties have been reported due to the explosion of the hand grenade.

STF has found one micro pistol with nine rounds and one hand grenade in the possession of the slain LTTE leader.

According to defence intelligence sources, Shankar was the person behind all the terrorist activities that were carried out by LTTE after the security forces liberated the Eastern Province.

Blast near Lake house

An explosion has taken place next to the Regent flats, close to Lake House roundabout, short while ago. According to the news-lanka sources, the bomb has been exploded in a public phone booth this evening (January 08) at around 7.50.p.m.

One man sustained minor injuries in the blast that shook the area close to Lake House a short while ago. The explosive devise was said to have been placed in a Phone booth.

Ten terrorists killed

At least ten terrorists were killed in clashes today (January 08) ahead of the Wanni defences, when troops forced into non-liberated territory at Mullikulama and Periyathampanae.The strikes were launched as effective response measures to LTTE elements, in keeping with the government's intention to salvage entrapped Tamil civilians from the grip of the terrorist outfit, Army said.

Meanwhile, Air force said, precision aerial raids were conducted at a pre-identified LTTE nerve center located North of Palampiddi, Mullikulama, this morning at 9.20.

Pilots confirmed that the LTTE base was destroyed following the attack. Terrorist casualty figures were not immediately available, sources further added.

Minister D.M Dassanayake succumbs

Non-cabinet Nation Building Minister, D.M Dassanayake succumbed to injuries short while ago at the Ragama Teaching Hospital, hospital sources said.

Speaking to defence.lk, the Deputy Director of the Ragama Teaching Hospital said, the Minister sustained severe injuries due to the claymore explosion and he succumbed around 12.25 p.m while being treated at Intensive Care Unit at Ragama hospital.

Claymore explosion

A claymore bomb has been triggered off targeting a VIP motorcade carrying a non-cabinet minister of Nation Building, D.M Dassanayake, at Ja-Ela around 10.35 this morning, January 08.

According to the available information the motorcade was plying towards Colombo along the Negombo - Colombo (A-3) main road when the explosion occurred near the Rukmani Devi junction, defence sources said.