Sri Lanka: 13 SF Troopers were Killed within past 24 Hours

Manaar - The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan security forces (SF) clashed in many fronts in Mannar area as the SF troopers tried to advance into the LTTE held area using heavy tanks, artillery and mortars in Kaathankulam-Karuvankulam area.  At least 7 SF troopers were killed and at least 20 SF troopers were wounded within past twenty four hours, according rebel sources in Mannar.

Meanwhile, LTTE and SF also clashed in Manalaaru area, when SF tried to advance into the LTTE held area using heavy tanks, artillery and mortars and at least 2 SF troopers were killed and 1 SF trooper was wounded according to the military sources.

Vavuniya, Panicham kulam area, 2 SF troopers were killed as they stepped on pressure mines while 2 Special Task Forces of Sri Lanka (SFT) troopers were killed in a Claymore attack north of Anudranhapura.

Sri Lankan government early this year, unilaterally scrapped the truce pact which was signed between the LTTE and the GoSL in February 2002 under the Norway mediation. 

The civil war in Sri Lanka killed at least 80,000 people in which vast majority of them were ethnic Tamils while half a million Tamil people internally displaced and over million Tamil people externally displaced. At least 5,800 people have been killed in last two years alone, a right group said.