Over 1,500 cross over to cleared areas

Over 1,500 civilians who were forcibly held by the LTTE terrorists, crossed over to the cleared areas yesterday.

Troops advancing further into the No Fire Zone amidst heavy resistance by the LTTE, yesterday, rescued over 650 civilians while the Sri Lanka Navy freed over 300 people who were fleeing the area by boats.

According to Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, 174 of 528 civilians evacuated by the Green Ocean ship yesterday were patients. They were directed to hospitals along with their bystanders.

He said over 15 civilians including four injured arrived in the cleared areas yesterday. “The troops have detected that the LTTE is using heavy weapons to target advancing troops. Our radar system has effectively detected the LTTE using heavy weapons to delay the advance of troops.”

The LTTE’s attempt to attack 58 Division troops were repulsed yesterday. “The terrorists in three boats attacked the troops of 58 Division. The troops repulsed the attacks inflicting heavy damages to their boats, Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

He said three child soldiers between 16 and 17 surrendered to the Security Forces yesterday. These child soldiers were deployed in the front defence line under the close supervision of senior LTTE cadres. “However they managed to arrive at the cleared areas while the senior LTTE cadres were asleep,” Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

These child soldiers have said that they were forcibly deployed to man bunkers in the front line by the LTTE which is facing a severe shortage of cadres. Heavy fighting erupted when the troops of 6 Gajaba Regiment , 5 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment , 1 Sri Lanka Light Infantry and 17 Gemunu Watch in a concerted effort broke a number of defence lines of LTTE terrorists. The LTTE have laid land mines in the area to obstruct the Security Forces’ advance, sources said.