Tigers shoot civilians in Puliyankulam

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

One civilian was killed and 13 were injured during the wee hours of yesterday, due to a LTTE grenade attack and shooting at Puliyankulam in Vavuniya, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. "They were civilians who escaped from the uncleared areas few days ago and were transferred to the Government welfare centres in Vavuniya" Brig. Nanayakkara added. The injured are treated at the Vavuniya Hospital, the source added.

Amidst heavy resistance from the LTTE thousands of people are still reaching the liberated areas escaping from the clutches of Tigers.

On February 12 the Army declared a new safe zone East of Nanthikadal lagoon, a 12-kilometre stretch from Putumattalan, in South of Chalai towards Vellamullavaikkal.

The International Red Cross has managed to bring in 356 civilians in the first mission and 403 in the second conducted last week, reports available with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) stated.

Around approximately 35,000 Internally Displaced Sri Lankans (IDSLs) are in Vavuniya and Jaffna welfare centres, Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services said. Around 29,000 IDSLs were taken to 13 welfare centres in Vavuniya.