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Hundreds fleeing Vaharai, says Sri Lanka army

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Military, Tamil Tigers trade charges of artillery attack

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has claimed that over 2,700 civilians fled the Tiger controlled Vaharai area in the east on Saturday.

For several days now, the SLA and the LTTE have been engaged in fierce fighting for control of the east. Vaharai is one of the last points under control of the Tigers in the east and the SLA has said it was determined to oust the LTTE to ensure life free from danger to the people.

Last week several people who were fleeing the conflict zone died after three of their boats capsized in the rough seas. The incident prompted the United Nations to call for cessation of hostilities to enable safe passage to those trapped in the conflict zone.

A statement by the SLA said on Sunday that on Saturday 2,790 civilians escaped from the uncleared area of Vaharai to Riditenna and Vlachchenai. It said the total number of escapees, who were dismayed with the threats and harassment of Tigers is now 13,910 since November 1.

"Seven killed"

"Tiger terrorists attacked the Vaharai south and west with mortar to prevent the movement of civilians to cleared areas and to obstruct the road patrol by soldiers in the afternoon. No damage to troops, civilians or property have been reported", the SLA said.

TamilNet said so far, more than 4,000 families of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from Trincomalee district, have come to the military-controlled area in Batticaloa district. It said they have been given shelter in Government schools and temporary refugee camps.

TamilNet said seven internally displaced persons travelling from Kathiraveli to Vaharai in a tractor were killed when an artillery shell fired by the army exploded on their vehicle on Friday.

It further said the SLA continued shelling from the Kallar camp towards LTTE-controlled Kathiraveli region. One displaced person was stated to have received serious injuries.

The military said the Special Task Force at Yodawewa was fired at by Tigers with small arms from Parappakandal area in the evening on Saturday and claimed that the Tigers fled when the STF retaliated.

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