20 Sri Lankan Soldiers Killed In Tigers Counter-Attack

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COLOMBO – TamilNet reports that 20 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed in an intensive counter-attack launched by the Tigers on SLA units that attempted to move through Paalaikkuzhi targeting Adampan on Tuesday.

The direct clash intensified after LTTE mounted an artillery attack on Tha’l’laadi garrison and the fighting lasted till 12.30pm.

Meanwhile, a unit of SLA troops that advanced was trapped, unable to pull back, in an open area along the Paalaikkuzhi-Adampan road at 1.30pm LTTE’s long range snipers, who engaged the unit, gunned down 22 SLA soldiers between 4.30 and 6.00pm, Mannaar Operations Command of the LTTE told the media.

More than 53 SLA soldiers were wounded in the counter-attack in Mannaar on Tuesday, according to the LTTE.

The artillery attack on Tha’l’laadi Sri Lanka Army camp was part of the counter-attack in Paalaikkuzhi, the Tigers said.

Also the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery and mortar fire towards Jaffna lagoon in Ariyaalai east, an area close to Thanangki’lappu and Koakilaaka’ndi in Thenmaraadchi, Tuesday around 8.30pm targeting boats that were crossing the lagoon.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) retaliated, and the artillery duel lasted nearly ten minutes, according to Thenmaraadchi residents.

The LTTE and SLA used Multi-barrel rocket launchers and mortar fire in the duel.

No reports of casualties or injuries are available from both sides.

Recently, LTTE combatants destroyed two SLA sentry posts in Thanangki’lappu and took a boat away from the sentry positions.

Tension prevailed among the residents of Jaffna peninsula during and after the artillery exchange.

l An acute shortage of funds has crippled functioning of the local government authorities in the Jaffna Peninsula, and the Municipal and Pradeshya Sabhas face uncertain future, local administrative officials said.

Development activities have been curtailed, and the security situation prevailing in the North has further impacted the day-to-day activities of the local councils, officials added.

In addition to Jaffna Municipal council there are three major Urban councils – Chavakacherai, Point Pedro and Valvettiturai – and ten Pradeshya Sabhas in the peninsula.

In 1998, during the regime of President Chandrika Kumaratunge, local government elections were held, and when the term of office of the local councilors expired after five years, Special Commissioners (SC) were appointed to run the councils.

The local councils manage the administrative needs of the people in the peninsula making use of the taxes levied from general public.

However, due the prevailing situation in the peninsula, the local government authorities are faced with a serious financial crisis since the revenue obtained by leasing and renting of buildings for business purpose has been severely affected.

Since many business establishments and many public markets remain closed, the revenue usually received from leasing or renting these buildings has been significantly reduced resulting in many developmental activities being placed on hold.

Overall there has been 70 per cent decrease in revenue and in Jaffna Municipal council alone the drop is 60 per cent, local government officials said.