By Xinhua
Colombo : The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fired artillery at military installations in the northern Jaffna peninsula Tuesday, military officials said Tuesday.
The LTTE started their artillery fire just before 9 a.m. Some shells fell near the air force base at Palaly.
The rebels were thought to have targeted the Palaly military base and naval facilities at Kankesanturai harbour, the officials said. The extent of damage was not known.
The military retaliated with Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire, said the officials.
The fighting broke out in Jaffna exactly a year ago — the first battle since the LTTE and the government entered the Norwegian-backed ceasefire in February 2002.
The truce still holds because both sides have not chosen to formally withdraw from the agreement despite the escalation of violence.
More than 5,000 people have died in the new cycle of violence since the end of 2005 in the war torn country.