By IRNA
New Delhi : Sri Lankan Air force fighter jets attacked a tiger base in their stronghold in Northern Sri Lanka on Friday even as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) asked priests of the historic Mannar church in North-west to evacuate the premises.
The fighter jets bombed an LTTE training base in Pulopalai area at Muhamalai on Friday morning. The pilots confirmed that targeted training facility was completely destroyed due to the bombardment, PTI reported here quoting Sri Lankan Air Force the official.
Meanwhile, defence sources in the rebel stronghold of Wanni said LTTE militants have ordered the priests in the Mannar church to leave the premises with immediate affect.
“Earlier, LTTE had positioned its heavy mortar and artillery guns at close range to the church in order to take cover from the civilian refugees present there,” the sources said.
Reports also say that the priests have taken the sacred statue of “Our Lady of Madhu” apprehending escalation of conflict that could damage the church.
It said several civilians have also started to flee from the area.
The Defence Ministry said the sacred area has been declared a no war zone and Sri Lankan security forces have spared the area from military offensives.