By Prensa Latina
Colombo : The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) battered Sri Lanka’s main northern military base on Monday with heavy artillery and aborted a planned visit of top defense officials.
The attack on the Palaly Military Complex in the northern Jaffna peninsula came after two days of a fierce government offensive against that separatist group in the northern part of this country.
According to the National Security Press Center, the visit of various top defense officials and military brass to the region was cancelled because of the bombardment.
Media in Colombo reported, although without official confirmation, that Defense Secretary Gotabhyaya Rajapaksa and Army Chief Sarath Fonseka were among the scheduled visitors.
The aircraft carrying the top military officials was turned back from the Jaffna military airfield as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam pounded the region with heavy artillery.
Security forces, including Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets, carried out retaliatory strikes against the rebel gun positions.