By NNN-PTI,
Colombo : Battling to defend their last remaining stronghold Mulaitivu, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) claimed that 53 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in the Army’s bid to advance towards the town Sunday.
The rebel website TamilNet said at least 80 Lankan soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes that occured to the east of Paranthan junction, as the Tigers repulsed the troops’ fresh attempt to advance towards the town.
“The SLA forces were forced to abandon their attempt to advance after suffering high casualties,” the website claimed.
Meanwhile, the Lankan troops, fresh from their takeover of the LTTE ‘capital’ of Kilinochchi, entered the strategically vital Oddusuddan town located along the Mankulam-Mullaittivu main road, the military said.
The junction had been used by the LTTE for administrative and logistic purposes as it has direct route access towards Mullaittivu. Troops were engaged in further consolidating operations in north and west of Oddusudan, it said.
Sri Lanka Air Force also carried out air strikes targeting LTTE ‘gathering places’ in northeast of Kilinochchi and east of Paranthan Sunday afternoon.