The military yesterday charged that the LTTE was firing from a 122mm artillery gun placed just 600 metres away from the Madhu Church so that the forces could not retaliate. “We could not retaliate because the Tigers have placed several heavy guns near the church premises, while a command centre equipped with a communications tower has been observed at a location not more than 200 metres from the premises,” the official said.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on the LTTE following fierce battles between the security forces and the Tigers in Periyathampanai on the Mannar-Vavuniya border, while the military’s death toll rose to 18 by yesterday.
[Source – Daily Mirror – 16.07.2007 By Sunil Jayasiri ]