LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                10. June 1997

SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE
                                           
HUNDREDS OF SRI LANKAN SOLDIERS KILLED AS LTTE TAKES THANDIKULAM

A devastating blow has been dealt to Sri Lankan forces engaged in
"Operation Jaya Sikuru" after LTTE forces entirely overran their
military base at Thandikulam and destroyed the ammunition dump
serving Sri Lanka's advancing troops. Hundreds of Sri Lankan
soldiers have been killed in the attack which has also demolished
5 Sri Lankan battle-tanks. The Thandikulam remains under LTTE
control at the moment. 50 LTTE fighters lost their lives.

Sri Lankan forces retaliated soon after the assault by firing
shells directly onto Tamil civilian targets west of Thandikulam.
The areas hit are inhabited by Tamils, but all are places which
have been under army control. This is a venomous reprisal attack
intended purely to kill Tamil civilians. A 16-year-old Tamil girl
- Sinnarasa Saroja - has already died in this barrage. Her sister
is critically wounded. More civilian casualties from this
cowardly retaliation by Sinhala forces are expected.

The town of Puthukulam (Vavuniya) in particular is being targeted
by the Sri Lankan military. A school and surrounding buildings
here have been knocked down by artillery. Shops have also been
smashed. 50 cows grazing near a temple were callously slaughtered
by Sri Lankan Kfir jets. The same planes have now damaged
virtually all the town's main buildings, with a library and
reading room taking direct hits.

Political Committee,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(English translation of the LTTE statement released by
LTTE International Secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU,
United Kingdom. Tel:0181- 503 4294 / Fax: 0181-470 8593)