LTTE Headquarters  
Tamil Eelam              
4 November 1999    

AMPAKAMAM FALLS TO LTTE FIGHTERS
HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES IN VANNI

In the fighting that is raging ferociously in the Karupaddamurippu - Ampakamam sector, east of Mankulam, the LTTE forces have overrun the Sri Lankan front defence lines and taken control of vast sections of Ampakamam. Strategically crucial Ampakamam area, situated 5 kilometres north of Karupaddamurippu, was subjected to intense fighting last week when Sri Lankan troops launched an offensive campaign in the area code-named 'Operation Watershed'. After several hours of sustained fighting the LTTE units destroyed several mini-camps at Ampakamam today and caused heavy casualties to the enemy.

In the meantime, the LTTE fighters are also engaged in a fierce battle in the jungle areas between Nedunkerni and Pulliyankulam, as Sri Lankan troops attempted to advance from bases at Pulliyankulam towards Nedunkerni sector. Heavy exchange of artillery and mortar fire is taking place in the area.

The LTTE's offensive campaign, code named 'Unceasing Waves 3', continues ferociously for the third day today as the LTTE fighting formations swept westwards of Mullaitivu in the direction of A9 highway posing a serious threat to Sri Lankan bases on the Vavuniya-Kilinochchi route. Over one thousand Sri Lankan troops have been killed and many more injured in the three days of intense fighting. So far 60 LTTE fighters have died in the battle.

The LTTE fighters have cremated, with military honours, hundreds of decomposed bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers scattered all over the jungle areas as ICRC was unable to get clearance from the Sri Lankan military establishment to handover the demised soldiers.

In Vanni area, jubilant crowds of civilians in thousands are actively supporting the offensive campaign of the LTTE. Civilian crowds are supplying food to the fighters and are helping to remove vast amounts of arms and ammunitions from various Sri Lankan armouries in the liberated areas.

(Released by the International Secretariat of LTTE, 211 Katherine Rd, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom. Tel : 0181-503 4294)