LTTE Headquarters  
Tamil Eelam              
16 October 1999      

SRI LANKAN ARMY SUFFERS HEAVY CASUALTIES: HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES AT AMBAGAMAM

The fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have inflicted heavy casualties on the Sri Lankan troops in the fierce fighting that erupted in Mankulam area of northern Sri Lanka. Scores of Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed and hundreds injured in the fighting at two fronts since the 14th of october when troops attempted to over-run the front defence lines of the Tamil Tiger fighters at Ambagamam and Vavunikulam in the eastern and western flanks of Mankulam.

In a major offensive thrust thousands of Sri Lankan troops supported by heavy artillery and air power penetrated the front defence lines of LTTE at Ambagamam about 5 kilometres north of Karuppaddamurippu in the eastern sector of Mankulam. Heavy fighting continues in the area for the last three days. The LTTE fighters have launched artillery and mortar fire and have inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy troops.

On the eastern front the Tigers guerrillas have fought back fiercely and foiled the advance of the Sri Lankan troops at Vavunikulam, west of Mankulam. So far 48 LTTE fighters have been killed in these battles.

In a separate confrontation, 4 dvora boats were severely damaged and several naval personnel were injured when LTTE Sea Tiger gunboats attacked a naval convoy in the coastal seas of Mullaitivu. In the sea battle that ensued six 'Black Sea Tigers' were killed when their boats laden with explosives accidentally collided with one another.

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