DATE=6/22/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-234313 TITLE=SRI LANKA WAR (L-ONLY) BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE DATELINE=NEW DELHI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SRI LANKAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES SAY FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS HAS LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF A TAMIL TIGER REBEL BASE IN EASTERN SRI LANKA AND FURTHER GAINS AGAINST THE REBELS IN THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THERE HAS BEEN "NO" COMMENT FROM THE REBELS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS. THIS REPORT WAS FILED FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU BECAUSE THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT HAS IMPOSED CENSORSHIP RULES ON ALL MILITARY NEWS. TEXT: A STATEMENT FROM SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS AN ATTACK BY ARMY NAVY AND AIR FORCE UNITS HAS LED TO THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF PORT FACILITIES USED BY THE TAMIL-TIGER REBELS IN THE SMALL COASTAL TOWN OF VAKARAI IN THE EASTERN BATTICALOA DISTRICT. THE TOWN IS LOCATED ABOUT 200-KILOMETERS EAST OF THE SRI LANKAN CAPITAL, COLOMBO. THE STATEMENT SAYS 33-REBELS WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN 100-WOUNDED IN THE FIGHTING AND THE REBELS DESTROYED A HOSPITAL IN THE TOWN BEFORE FLEEING. THE STATEMENT SAYS ONE GOVERNMENT SOLDIER WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHERS WOUNDED IN THE OPERATION. SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS CAPTURE OF VAKARAI WILL HINDER REBEL SUPPLY OPERATIONS BY SEA BETWEEN NORTHERN AND EASTERN SRI LANKA. MEANWHILE IN SRI LANKA'S NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA, THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS ITS TROOPS ARE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE NORTH FROM POSITIONS WEST OF THE TOWN OF MANKULAM, WHICH SITS AT A JUNCTION ALONG THE ONLY HIGHWAY LINKING THE JAFFNA PENINSULA WITH THE REST OF SRI LANKA. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS ARE BATTLING FOR CONTROL OF THE LAST 17-KILOMETER STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY NOT UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL. HEAVY FIGHTING DURING THE PAST MONTH AROUND MANKULAM HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 500-LIVES ON BOTH SIDES, WITH MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND WOUNDED. (SIGNED) NEB/JLT/LTD/RAE 22-Jun-98 3:48 PM EDT (1948 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
