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DATE=5/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA - WAR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262552
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The Sri Lankan government says it has 
delivered new weapons systems to the northern Jaffna 
region as fierce fighting continues.  Government 
troops are trying to stop the Tamil rebels from 
recapturing the city of Jaffna. 
Vandana Chopra has more from Colombo.
TEXT: The Sri Lankan military hopes these new weapons 
will help stop the rebel offensive which threatens 
supply routes to the government troops on the Jaffna 
peninsula and threatens the city of Jaffna itself.   
Sri Lanka has been on an arms buying spree since rebel 
guerillas captured the strategic Elephant Pass 
military complex last month and launched an
offensive to re-capture Jaffna, their former 
stronghold.
Foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar says the 
government held talks with arms manufacturers
from seven countries earlier this month in a bid to 
build a stronge and better equipped force in the war 
ravaged north.
The government statement says Tamil rebels have 
infiltrated army controlled areas near Jaffna and a 
search operation was in progress to locate and destroy 
the infiltrators.
Meanwhile, the government statement says essential 
food items, medicines and ammunition were being 
regularly supplied to the besieged Palali air base. 
Palali serves as the main lifeline in the northern 
Jafna region, as there is no
land supply route to government forces and the airbase 
is home to the military's main ammunition and fuel 
dump.
Analysts say if the Palali air base were to fall to 
the rebels it would be difficult for the Sri Lankan 
government to move men and material to the area.
Government statements about the war are impossible to 
confirm since no reporters are allowed in the war 
areas and news from Sri Lanka is subject to government 
censors.
The government forces took control of Jaffna, the 
former rebel headquarters, in 1996 and now the rebels 
are trying to win it back.
International id officials are expressing growing 
concern for the 500-thousand civilians in the northern 
Jaffna region where most of the fighting is taking 
place.
The Tamil rebels have been fighting for a separate 
homeland since 1983. (Signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
19-May-2000 07:44 AM EDT (19-May-2000 1144 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.