DATE=11/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA TOWNS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256354
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels say they have
wrested control of more northern towns from the
government army. Vandana Chopra has the details from
Colombo.
TEXT: The Tamil Tiger rebels say they have carried out
a planned offensive thrust in northern Sri Lanka. The
guerillas launched nearly simultaneous attacks on
Pallamadu, Periyamadu, Palampiddy, and
Thatchanamarutha Madu and overran the military bases
in these towns.
In a statement issued from its London office, Tiger
rebels say the Sri Lankan armed forces suffered
hundreds of casualties while ten rebel fighters were
killed.
Tiger rebels say they also took control of the town
of Madhu, home to the famous 17th century Roman
Catholic shrine, without any resistance. The
government military had seized Madhu from rebels
earlier this year.
The Tiger statement says they took possession of vast
tracts of territory during the 12 hour battle in the
north as government troops deserted their posts and
fled unable to withstand the fury of mortar and
artillery fire.
The separatists say they have recovered huge
quantities of arms and ammunition along with armored
cars and trucks.
The government of Sri Lanka has had no immediate
comment on the reported losses of the northern towns
but the Defense Ministry did say 33 rebels had been
killed in an artillery exchange on Thursday around the
town of Palamiddy.
Towns in the northern Wanni region of Sri Lanka have
been under rebel threat after the guerillas launched
their latest offensive, code-named "Unceasing Wave 3",
last month.
In a matter of days the government lost most towns
that it had taken the military over two years to
capture.
Tiger guerillas have been fighting for a separate
homeland for the minority Tamil community in Sri
Lanka's North and East since 1983. (Signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
19-Nov-1999 03:44 AM EDT (19-Nov-1999 0844 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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