DATE=4/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/ATTACK/ (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261729
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's armed forces are bracing for more
fighting with the Tamil Tiger rebels at the strategic
Elephant Pass base they lost to the guerrillas in
recent fighting. Vandana Chopra has the details from
Colombo.
TEXT: Sri Lankan military officials say troops are
setting up new defense lines in anticipation of
renewed attacks by Tiger guerrillas.
The rebels captured the Elephant Pass military complex
in fierce fighting last weekend. The area serves as
the gateway to Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna region, and
military analysts consider its loss the government's
worst setback of the 17-year ethnic war.
Military officials say the air force is bombing
guerrilla targets and the navy is increasing its
presence in the seas of the Jaffna region.
Officials say the army lost at least 214 soldiers in
the Elephant Pass battle.
Sri Lanka's media and political opposition have
stepped up their criticism of the government following
the military setback.
Ranil Wickremasinghe, a political opposition leader,
says the Elephant Pass loss is not only a military
defeat, but a political setback as well. Meanwhile,
the deputy defense minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte, says
the loss of Elephant Pass does not mean the government
has lost the war against the rebels.
The Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 to set
up a separate homeland for the minority Tamil
community in Sri Lanka's north and east. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/JP
26-Apr-2000 05:06 AM EDT (26-Apr-2000 0906 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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