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DATE=5/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKAN WAR / L-O
NUMBER=2-262215
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: More than 100 Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil 
Tiger rebels have been killed in fierce fighting now 
under way in northern Sri Lanka as the battle for 
control of Jaffna continues. Vandana Chopra has the 
details from Colombo.
TEXT: Defense ministry officials say Sri Lankan troops 
continue to hold the bridge at Navatkuli, which the 
rebels claimed was under their control.
Military officials say the guerrilla advance towards 
the bridge -- one of the four leading to Jaffna Town - 
was effectively repulsed by troops.
The government statement says the rebels continue to 
occupy a small stretch of the main highway, north west 
of the bridge.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Government has announced new 
measures to raise the 161 million dollars, which it 
says it needs immediately for its war against the 
Tamil Tigers.
The deputy finance minister said in the parliament 
that, although the government was committed to a 
political solution to end the ethnic war, it presently 
has little choice but to fight.
Fierce fighting between the government and the rebels 
broke out Wednesday, after the government rejected the 
rebel offer for a cease fire.     
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has pledged the 
government will never allow the Tiger rebels to fasten 
their grip on Jaffna civilians again.
The government took control of Jaffna -- the cultural 
capital of the Tamil Tigers -- in 1996.
Last month, rebels took control of the key Elephant 
Pass military complex, which serves as a gateway to 
the northern Jaffna region, handing out to the 
military one of its worst setback in the 17 year war.
Soon after the fall of Elephant Pass, the government 
introduced censorship on the foreign media and invoked 
the Public Security Act, which gives sweeping powers 
to the military, police and government.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for autonomy for 
the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka's north and 
east, since 1983.  (signed).
NEB / VC / WD
11-May-2000 04:42 AM EDT (11-May-2000 0842 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.