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DATE=5/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA ATTACK / L-O
NUMBER=2-262407
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
 INTRO: Heavy fighting has broken out in Sri Lanka's 
northern Jaffna region, after three days of relative 
calm. Vandana Chopra has more from Colombo.
TEXT:  A government statement says the Tamil Tiger 
rebels launched a new attack on troops manning 
defenses in Tanankillappu, east of Jaffna.   Heavy 
fighting continued till early hours of Tuesday.
The government says the past three days of relative 
quiet was probably the result of the rebels suffering 
heavy casualties in recent confrontations.
There was no immediate comment from the guerrillas on 
the latest round of fighting.
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar says the 
emergency purchase of new arms is likely to push Sri 
Lanka's defense budget to 880 million dollars, from 
the present 700 million, a year.
Mr. Kadirgamar says the government held talks with 
arms manufacturers from seven countries, earlier this 
month, in a bid to bolster the northern Jaffna region.
There is little first-hand information from the 
disputed area.  The government has imposed censorship 
on the foreign media and does not allow journalists in 
the war-torn areas.
Fierce fighting between the government and Tamil 
Tigers broke out last Wednesday, after the government 
rejected the rebel offer for a temporary cease-fire. 
The state media says President Chandrika Kumaratunga 
was prepared to negotiate peace with the tiger rebels, 
but would not withdraw government troops from the 
north and east.
The government took control of Jaffna -- the former 
rebel capital of the Tamil Tigers -- in 1996.
President Kumaratunga has called on all political 
parties to shed their differences for national unity.
The Tiger rebels have been fighting for autonomy for 
the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka's north and 
east since 1983.  (signed).
NEB / WD / VC
16-May-2000 06:19 AM EDT (16-May-2000 1019 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.