DATE=9/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA BLAST (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266044
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Fourteen Sri Lankan airmen have been
killed in a landmine explosion in the island's
northern region. Eight others were wounded in the
blast. Vandana Chopra has details from Colombo.
TEXT: Military officials say the Air Force men
were headed home on leave when their vehicle
struck a remote-controlled land mine.
The explosion occurred on the road connecting the
government held town of Vavuniya with Mannar, a
small stretch of peninsula on Sri Lanka's western
coast.
The attack came as the island nation's political
parties work furiously to complete the process of
filing nominations for the October 10th general
elections. Nominations must be filed by Monday.
Last week, Sri Lanka's new army commander said he
expects the Tamil Tiger rebels to launch fresh
attacks in an attempt to disrupt the elections.
Police officials say security in the capital,
Colombo and other areas has been tightened.
Security checkpoints are being erected all over
the island.
There has been a recent lull in fighting in the
northern Jaffna region, which formerly was the
main rebel stronghold. The fighting died down
several weeks ago after the army foiled an
attempt by the rebels to retake Jaffna.
Instead, the rebels have moved south, focusing
attacks around Vavuniya. Two soldiers were killed
in Vavuniya last month in a suicide bomb attack.
Rebels have also shelled army camps between
Vavuniya and Mannar.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983
for a separate homeland for the minority Tamil
community in Sri Lanka's north and east.(Signed)
NEB/VC/PFH
01-Sep-2000 06:32 AM EDT (01-Sep-2000 1032 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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