Northern Fighting at a Standstill Due To Heavy Rains

Northern Fighting at a Standstill Due To Heavy Rains

There was virtually no fighting on the Northern warfront on Thursday December 18th due to heavy and incessant rains in most parts of the Northern province.

Despite expectations that heavy fighting would continue for the third successive day in the Kilinochchi. Paranthan sector , there was practically no fighting because of the weather.

Torrential rains resulted in flash floods and also many bunkers and trenches getting waterlogged.

Both the armed forces and tigers adopted a “stand – off” position preferring to stay put on their positions and engaging infrequently in artillery duels and sniping
It was widely reported that the past two days of fighting had resulted in massive casualties for the army.

The military however has refuted claims that the Army had suffered another ‘debacle’ in its latest push to capture the Kilinochchi town and also asserted that a time frame to accomplish the mission cannot be specified.

Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the media in Colombo that although the Army had suffered casualties in battle the numbers were far less than that suffered by the LTTE.

Brigadier Nanayakkara added that the Army was also able to break open the bund and defence lines situated on the outskirts of Kilinochchi and was able to capture five km of land along that stretch.

“We have not suffered a debacle. Instead we were able to capture more land. The fighting lasted for several hours in which the LTTE suffered heavy casualties,” Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

Posted by transCurrents on December 18, 2008 05:25 PM | Permalink