For an example deputy commander of the 20th Sinha Regiment belonging to 63-2 Brigade Maj. Priyantha Liyanage was stepped on a Johnny anti-personnel mine in Olumadu area and lost a leg.
While main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles continued to provide support to the evacuation mission, there is a possibility for Victor Anti -Tank Regiment will be step up its counter offensive soon.
The figures according to army, they lost around 100 soldiers in Kilinochchi and Paranthan fighting, 80 soldiers were killed and another 24 have gone missing. Total SLA casualty figures in Ki'linochchi and Jaffna frontiers for the past two days stand at around 145 soldiers killed and further 300 being wounded and most of them requiring emergency amputations, altogether 42 were declared MIA.
When 12 SLSR suffered heavy casualties in the Ki'linochchi front 6GR suffered badly in the Kilaali front. Circles close to the Defence Ministry told casualty figures that much higher than official version. Bulk of the SLA casualties on Kilali operation were caused by artillery fire which rained on advancing troops. On Paranthan and Kilinochchi fronts however, close quarters fighting caused heavy damage. When troops retreated to base, the LTTE fired 81 mm, Samathnam and 120 mm mortars at them.
Fighters from the Charles Anthony, Jeyanthan, Imran and Pandiyan special Infantry Brigades, Sothiya and Malathy Women s Brigades, Kittu Artillery Unit, Kutty Sri Mortar Unit, Ponnammaan mines cops Units and snipers were combined in this operation. When Col. Lawrence, Northern front commanding officer engaging the 53 Division, Col. Laxman and Lt. Col Velawan were led the Killinochchi front.
The Overall operation was coordinated by Col. Theepan, who is now appointed as a special counter operation commander of the overall Wanni operation. Now he had developed its own counter battle plans to beat back the forces in the event of an operation. The truth is there was a better coordination and the support of the indirect fire was obtained. The Ponnammaan Mines Corps of the LTTE had set up its mines and booby traps in key locations. They began to take a toll in several fronts. Three frontline divisions suffered heavy losses.
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/12/wanni-army-graveyard.html
Edited By - WBahu - 19 Dec 2008 14:12:00 GMT |