SLMM meets SLA soldier under LTTE captivity

Members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) met with captive Lance Corporal Karunaratne at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at the LTTE's Thenaham building in Karadiyanaaru, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. Karunaratne was captured by the Liberation Tigers during a clandestine cross border incursion of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) into LTTE held territory on early morrning of 14 July.

Head of SLMM for Batticaloa district Sari Rask and his deputy attended the meeting.

Daya Mohan, LTTE political head of Batticaloa was present on behalf of the LTTE.

Mr Karunaratne told the SLMM members that SLA group entered the LTTE-held area under the orders of SLA commanders, and that the LTTE fighters attacked them first when their group advanced towards Vakaneri.

12 Sri Lankan troops, 4 Tiger fighters were killed during the encounter.

(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18853)