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We're on the offensive: Lanka army chief

Sri Lankan Army Commander Sirilal Weerasooriya said he had never thought about evacuation of his men from Jaffna.

''...I don't know... the whole world is talking about evacuating us but we never thought about it because there's no reason for it...''

In an interview with Star News, he dismissed the rumours. ''Well, it never occurred to us...''

Major General Weerasooriya said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has lost more than 400 cadres since the Elephant Pass battle in April. We have been repulsing them... and in the last week, I would say they have a fairly large number of casualties... in one day 116 dead and 224 injured. These are the figures given by them and I believe that it is time they start regrouping.''

''We too have had casualties. But 75 to 80 per cent are P3 category, which means they will be back on the lines in four to five months,'' he added.

Since December 11, when fighting began, they (LTTE) focussed on Jaffna and Elephant Pass and there we did some tactical movements.

''... We are on the offensive right now. We don't say it is over. Tactically we are trying to destroy their fighting forces... The LTTE's now losing fighters all over the peninsula..."

UNI

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