The Army is making arrangements to bury the 105 bodies recovered after the heavy fighting South of Challai if the ICRC does not take over, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

At least 150 terrorists were killed and 105 bodies recovered by the army, the spokesperson said, and since none of the bodies have been claimed, the Army will make arrangements to bury the bodies. There has been heavy fighting between the government forces and the LTTE at the Mullaittivu battlefront south of Challai and Palamathalan since last Thursday (05).

According to the government defense website, troops of the 58 Division have also uncovered a large haul of military hardware and equipment during subsequent search operations conducted in the area on Monday (09). Heavy fighting broke out between troops and the LTTE, when terrorists made a desperate attempt to breach the military defense positions, advancing from South of Challai along the Pudumathalan coastal stretch.

Meanwhile, the fate of the weapons haul handed over to the government by Pillayan’s faction is still undecided. “The government is still to decide whether the weapons will be used by the forces or otherwise,” Nanayakkara told The Bottom Line.