Heavy resistance shifts status quo

Heavy fighting in Jaffna has ended the streak of victories by the Sri Lankan soldiers including the ones that altered the de facto borders between the government and the LTTE administered areas. Army has admitted to losing 22 soldiers while the LTTE has claimed the figure is as high as 75. The number of LTTE causalities is not known. Independent verification of casualties is unavailable and both parties are known to exaggerate figures.

The escalation of fighting has jeopardized the planned talks between the warring parties that are to be held end of the month. Sri Lankan government was in a strategically better position earlier having captured Sampoor, a strategically important town in the East. The heavy resistance by the LTTE, however, has shifted fortunes slightly in their favor in terms of negotiations should the talks go ahead.