COLOMBO, May 13: Thousands of soldiers moved into the Vanni jungles early on Tuesday as Sri Lanka's military launched a massive offensive in LTTE-controlled territory for a strategic land supply route to link Vavuniya town with Killinochchi.

A statement from the defence ministry confirmed that the army, in what could be its toughest battle against the LTTE yet, had advanced five kms into LTTE territory. ``Troops have advanced 5 kms...and met with little resistance which was overcome,'' the statement declared.

According to a military spokesman, monitoring of LTTE wireless transmissions had revealed that four Tigers had been killed so far in the operation that has been codenamed by the army as Jaya Sekuru, Sinhala for sure victory.

After days of speculation, troops that were massing at Vavuniya over the last three weeks marched through the town to the battlefront, according to eyewitness reports from the northern town, finally moving forward from three points on the army's forward defence lines.

According to reports from Vavuniya, one section is moving forward on both sides of the main Vavuniya-Killinochchi road from Thandikulam, using bulldozers to mow down the heavy vegetation. Soldiers are also reported to be advancing north from Poovarasankulam on the west of Vavuniya town and from Maamadua on the east.There was intense shelling by the army of the areas north of the FDLs for over two hours in the morning followed by intermittent shelling till late noon.

In early retaliation, Tigers targeted Vavuniya town, shelling the army camp and the Thandikulam check-point at about 6.30 am. A blanket of security has been thrown over Vavuniya by the army to prevent the LTTE from staging guerrilla strikes in the town. ``We cannot expect that they will be silent. We anticipate them to react and we are fully prepared for it,'' said a senior police official.

According to Vavuniya government agent K Ganesh, the government has stopped civilians from the LTTE areas from entering the town, nor are people allowed to cross over into these areas from Vavuniya. Food convoys taking dry rations meant for displaced Tamils have also been suspended, he said.

Sources said nearly 2,500 LTTE cadres are massed near Omanthai, 25 kms north of Thandikulam, to repulse the advancing soldiers. It is believed that it is from this point on the main road that the Tigers have been training their artillery on Vavuniya.

According to military intelligence reports, nearly 3,000 cadres of the LTTE have been called up from the Batticaloa region to assist in the defence of the road.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.