11,000 civilians flee Sri Lanka fighting

More than 11,000 Sri Lankans have fled their homes since the LTTE launched an offensive on a breakaway rebel, officials said today. Meanwhil...

More than 11,000 Sri Lankans have fled their homes since the LTTE launched an offensive on a breakaway rebel, officials said today.

Meanwhile, President Chandrika Kumaratunga inducted a Cabinet of 31, but the swearing in was marred by a boycott by her main ally, the Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP). The ceremony was originally scheduled at 2 pm but was put off several times as the JVP did not show up at the event.

Eventually, Kumaratunga went ahead with the ceremony without the four JVP ministers who were also originally expected to take their oath of office today.

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In the Tamil regions, at least two civilians were reported killed and many more wounded since the main LTTE launched a major offensive yesterday to re-take territory held by Col Karuna just south of here, officials said.

The main civil administrator in Batticaloa district, C. Punyamoorthy, estimated the number of people who fled their homes in the troubled areas was in excess of 11,000. ‘‘About 4,000 have moved to schools, but others have gone to safer areas to live with their friends or relatives,’’ Punyamoorthy said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it had begun handing out emergency relief supplies.

Military sources said only sporadic firing was heard overnight after intense battles took place yesterday afternoon near the coastal town of Vakarai, which appeared to have fallen to the main rebel group.