Jan 14, Vavuniya: The number of unclaimed bodies of LTTE cadres killed in recent battles lying at the Vavuniya hospital has risen to 48, hospitals sources said.

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka said that they are still unable to hand over the bodies of LTTE cadres killed during the battles in Northern Sri Lanka as LTTE officials had not come forward to accept them.

According to the sources in Vavuniya the bad smell is spreading throughout the area as the bodies are decomposing severely.

Vavuniya hospital said that 13 out of these bodies were of female cadres.

Police confirmed that some bodies are lying at the Vavuniya hospital since last week. Authorities need to obtain permission from the courts before they can bury the corpses.