Colombo, Nov 06: Sri Lankan Army on Thursday captured a
strategic area in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi following
three days of intense fighting and attacked LTTE bunkers
elsewhere in the embattled north of the country, the Defence
Ministry said.
The attack at Kilinochchis strategic Akkarayankulam
forward lines was undertaken by troops attached to the Sri
Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI), Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR)
and the Gajaba Regiment (GR) in the 571 Brigade under 57
Division, it said.
"After fighting bitter battles with the Tigers for three
consecutive day and night, the army finally captured the entire
Akkarayankulam built-up territory that houses the Akkarayan
base hospital, school, maternity home, a post office, Teachers
Quarters, Bazaar buildings and basically everything by this
morning," the army said.
Most of the LTTE fighters were said to be minors or
teenagers, the army said quoting ground troops.
In the other LTTE stronghold of Mullaittivu, troops said
they killed two LTTE cadres during a confrontation in
Terumurikandy yesterday. The territory is located south of the
crucial LTTE area of Iranamadu.
"Pockets of LTTE concentrations were exposed to intense
military assaults at Andankulam at the Mullaittivu battlefront
yesterday as the LTTE were forced to flee with heavy
casualties," the Ministry quoted military sources as saying.
"Security forces are operating in close perimeters of the
LTTE's Mullaittivu forward defences further denying LTTE escape
routes, following the outfit's humiliating debacles at the
western and eastern Kilinochchi battlefronts," it said.
The 59 Division troops are taking-in well fortified LTTE
trench lines and bunker overheads as the surge in Mullaittivu
continue, defence sources said.
The march in Mullaittivu is phased tactically with the
thick jungle terrain and the concentration of LTTE laid land
mines and booby traps, the officials said.
They said this had resulted in minimum military casualties
and optimum mobilisation of the infantry and artillery
battalions to the forefront.
"The advancing infantry battalions of the 57 Division, led
by Major General Jagath Dias have over-run the Akkarankulam
built-up area yesterday after days of heightened fighting with
LTTE, leaving scores of the tiger rebels killed and as many
injured," the ministry said.
According to latest military reports, troops flanking the
western edge of the built-up have entered the Akkarankulam area
initially, followed by a swift incursion by the troops from
south of the battlefront.
The military forward dominations were still continuing in
the eastern edge of the Akkarayankulam built-up as LTTE cadres
were reported mounting intermittent resistances from distant
positions, further north, the ministry said.
The Akkarayankulam built-up area is considered to be the
main LTTE concentration point located 9 kms Southwest of
Kilinochchi town area, according to the military.
"The latest triumph is expected to add momentum to the
military surge towards the LTTE heartland," the ministry quoted
defence observers as saying.
Wanni military sources said that troops are further
consolidating defences in the area.
Bureau Report
zee