Updated on Tuesday, January 06, 2009, 00:00 IST

Iranamadu (Sri Lanka) Jan 06: Sri Lankan troops are in full control of this air strip from where Tamil Tigers launched many a surprise air raids deep into government controlled areas including the capital Colombo, but there is yet no inkling of the fate of air force of the LTTE.

Sri Lankan Army liberated the sensitive Iranamadu, known for LTTE airstrips, recently, which is located a few kilometers away from its de-facto capital Kilinochchi. But apparently the Tigers had moved their Czech made fighters.

And the government forces are also within striking distance of two more Air Tiger air strips located just outside the LTTE's last bastion of Mullaittivu and hope to obliterate the Tiger's fledgling Air arm.

A select team of media persons were taken around the run down Iranamadu town, where grenade shells and some material left by the retreating LTTE fighters were found.

"As per our estimates as many as 4073 LTTE fighters have been killed in the past 14 months, while the LTTE intercepts admit they have lost 3,447 cadres with injuries to another 2197 of their fighters", Major Gen NAJC Dias, the General Officer Commanding of the 57 division told reporters.

LTTE created a sensation when it sent its aircraft in May last year to bomb Colombo and the planes took off from the Iranamadu air strip. One was reportedly shot down by the Sri Lankan security forces.

Defence officials said that the capture of Iranamadu will definitely deal a blow to the "air power" aspirations of the LTTE but admitted that they were not sure whether air strips existed elsewhere in areas now controlled by the Tiger militants.

For some time now, the Air Tigers have not been seen flying.

The Sri Lankan troops now are closing in on Mullaittivu, considered to be military headquarters of LTTE and the main base of the Sea Tigers.

The fall of the last LTTE's town could be a death blow to both the Sea Tigers as well as Air Tigers and leave rebels with what they started as -- guerrilla fighter.

Bureau Report