International

“Civilians fleeing LTTE-held areas”

COLOMBO: Amid claims of major advances into the LTTE- controlled territory in the Mannar district in the north, the Sri Lankan military on Sunday reported influx of civilians from Tiger- held areas into the government-controlled side.

In a statement here, the Defence Ministry said, “It is observed that Tamil civilians fleeing LTTE-held areas continuously reaching towards security forces seeing protection for their lives as they are living under severe life risk in LTTE areas. As the troops captured almost all the terror strongholds in Mannar front, an escalation of civilian movement towards government-controlled areas can be observed”.

On Saturday, the military claimed yet another “major breakthrough” in its advance into the LTTE-held territories in the north and announced that the troops had captured ‘LTTE’s stronghold in Parappakkadantan, four Km north of Giant Tank’, in Mannar district.It said several tombs of terror cadre were also found in the general area Alkaddiveli,.

“These areas were under LTTE clutches for more than two decades and it clearly shows the inability of LTTE terrorists to face security forces who are continuously marching towards LTTE strongholds in multi-pronged offensive launched to liberate the Wanni.” Further the military claimed that at least 33 LTTE cadre were killed in the last 24 hours.

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