Date:06/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120656631400.htm

International

Steady progress towards Kilinochchi, says Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan military on Friday announced the capture of two more LTTE “strongholds” in the Kilinochchi district.

The Defence Ministry said here troops had struck “a huge blow on the gates of the LTTE run mono ethnic Wanni hellhole” by reaching Kanakarayankulam on Friday morning.

“Troops extending their forward boundaries across the A-9 road [Jaffna-Kandy road] have reached the former LTTE stronghold in a swift eastward thrust, revealed battlefield sources. The town is located about 10 km north of Pulliyankulam which the same troops liberated on Thursday night.”

The Ministry said with the liberation of Mankulam, Pulliyankulam and Kanakarayankulam townships located on the A-9 road, the LTTE has lost its grip over the Wanni civilians. “The liberation of these key towns on the A-9 will trigger off an exodus of civilians that would speed up the certain demise of the terrorist outfit.”

The Ministry said the A-9 road had been cleared for another 21 km towards north from Omanthai, where the LTTE had its blockade for civilian movements.

It said the troops were moving steadily along Ponnaryn-Paranthan road towards Kilinochchi. Setting their approach to the Kilinochchi town from northwest, the troops engaged the LTTE positions in the north of Adampan and the west of Paranthan areas heavily.

In a report on its website, the LTTE alleged that the blockade on essential items entering Wanni and the expulsion of humanitarian INGOs have increased the suffering of the people.