Jan 16, 2009

World - Jaffna peninsula liberated: Army

B. Muralidhar Reddy







COLOMBO: With the capture of Chindikulam, the last land base of the LTTE linking to the Jaffna peninsula, the military on Thursday claimed it had total control of the peninsula.

The Defence Ministry claimed that troops gained total control over Dharmapuram in Kilinochchi district, a “key LTTE stronghold.”

Separately, the Air Force claimed it had launched precision strikes at multiple LTTE targets located south of Mullathivu and Chindikulam.

According to Air Force spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara, four air strikes were made to support the security forces which were surrounding the LTTE’s remaining bastion at Mullathivu.

The Air Force also claimed it had inflicted heavy damage to an LTTE barge, south of Chindikulam. The Army said troops had found the fifth LTTE runway, about 50 metres wide and over a km long, east of Iranamadu.

In a report posted on its website, the LTTE charged that 13 civilians were injured in Army shelling in the Kaively settlement in Mullathivu.

No comments: