Army closes in on LTTE capital

BY T.V. SRIRAM

Colombo

Oct. 24: Continuing the momentum of its offensive, Sri Lankan troops on Friday captured another 4 km stretch closing on to the Tiger stronghold of Kilinochchi as it also beat back a group of insurgents who tried to infiltrate one of its defence lines.

As the battlefront remained active, an Army spokesperson said heavy losses to the LTTE fighters have been caused during the past 24 hours with a number of bunkers captured or destroyed. He said security forces had cleared about 4 km stretch towards the west of Manniyankulam junction in the sector while beating back attempts to infiltrate in the Pallavarankaddu defence lines.

The officials said Army on Thursday evening captured a LTTE strong point named "Aneel" along with some bunkers in Gajabapura area in Northern Mullaitivu, which fell to government forces on Thursday.

"Troops continue conducting search operations and consolidating further in the area," the Media Centre for National Security said. Meanwhile, Battlefield reports said that the Army 57 division and the Task Force No 1, which are spearheading the assault on Kilinochchi maintained progress.

Troops moved about 2 km north of the Manniyankulam, Therum-urukandai road from the east of Akkaraynkuam and attacked LTTE groups hiding in the area, the military said. "Troops claimed heavy damages to the LTTE and during search operations found one T-56 rifle and some arms," it said.

Meanwhile troops of the Army 573 and 574 brigades, flanking the Kilinochchi front from east continued their thrust towards Jaffna on Thursday.

Troops of 582 brigade, heading northwards from Manniyankulam, launched a limited offensive on Thursday morning to eliminate LTTE hiding places located north of the Manniyankulam-Therum- urukandai road. —PTI