Lanka troops recapture two more towns
More gains: The national Lion flag hangs to mark military gains over Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island as Sri Lankan soldiers man a security check-point in Colombo.Picture: AFP
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
SRI LANKAN troops yesterday captured two more strategic towns from Tamil Tiger rebels following fierce fighting in the north of the island, the defence ministry said.
Security forces entered the town of Mankulam, about 30km south of the de facto Tamil Tiger political capital of Kilinochchi, government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
Government troops battling to dismantle the rebels' mini-state also seized Kumalamunai, a town just south of the key Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) base of Mullaittivu, situated on the northeast coast.
"The Task Force Three of the army went into Mankulam junction this morning and they are now consolidating in the town," Rambukwella said. "This morning we also captured Kumalamunai in Mullaittivu district."
Helicopter gunships were deployed to attack suspected Tamil Tiger targets and to support ground troops advancing on the guerrillas along a broad front in the north, the ministry said.
It said troops had also cut off a stretch of the Mankulam-Oddusudan road that leads to the main military bases of the Tamil Tigers along the northeastern coast of Mullaittivu district.
The Sri Lankan military said on Saturday it had taken another key town, Pooneryn, on the northern edge of the mainland.
"Mankulam is psychologically a very important place for us to re-establish because nine years ago the army lost it. The same with Pooneryn," said Rambukwella, who is also a cabinet minister.
The minister did not give casualty figures.AFP
Security forces entered the town of Mankulam, about 30km south of the de facto Tamil Tiger political capital of Kilinochchi, government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
Government troops battling to dismantle the rebels' mini-state also seized Kumalamunai, a town just south of the key Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) base of Mullaittivu, situated on the northeast coast.
"The Task Force Three of the army went into Mankulam junction this morning and they are now consolidating in the town," Rambukwella said. "This morning we also captured Kumalamunai in Mullaittivu district."
Helicopter gunships were deployed to attack suspected Tamil Tiger targets and to support ground troops advancing on the guerrillas along a broad front in the north, the ministry said.
It said troops had also cut off a stretch of the Mankulam-Oddusudan road that leads to the main military bases of the Tamil Tigers along the northeastern coast of Mullaittivu district.
The Sri Lankan military said on Saturday it had taken another key town, Pooneryn, on the northern edge of the mainland.
"Mankulam is psychologically a very important place for us to re-establish because nine years ago the army lost it. The same with Pooneryn," said Rambukwella, who is also a cabinet minister.
The minister did not give casualty figures.AFP
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