Four more LTTE Eastern bases captured

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

TRINCOMALEE: Security Forces yesterday completed a 48-hour humanitarian operation capturing four major LTTE bases in Peraru jungles in the North of Trincomalee, guaranteeing civilians in the villages of Gomarankadawala, Kivulakade, Menikkadawala a life free of terror.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily News that over 150 Tiger cadres in the four Tiger bases had withdrawn from the area once the Security Forces began their advance.

“The troops have started consolidating in the captured areas and have recovered a large number of war-like items and equipment left by the feeing Tigers. The troops are pursuing these desperate cadres,” Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

“We believe that there are no more Tiger bases in the North of Trincomalee and the area is now free of LTTE threats,” Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

“The Army’s multi barrel rocket launchers and heavy artillery assisted the ground troops to achieve these victories.

Army Engineers have unearthed many mines and have defused large number of improvised traps laid by the terror group,” he added.

At the end of February the Security Forces liberated the villages around Kaddawan and Kumburuppidy, areas South of Peraru and consolidated. Further north of Peraru is the Mullaitivu district.

According to Brigadier Samarasinghe, fleeing cadres from Verugal, Vakarai, Kumburuppidy areas were occupying four major bases in the Peraru area around 30 kms North of Trincomalee town and were posing a major threat to the passengers on the Anuradhapura-Trincomalee road and the Trincomalee-Pulmuddai road.

“With the capture of these four Tiger bases civilians in Kivulekada, Gomarankadawala, Thiriyaya, Kallarawa and Pulmuddai can lead a life free of Tiger threats,” Brigadier added.