Troops take area south of Adampan

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

MANNAR: Troops confronting the LTTE on the Mannar front made yet another move in their operations to liberate the famous ‘Mannar Rice Bowl’ capturing the area South of Adampan tank yesterday morning amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE.

According to the military, the troops attached to Task Force-1 operating in the Mannar front made this move capturing the tank bund area of the Adampan tank in their move towards capturing strategic Adampan town.

The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said yesterday that two soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and several soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation to capture the area. Military sources told the Daily News that 10 to 16 LTTE cadres were killed during this confrontation yesterday morning.

Sources also added that five to six LTTE bunkers in the area South of Adampan tank also fell into the hands of the Security Forces during this battle.

Apart from this, troops operating in the Mannar front also made yet another strategic move from the Adampan tank east towards north of Adampan tank yesterday.

“The troops moving from the Adampan East consolidated their positions north of Adampan tank bund,” military sources added.

The troops in the Mannar battle front are confronting with the LTTE to liberate the famously known ‘Rice Bowl’ area which stretches an area more than 250 square kilometres.

The green patch in the Mannar district is the most fertile land in the district and capable of producing a bigger paddy harvest once this area is cultivated.

Meanwhile, troops operating on the Weli Oya front yesterday retaliated with LTTE mortar fire directed towards Sampathnuwara a civilian populated area in Weli Oya injuring one female and another female Civil Security Guard around 12.50 p.m yesterday, the MCNS added.