Forces poised to regain Mullaitivu, capture Prabhakaran

Vijayani Edirisinghe

COLOMBO: The Security Forces are attacking Mullaitivu, Prabhakaran's hideout, from several directions, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka told our sister paper The Dinamina yesterday.

Commander Fonseka said the Army's aim is to capture Prabhakaran, who is holed up in a bunker, alive.

He said the 56, 57, 58 and 59 divisions were assailing Mullaitivu and Task Force 2 will also be inducted to expedite the operation.

Troops are attacking the LTTE's 1-4 Base complex in a preliminary bid to reach Mullaitivu. Prabhakaran is believed to be living in an underground bunker in the area.

Forces have already regained several hundred square kilometres where the Tigers held sway and they have to march forward another 21 kilometres to achieve the final goals, he said.

He said Prabhakaran was cowardly attacking civilians in the South, unable to face the military onslaught.

The Government and the Security Forces were determined to liberate the Northern masses from the tyranny of the Tigers, as they did in the East. "Our Forces' morale is very high. They are determined to achieve victory," he added.