Troops liberate entire Mannar district

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

MANNAR: Troops attached to the 58 Division yesterday advanced further northwards on the Mannar-Pooneryn road after completing the liberation of the entire Mannar district by Saturday afternoon with the capture of Vellankulam, the northern most town in the Mannar district, Military sources told the Daily News yesterday.

According to ground sources troops attached to the 58 Division have advanced up to 29th mile post on the Mannar Pooneryn road after shifting the entire 58 Division into the Kilinochchi district amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE.

“At least 15 Tiger cadres were killed in the confrontation that erupted yesterday in the North of Vellankulam,” a senior military official said.

With the capture of Vellankulam, the entire Mannar district came under the control of the Security Forces for the first time in the North East conflict.

The troops on the Mannar front began their operation in September last year with the capture of Silavathura one of the tactically important Sea Tiger bases used by the LTTE to smuggle explosives and ammunition into the South.

After the capture of Silavathura troops advanced further northward fromthe Vavuniya Mannar road capturing the LTTE entry exit point in Uyilankulam and they later advanced to Mannar “Rice Bowl’ area including Palakkuli, Alankulam, Adampan, Giant Tank, Pappamoddai and Parappakadattan. The entire Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ area fell to the hands of the

Security Forces on June 29 and they advanced further northwards to capture Viddathalthivu the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast and then captured Illuppakadavai prior to the capture of Vellankulam on Saturday.

“The troops attached to the 58 Division killed 2,500 Tiger cadres in the Mannar battlefront by the time it completely liberated the Mannar district from the clutches of the LTTE and stepped into Kilinochchi district the last stronghold of the LTTE,” the General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Shavendra Silva said.