Troops Regain Thunukkai, Uyilankulam

Forces just 12Km from Kilinochchi:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

MULLAITIVU: Troops attached to the 57 Division and the Special Forces troops achieved yet another major victory yesterday with the capture of Thunukkai the second most important administrative hub of the LTTE and taking the Forward Defences of the ground troops just 12 kilometres south of Kilinochchi, after capturing Uyilankulam located eight kilometres north of Thunukkai.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News that the victorious troops attached to the 572 Brigade completed their mission taking full control of this strategic town after two days of fighting by yesterday noon.

“This is a big victory for the Security Forces who are making tireless efforts to fully liberate the entire North from the clutches of the LTTE,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

Ground troops confirmed that the troops attached to 7 Sri Lanka Light Infantry under the command Lt. Colonel Ranjith Abeyratne completed the mission by 12.30 p.m yesterday amidst heavy resistance from the LTTE with troops advancing further north of Thunukkai from the west to the north.

“Troops are now operating south of Akkarayankulam tank just 12 kilometres south of Kilinochchi as troops captured Uyilankulam located eight kilo metres north of Thunukkai. We are now positioned in the Kilinochchi-Mullaitivu border in the western flank of the Mullaitivu district,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

“The capture of Thunukkai, the second most important administrative hub of the LTTE, is strategically important for the Security Forces as troops can reach Kilinochchi through indirect weapons compelling the LTTE to shift their long range artillery guns further north of Kilinochchi,” the Spokesman added.

Thunukkai is the most important township the 57 Division troops under the command of Major General Jagath Dias came across in this jungle terrain after the liberation of Periyamadu.

Thunukkai is situated in the middle of the Mankulam Vellankulam Road that links the Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road with the Jaffna-Kandy A-9 road and is a major town where the LTTE had the largest number of their offices after Kilinochchi.

“Capturing Thunukkai is huge victory for the troops of the 572 Brigade as we achieved this victory after months long battles in thick jungle patches,” said Lt. Colonel Senarath Bandara, the Brigade Commander of the 572 Brigade who achieved this victory.

Intermittent fighting erupted yesterday too as fleeing Tigers fired mortars towards the troops engaged in search and clear operations in Thunukkai yesterday afternoon.

At least 20 Tiger cadres were killed during the two days in Thunukkai, with the Sri Lanka Air Force providing air support to the ground troops.

Five soldiers were also killed during the two days of confrontations in Thunu-kkai.