Forces poised for final battle to eliminate LTTE - Army Chief

Ranil Wijayapala

Kilinochchi : The battle in Kilinochchi would be the final battle in eliminating the LTTE from the North and the Wanni as all Tiger strongholds including Mullaitivu are within the artillery range of the Security Forces, Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka said on Saturday.

“The battle in Kilinochchi would be the final battle as all other LTTE strongholds are within the reach of the artillery guns of the Sri Lanka Army,” the Army Commander said. Troops are now within two kilometres of Kilinochchi.

He said the Army has already started firing artillery into the southern part of Kilinochchi with the civilians vacating the areas south of Kilinochchi town.

“We are awaiting the civilians in the northern part of Kilinochchi too to vacate the area towards Vishvamadu and Puthukuduiruppu. They have vacated Kilinochchi hospital by this time and shifted it towards Puthukuduiruppu in Mullaitivu,” the Army Commander said.

He said according to reports a handful of civilians remain in the northern part of the Kilinochchi town. They were busy removing their belongings whilst the LTTE is strengthening their positions to face the advancing troops.

The Army Commander said that the LTTE has no capability to even disturb Jaffna peninsula as Pooneryn is also within the artillery range of the Army and there is no escape for them if they try this as a desperate measure.

“The LTTE is left with no other place to take refuge once Kilinochchi falls to the hands of the Security Forces,” he added.

He said the Government has declared two ‘no fire zones’ in Vishvamadu and Oddusudan to ensure the safety of the civilians now entrapped in Wanni once fierce battles erupt in Kilinochchi. He said the LTTE is at present is losing their well trained elite forces in the Wanni battlefront as troops are recovering the bodies of these cadres in different uniforms.