Troops regain Kiranchi

Ranil Wijayapala

Kiranchi: Troops attached to the 58 Division yesterday took control of Kiranchi, one of the handful of Sea Tiger bases the Tigers had on the North Western coast, military officials told the Daily News yesterday.

Kiranchi, located northwest of Nachchikuda, which fell to the hands of the Security Forces two weeks back, was captured by the 58 Division troops as they completely cut off the land area from north of Nachchikuda to south of Chempangundu on the A-32 road up to the seventh Mile post.

“With the capture of Kiranchi the LTTE is left with only Palavi, Vallaipadu and Devil’s Point before the fall of Pooneryn, the northernmost unloading point of the LTTE,” a senior Military official told the Daily News.

Kiranchi, is located away from the shore and the LTTE had used it as one of their cargo loading points with a Pier constructed by them. “The LTTE may have used this area to unload their cargo due to its strategic location which cannot be reached by the Navy,” the official added.

“The LTTE had apparently used this Sea Tiger base after the fall of Vidathalthivu, their main Sea Tiger Base on the North Western coast,” the official added.

The LTTE is also on the verge of losing Palavi and Vallaipadu on the North Western coast within the next few days with troops of the 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva due to march towards Pooneryn.