Battle for Kilinochchi:

Army breach last defence

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Troops of the 57 Division and the Task Force - I operating in the Kilinochchi and Paranthan fronts yesterday breached the heavily fortified LTTE earthbund, the last obstacle before entry to Kilinochchi, from five locations regaining a near 5 km stretch under the control of the Forces causing heavy damage to the LTTE, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

As troops of 57 Division and Task Force I troops launched a massive assault on the Kilinochchi and Paranthan fronts, troops of the 55 Division and the 53 Divisions operating in the Kilali and Muhamalai fronts managed to destroy LTTE bunker lines causing heavy damage to the LTTE and returned to their original defence lines amidst stiff resistance, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

”Troops of the 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias and the Task Force I under Brigadier Shavendra Silva managed to breach the LTTE defence line between A9 road and Iranamadu tank, South and West of Kilinochchi and two places in the Paranthan battle front”, he added.

According to military sources troops are holding the Tiger earth bund, a 1.5 km stretch in Chorikankulam North of Pooneryn Paranthan Road, Adampan area in the North West and West of Kilinochchi, South of Kilinochchi and Iranamadu tank area in the East of A-9 road.

The LTTE had constructed a 12 km massive earth bund, encircling Kilinochchi from Iranamadu tank, South East of Kilinochchi towards the Jaffna lagoon covering the South and West of Kilinochchi town and it was considered as the last obstacle towards Forces march in the direction of Kilinochchi. Troops fought fierce battles amidst torrential rains lashing the battle front in Kilinochchi, Paranthan and Jaffna fronts.

In the ensuing battle it has been confirmed that over 120 Tiger cadres were killed and 250 injured in the Kilinochchi, Paranthan and Jaffna fronts, he added.

Radio transmissions intercepted by troops confirmed that more than 50 Tiger cadres were killed and 80 injured in the Paranthan battle front, sources added. Troops lost 25 soldiers, 10 reported missing and 160 sustained injuries in all battle fronts, the Brigadier added.

According to battlefront sources, the LTTE leader has given orders to stop the military advance at any cost and had brought hundreds of Tiger cadres from Puthukuduiruppu, Mullaitivu and all possible areas as fierce fighting continued till yesterday.

”Fierce fighting yet continue in the Kilinochchi and Paranthan fronts even as dusk fell yesterday evening,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

Troops of the 59 Division operating in the Mullaitivu front continued to expand their defences amidst heavy rains in the South and South West of Mullaitivu, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Air Force MI24 helicopter gunship attacked and destroyed one Sea Tiger boat in the Kilali Lagoon.