Forces take control of Dharmapuram

Rafik JALALDEEN

Security Forces took control of one of the LTTE’s biggest townships, Dharmapuram while capturing the Tiger’s fifth air strip which merged with the dense jungle in the East of Iranamadu following intensive fighting yesterday.

Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said troops of the 58 division poised to liberate the Vanni, launching multi-prolonged attacks regained Dharmapuram on Thursday afternoon; one of the biggest townships in the Paranthan-Mullaitivu road and 15km east of the A-09 road.

He said troops attached to the 58 division pushing further into Mullativu inflicted another setback on the LTTE cadres by capturing Dharmapuram. He said troops confronting stiff LTTE resistance, inflicted heavy damages to the Tiger cadres. In a subsequent search operation, troops recovered six bodies of the LTTE along with four T56 assault rifles, an MPMG weapon, two LTTE dog tags, an I-com set, a motorcycle and other items. Brigadier Nanayakkra said troops attached to the 632 Brigade (18 Vijayaba Regiment and 20 Sinha Regiment) located an LTTE air strip on Wednesday evening East of Iranamadu tank adjoining the old Kandy road.

In Airstrip around 1,100 metre long and 40 metre wide inside the dense Iranamadu jungle was captured by the Task Force-3 following intensive fighting yesterday noon,” he added.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said the LTTE runway was surrounded by massive bunker lines and trenches, as well as laid with landmines and booby traps.

“A hanger was also found in the vicinity which was damaged by fleeing LTTE cadres,” he added.

The Troops’ thrust to regain the entire Vanni region from the LTTE pushed the LTTE further from their defence lines following a series of confrontations in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts on Tuesday.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said over 400 civilians escaping from LTTE clutches had reached the Omanthai entry/exit point yesterday.