President salutes troops

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special message congratulated the troops on capturing Pooneryn, urged the LTTE to lay down arms and invited them to negotiate as it will be the greatest service to the people living in the North and elsewhere.

The President said the brave soldiers were able to capture Pooneryn along with A-32 road, the land route to Jaffna which had been closed for nearly 15 years.

He also thanked the public for the support rendered towards this victory and assured that the Government would continue to take steps to eradicate terrorism.