Div. 59 steps on to fourth LTTE airstrip

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Troops attached to 59 Division captured yet another airstrip, the fourth during Vanni Operations yesterday. According to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) this 2.5km long and 100m wide strip lies 5 km west of the Mullaitivu lagoon.

Two hangars were also discovered, near the airstrip. Yesterday, Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 and fighter jets carried out two attacks on several LTTE gatherings, south of Mullaitivu around 10 a.m. and 12 noon, in support of advancing ground troops of the 59 Division, Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

According to defence sources intense battles were reported from the Vaddakachchi area in Kilinochchi late last Friday. Troops attached to the 57 Division faced several confrontations with the terrorists in Vaddakachchi and Iranamadu areas during their move towards remaining LTTE fortifications, Ministry of Defence web site reported.

Accordingly, during search and clear operations carried out subsequently, troops recovered three bodies of LTTE cadres with weapons. Last Friday, in Vaddakachchi area in Kilinochchi troops recovered ten 81mm bombs, eleven hand grenades and ten Anti Personnel Mines.

As per the LTTE communication intercepts Tiger terrorists have received major damages during these attacks, military reports states. The military reports based on ground information states that 10 successful sniper targets in the general areas North, South and East of Murasumoddai were reported during last Friday.

On the same day troops of the 58 Division while consolidating positions North of Murusamoddai had discovered 11 bodies of LTTE cadres and a cache of military hardware.

Nine bodies were recovered from Murusamoddai North along with five T-56 weapons, one General Purpose Machine gun and two radio sets while two bodies were found in the south of Murusamoddai area and a lot of 15 hand grenades.