Forces advance on Mullaitivu

by Ananth PALAKIDNER and Dhaneshi YATAWARA

With the fight for liberating Mullaitivu accelerating after the capture of Kilinochchi, the Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two successful air strikes yesterday morning.

“Air Force MI24 gunships carried out air sorties, first on LTTE positions Northeast of Oddusuddan around 6.15 a.m. and the next around 10.30 a.m. on LTTE defences 2.5km South of Mullaitivu,” Air Force spokesman, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said. The attacks were in support of the ground troops attached to the 59 Division advancing towards Mullaitivu.

Late last week, with the declaration of Kilinochchi capture Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said that the battle for Mullaitivu has already begun as troops of 59 Division captured around 800 yards of the LTTE-built earth bund in Mullaitivu. Accordingly troops have positioned themselves just 5km south of Mullaitivu and 3km south of LTTE’s main airstrip.

At the moment the Task Force 01 commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva is advancing towards Elephant Pass while troops attached to the 57 Division commanded by Major General Jagath Dias are further consolidating their positions in Kilinochchi town area preparing for their forward march. The 59 Division commanded by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta is operating just south of Mullaitivu while Task Forces 02 and 04 are advancing Southwest of the 59 division, commanded by Brigadier Rohana Bandara and Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi respectively. Task Force 03, commanded by Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage is progressing Northeast of the A9 road.

Army Commander, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka congratulated the victorious troops and their field Commanders at the Vavuniya Security Forces Headquarters for their achievement in Kilinochchi on Friday.

During his discussions with the senior officials in Vavuniya, the Commander briefed them on the next step to be taken in Kilinochchi. Meanwhile the troops who entered Kilinochchi are currently consolidating their position in the area.

Clearing and search operations have been launched with troops giving priority for removal of anti-personnel mines and booby traps. Additional reinforcement are expected to reach Kilinochchi to strengthen the troops who are already there. Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasised that the victory of Kilinochchi should not be interpreted as the defeat of the North by the South or as a victory of one community over another.

In his address to the Nation on the television on Friday amidst countrywide celebrations to mark the victory in Kilinochchi, the President added that it was a decisive victory over savage terrorism that has devastating effect on the entire country.

He opined that the victories in Wanni had been achieved, based on the expectations and the mandate given to him by the people at the Presidential Election in 2005.

Meanwhile Major General Jagath Dias who led the troops into Kilinochchi and hoisted the Lion Flag there said, “It is after 10 years we have regained Kilinochchi and we are now in a position to advance towards Jaffna in the North and Mullaitivu in the East.