Wanni battle front:

New offensive divisions ready

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Troops operating on the Wanni front are speedily approaching perimeters of the two Tiger strongholds Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE as Army headquarters making arrangements to open more battle fronts in the Wanni liberation operation to exert more pressure on the LTTE now trapped within 800 square kilometres territory, Military sources told the Daily News yesterday.

According to Military sources Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka has made arrangements to form Task Force V, the ninth offensive Division to be deployed in the ongoing military operations against the LTTE.

The newly formed Task Force V, will come into operation after Task Force IV begins its operations in the Mullaitivu front at the end of this month, sources added.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops continued their offensive against the LTTE in Adampan, Akkarayankulam, Iranamadu and Mankulam North areas in Kilinochchi, causing heavy damages to the terrorists on Thursday. According to military sources, the 57 th Division now operating on the Kilinochchi front has reached towards the earth bund, which is considered to be the final obstacle before they overcome the de-facto Tiger administrative capital Kilinochchi.

The 57th Division troops who captured the strategically important Therumurikandy junction that links the Mannar Pooneryn on the A-32 road and Jaffna Kandy A-9 road via Akkarayankulam and Jeyapuram has further advanced from the East of A-9 road taking a Tiger training camp under their control by yesterday afternoon.

With this advance troops operating in the East of the A-9 road have also reached up to the final earth bund created by the LTTE covering the gateways to the Kilinochchi town.

“Troops are now poised to breach the final barricade to enter Kilinochchi town,” Military sources told the Daily News.

As troops of the 57 Division get ready to enter the outskirts of Kilinochchi, troops attached to the 59 Division too has made speedy advance towards Mullaitivu, considered to be the military stronghold of the LTTE. They are operating some eight to seven kilometres South of Mullaitivu.

Troops attached to 59 Division made speedy progress yesterday too after cutting off the Nedunkerni- Thanniyatti- Mulliyavali road, sources added.

”Troops of the 59 Division are fast moving towards Mullaitivu amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE”, a senior military official told the Daily News.

Meanwhile, Forces operating in the Mankulam North front has confirmed that two area leaders of the LTTE named Kabethovan and Mohiran were among the dead in battles on Thursday.