Troops advance further Third runway found

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Addressing the media yesterday Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the military had every possible option on the Forward Defence Lines to fight against terrorism.

Commenting further on the military developments in the Northern Forward Defence lines Brig. Nanayakkara added that troops of the Vanni FDL found another LTTE runway in Ampakamam North area on December 23.

This 25 metres wide and 350 metres long runway, found by the troops attached to Task Force 3, is the third one. First was found in Panikkankulam and the second on the Pooneryn-Paranthan road, he pointed out. At present, troops attached to units West of A9 road are facing the LTTE earth bund built from the Kilali lagoon up to South of Killinochchi, which is approximately 18 kilometres long. Troops attached to Task Force One and 57 Division have breached this LTTE FDL from several points along a 7 kilometre stretch.

Troops attached to the Army’s Engineering Corp have rebuilt the 120 foot long bridge that connected the Nayaru Lagoon on the Kokilai-Mullaitivu road which was destroyed by the LTTE during the forward march of the 59 division to liberate Alampil area. At present the 59 Division is operating in the Mulliyaweli general area - South of Mullaitivu - after liberating Alampil and Kumulamunai areas.

The Task Force one is operating towards Paranthan after clearing Pooneryn and few days ago Sinnaparanthan. Troops attached to the 57 division area active in Adampan East, Killinochchi South and Southeast of Killinochchi. Task Force 03 is operating in the Ampakamam North and East after liberating Ampakamam in December 15. Task Force 04 is presently in the general area of Nedunkerni where the forward most troops are with the possibility of moving either towards the A9 road or Oddusudan.

At the time of going to press, the Air Force carried out two combat attacks on LTTE defences yesterday. “The Air Force will be continuing the air strikes throughout the day,” Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said. Precise air sorties were carried out areas closer to Paranthan junction and Paranthan West as well at to targets in Muhamali LTTE defences.

“Some would criticise the Government saying that we are crawling but our troops are going forward keeping in mind that more than 100,000 lives of innocent civilians are there in the uncleared areas,” Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella added. He further said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the Security Forces to carry out their operations against terrorists protecting the innocent civilians.