LTTE lose Iranapalai

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Security Forces yesterday brought the LTTE’s last operational centre, Iranapalai under their full control.

The highly fortified Iranapalai, which had been surrounded by massive earth bunds had been fully captured after fierce battles, military sources added The Media Center for National Security said the Iranapalai junction and its central area had been completely brought under Army control after breaching the final earth bund built by the Tigers to protect the area.

The Tigers had built the earth bund with the twin purpose of denying further access to security forces and to prevent civilians from leaving the area.

During the operations, several LTTE vehicles had been destroyed including a tractor, a van and two cabs.

Troops had also recovered several weapons and bodies of LTTE cadres, sources added. On March 15, Security Forces who are now on the final leg of their battle against the LTTE entered the outskirts of Iranapalai, considered as the last operational centre of top Tiger leaders including Intelligence Wing chief Pottu Amman.

The location is also considered to be the main hideout of Pottu Amman.

After some of their main operational centres fell in recent times, the LTTE had maintained Iranapalai as their main base with many of their top leaders including Sea Tiger Wing leader Soosai and Pottu Amman directing operations from the area.

According to military sources, with the fall of Iranapalai, the Tigers have now been confined to a 25 square kilometre land patch, which also includes the safe zone designed for the displaced civilians.

The breach of Iranapalai earth bund is also expected to provide civilians, being held hostage by the LTTE in the remaining uncleared pockets in Mullaitivu, an escape route to reach the cleared areas.

By yesterday, the number of displaced civilians who had been able to reach cleared areas since January this year had risen to more than 51,000 with more than 3,000 braving the Tigers during the last couple of days.