ITN Sinhala NEWS 2008 - 11- 15

Courtesy : Independent Television Network Ltd

Mop up operations in progress in Pooneryn salient; Air Force comes to troops assistance

Task Force 1 troops having liberated Poonaryn are now engaged in mop-up operations in the Poonaryn salient, Defence sources in the filed reveal. Troops are now clearing their way towards Kalmunai Point (K-Point) along the 20 Km long narrow land stretch where the LTTE terrorists used to stationed their artillery and mortar batteries.

Meanwhile , Sri Lanka Air Force has lunched a series of air strikes in support of ground troops in the Muhamalai area. Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told defence.lk that MI-24 helicopters and fighter jets have engaged LTTE artillery and mortar positions in the area since 6.30 to 9.45 this morning (Nov 15).

Army Chief , Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka describing the victory to state media said that the whole stretch of A-32 road from Mannar to Poonaryn has been liberated after 20 years. He said that troops of Task Force 1 and 57 Division have cutoff the Poonaryn- Paranthan road (B-69) yesterday and marched for about 8 Km down the road to Pooneryn junction .

“Then we advanced further and captured Sangupiddy ferry that connects the road to Thanankiluppu in Jaffna”, now the army has dominated the whole west coast”, he said.

Speaking further, he said that it is the  first time after 20 years that the Army has opened a land route to Jaffna.

“We have eliminated large number of terrorists during this battle, remaining terrorists are now running for their lives across the Kilali lagoon”, he said.

In addition, he said that troops of 57 Division and Task Force 1 have already started marching eastward towards A-9 road.

“At present, our forces have positioned themselves about 10 Km west of Paranthan on the A-9 road”, he said.

Poonaryn remains a hallmark of the undying courage of Sri Lanka Army soldiers as they withstood frenetic attack by the terrorists at the isolated camp in 1993. Army handed over their positions in the area to IPKF in 1987 and regained them in 1992 in Operations Valampuri 1 and 2. On 11 November 1993 , LTTE made an attempt to capture the Poonaryn camp but failed before the courage of Army soldiers. The incident was excessively misinterpreted as a great debacle by media with exaggerated army death and casualty figures.  In mid 1996 , the camp was vacated  by the Army as a tactical measure .

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

President congratulates valiant soldiers, calls LTTE to surrender

President Mahinda Rajapaksa while making the official announcement of capturing the LTTE’s last bastion of the western coast, Pooneryn, commended the valiant troops for their untiring efforts to liberate the strategically important area.

President Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, addressing the nation through the state media also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of the country who have been standing with him at the crucial juncture and for sharing his vision to rid the country from the grip of terrorism.

The following is the full text of President Rajapaksa’s announcement:

I inform the people in this country that our heroic soldiers have been able to liberate the full stretch of the A-32 road (Mannar- Pooneryn) and the Poonaryn area this morning. Now, we can open a land route to the Jaffna Peninsula after many years; I think we can say, it was after the Second Eelam war.

At this moment, I very clearly call Prbhakaran of LTTE to immediately lay down your arms and come to the negotiation table. It is the greatest service that you can do to the people in the Wanni.

We congratulate the war heroes and express our sincere gratitude to the citizens of Sri Lanka who have given their unstinted support to our struggle.

Army hands over 14 LTTE bodies to ICRC

Sri Lanka Army has handed over fourteen bodies of LTTE terrorists killed during recent confrontations to the ICRC officials in Vavuniya yesterday, 13 November.

According to the army sources, these terrorists were killed in confrontations took place in Akkarayankulam, Mannar and north of Padaviya areas.

ICRC officials crossed the entry/exit point in Vavuniya and entered in to un-liberated area to hand over the corps to LTTE organization.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Artistes carry peace message through Adishtana Pooja

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Artistes participating in the Adishtana Pooja yesterday. Picture by Rukmal Gamage

The Adishtana Pooja by Sri Lankan artistes aimed at carrying the message of peace and harmony, goodwill and brotherhood and principally organised to clear the air regarding the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to their protesting South Indian counterparts was held yesterday at Torrington Square with the participation of a large gathering of film and tele-stars and personalities in the art field.

The main objective was to create a true picture of the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to rescue the innocent civilians trapped in the grip of LTTE terror, veteran actor Ravindra Randeniya, an organiser of the event stated.

A letter was also submitted to South Indian Cinema Artistes and Technicians through the High Commissioner of India following the Adishtana Pooja.

Highlighting the main objective of the event, Randeniya said artistes who have gathered there yearn for a peaceful country. This is the hope and aspiration of the people of this country.

He said whatever community be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher, had been under threat by the LTTE terrorists’ acts for more than three decades without exception. Today the artistes have raised their voice on their behalf.

There is no country which had been under the threat of terrorists’ cruel acts with assassinations of political leaders and veterans from all the fields, he recalled the bitter past where innocents suffered.

A message signed by artistes stressed that there is no genocide practised against innocent un-armed Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.

Therefore it is highly unjustifiable to interpret the current humanitarian operation to liberate the Northern Tamils from the clutches of a dictatorial outfit as a kind of genocide against Tamil population.

The letter also explained the history of the LTTE and failed attempts of all Governments to negotiate peace with the outfit.

Courtesy : Daily News