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 .
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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.
Troops Capture Pooneryn – President Rajapaksa
LTTE loses last naval bastion in the western coast
President Mahinda Rajapaksa after being official informed by Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka announced the capturing of Pooneryn ending 20 years LTTE tyranny in the area enabling the Security Forces to open a land supply route to the Jaffna Peninsula.
The area has been used as a hub for sea tiger activities in the Kilali and Muhamalai areas.
According to defense experts Pooneryn is strategically more important than Killinochchi, which only carries a symbolic value.
Troops belonging to the Army’s Task Force 1, entered and captured the LTTE’s most important stronghold Pooneryn after months of heavy fighting this morning (15th), scoring the most important strategic victory so far in the humanitarian mission to liberate the Wanni from the clutches of the terrorists, defence sources announced.
Infantrymen of the 12 Gamunu Watch (12 GW) and the 10 Gajaba Regiment (10 GR) had successfully negotiated the great marshlands south of Pooneryn last night and cut off the Pooneryn-Paranthan road (B-69) close to Nallur before dawn today, according to defence sources.
Troops then marched about 10 Km along the B-69 and entered the Pooneryn town.
According to the defence sources on the field, the terrorists had given a stiff resistance to the advancing troops but are not fast withdrawing towards ‘K-Point’.
Pooneryn Terrorist Bastion falls : Army Task Force 1 -Task accomplished
Troops of Army Task Force 1 have entered LTTE bastion at Ponneryn this morning (Nov 15) scoring the greatest feat against terrorist in their courageous march along the northwestern coast of the Island.
Infantrymen of 12 Gamunu Watch (12 GW) and 10 Gajaba Regiment (10 GR) successfully negotiated the great marshlands south of Pooneryn last night , and cut off the Pooneryn- Paranthan road (B-69) close to Nallur before dawn today. Troops then marched about 10 Km along the B-69 and entered into the Pooneryn town , where the terrorists have their last bastion on the West coast.
According to the defence sources at the field terrorists have given a stiff resistance to the advancing troops . Pitched battles are still going in the area, the sources said. The terrorists are fast withdrawing towards the K- Point.
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
Army 57 Div maneuvering to Kilinochchi
A field commander issuing orders to the troops in front - Akkarayankulam (07 Nov)
The Army 57 division , operating on the main axis of the Wanni theatre of operations are now successfully maneuvering towards the Kilinochchi town, the administrative hub of the LTTE terrorists, say the defence sources.
Daylong clashes were reported yesterday (Nov 13) as troops of 571 and 572 brigades marched further northwards destroying LTTE positions along the western boundary of the Kilinochchi built-up.
Troops had a series of confrontations with the terrorists in the South Pudimurippukulam area, about 6 Km North of Akkarayankualm tank bund . Intercepted LTTE radio transmissions confirmed heavy damages to the terrorists. Troops found one body of an LTTE cadre and 3 T-56 riffles during subsequent search operations.
Meanwhile , the foremost fighting elements 571 brigade attacked a group of terrorists in the Adampan area , 9 Km north of Akkarayankulam tank bund in the evening hours. Intercepted LTTE radio transmissions confirmed severe damages to the terrorists. Also, troops of 574 brigade operating on the eastern flank of the Kilinochchi front engaged terrorists in the Mankulam area at several occasions during daytime.
Meanwhile , intercepted LTTE radio transmissions revealed that senior LTTE leader called “Lieutenant Colonel Kali Arasan” was killed in clashes on Wednesday (Nov 12)
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
