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’.
Commander In chief Congratulates valiant troops
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has congratulated the valiant soldiers who liberated the Poonaryn area from terrorist clutches today (Nov 15).
Addressing the nation through the state media, President Rajapaksa declared the Army’s victory at Poonaryn and congratulated the soldiers. He also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of the country who have been sharing his vision to rid the country of terrorism and to free the next generation from the horrors of war.
The President’s speech in full:
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.
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
President returns to the island
President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the island today (14) after successfully completing an official visit to New Delhi, India to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ( BIMSTEC) summit.
The Sri Lankan President and six other Heads of State met in New Delhi on November 13 to discuss combating of terrorism, transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking between seven member countries, President’s Media Unit said in a statement.
During his visit to New Delhi President Rajapaksa held bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
President Rajapaksa to address BIMSTEC summit today
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to address the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit which commence this morning (13), President’s Media Unit said in a statement.The BIMSTEC comprising seven members — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal aimed at promoting multi-sectoral cooperation for economic and social progress of the region.
The 13 sectors are known as trade and investment, technology, energy, transportation and communication, tourism, fisheries, poverty alleviation, agriculture, cultural cooperation, counter-terrorism and transnational crime, environment and disaster management, public health and people-to-people contact.
Over the period of the past decade, the BIMSTEC was able to carry out the endorsement of the framework agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, designation of 2004-05 as Visit BIMSTEC Year, establishment of BIMSTEC Chambers of Commerce and holding of the first BIMSTEC youth football tournament in Phuket, formation of the Central Department of BIMSTEC activities in Bangkok and implementation of bio-gas project in Myingyan township in Myanmar.
With a population of over 1.4 billion accounting for 21 percent of the world population, the BIMSTEC registered a gross domestic product of 750 billion U.S. dollars and a trade volume of 33 to 59 billion dollars under the BIMSTEC free trade area scheme.
The first summit of the grouping was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004, President’s media unit said.
