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’.
Govt reiterates stand on CFA : LTTE must disarm
The Government’s firm stand on the Ceasefire Agreement is unchanged, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said adding there will not be peace negotiations with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrenders.
Addressing the media yesterday on the weekly security situation at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few days certain elements behind the LTTE proposed a CFA with the LTTE. “This was the normal practice of the LTTE when they were defeated militarily and weakened. They call for peace negotiation to halt the offensive and avoid the Security Forces’ humanitarian mission to liberate uncleared areas.
Our leaders experienced this during the last three decades,” he added. “Whenever the LTTE proposes a CFA, it always ends it with destruction and a calamity to the Government, public and sovereignty of the country,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.
Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government categorically rejects any peace negotiation settlement with the LTTE unless the Tigers lay down arms and surrender to Security Forces. “When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office he immediately extended an invitation for peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President called the LTTE to the negotiation table in Geneva. The CFA was abused by the LTTE in many occasions since then,” the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella said during the CFA the Jet Liner ship carrying unarmed forces on holiday and a Navy medical team had come under LTTE fire.
A vegetable market too was bombed in Jaffna. 17 Commandos were killed in an attack, then an attempt was made to assassinate the Army Commander finally and Mavilaru sluice gate was attacked to disrupt the daily life of people who depend on farming.
Following these abuses of the CFA by the LTTE, the Government had decided to erase terrorism and liberate civilians from the LTTE clutches. “The East was liberated and the democracy had been restored. The Easterners were allowed the franchise and their political rights restored, the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella stressed that the North will be liberated and the humanitarian mission will be continued by the Security Forces. The Government has no any intention to negotiate with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrender. We embarked on an humanitarian mission in the North and troops are successfully marching forward and are now in the victory of Kilinochchi.
The entire North and our brothers and sisters entrapped in the Tigers’ grip will be liberated in near future. Democracy will be restored in the North as in the East,” he added.
Courtesy : Daily News
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
Prabhakaran is in waterloo -MP Muralitharan
Parliamentarian Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan said that Sri Lankan Government’s political will and military planning will defeat terrorists.
He made these comments in an interview with Reuters in Colombo.
Muralitharan said the LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, about to be captured.
Muralitharan expressed that Prabhakaran has an autocratic policy and never respect others opinions.
He added that the power granted to the military is the key success of the Army’s battlefield and President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given the Army necessary freedom of operations.
Muralitharan said there is an unprecedented momentum in Army offensives and Army will be able to capture Kilinochchi shortly.
Courtesy: Lankapuvath
