Troops overrun Mankulama: LTTE flee amidst heavy casualties- Mullaittivu

Troops of the task Force-3 flanked west of the A-9 main road at Vannivilankulama have entered the Mankulama area in Mulaittivu, following hours of heavy fighting with LTTE today (Nov 17) at around 2p.m.

Earlier, forward domination elements of the TF-3 on Sunday(16) surrounded the area engaging LTTE positions with indirect fire, Wanni military sources said.  Troops also had cut-off a stretch of the Mankulama- Oddusudan main road yesterday, the sources further said.

The army abandoned Mankulam on November 5, 1999. The LTTE captured Mankulam along with almost a dozen bases in an offensive which at one time threatened to overwhelm Vavuniya. The loss of Vanni bases paved the way for a massive assault on the Elephant Pass base late 1999 which the enemy overran in April 2000.

Army recovered an armoured cater vehicle carrying a high profile LTTE leader following a surprise assault launched along the Mankulama - Oddusuddan road, on 16th November, 2008.  The terrorists had fled leaving the vehicle behind which had fallen into a marsh land.

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TF-3 troops close-in on Mankulama: LTTE faces major setback- Mullaittivu