Mullaittivu liberated; LTTE main garrison captured
Sri Lanka Army announced that troops of 59 Division,
lead by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta, entered into the LTTE's main
garrison town Mullaittivu, have gained total control over the
Mullaittivu Township after completing the mop up operations conducted in
the area by this evening, 25 January.
Recapturing the Mullaittivu town which had been
dominated by the LTTE terrorists for last 13 years marks the significant
milestone of war against terrorism launched to free the entire country
from LTTE.
On July 18, 1996 the LTTE terrorists launched an
attack on Sri Lanka Army base at Mullaittivu town on the north eastern
coast and captured it as troops tactically withdrawn from the town.
Since then LTTE terrorists established its main military and
administrative bases there.
According to the battlefield sources, troops of 593
Brigade lead by Colonel Jayantha Gunarathne have made a
surprise attack across the Nanthikandal lagoon and entered the
Mullaittivu town area this morning. Infantrymen of 7 Gemunu Watch (7 GW)
lead by Lieutenant Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa have been in first to enter
the town amid heavy terror resistance, the sources said. The Mullaittivu
town is situated in a narrow stretch of a land between Nanthikandal
lagoon and the Indian Ocean.
Announcing the victory, Army Commander Lieutenant
General Sarath Fonseka requested the people to celebrate the victory
with dignity by hoisting the national flag. |
