Sri Lanka's coast free of terror; Army 58 Div links up with the 59
Div
Sri Lankan soldiers of the Army 58 Division have linked up
with the 59 Division soldiers freeing the last remaining coastal stretch
under LTTE clutches. The link up marks the total liberation of the
Island's coastline(3560.4sq.km) from three decades of terror.
According to the battlefield reports, infantrymen of
Army 58 Division completed their three-day southbound march along the
coast this morning (May 16) when they linked up with their comrades of
59 Division on the Mullaittivu frontage.
Rescue of hostages
The sources further said that over 4300 civilians held
at hostage by the terrorists were rescued by 58 Division alone during
yesterday's operations. Among the refugees were many family members of
senior LTTE leaders. Also, there were many junior LTTE cadres, including
suicide bombers who surrendered themselves to the soldiers.
Separately, troops of 53 Division marching southwards
along the eastern bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon rescued over 4550
civilians yesterday. Over 300 others sought refuge with the 59 Division
soldiers. The total number of people sought refuge with the soldiers
during last 24 hours is approximately over 9000.
The battle
Troops of 5 Gemunu Watch (5GW), 1 Gajaba Regiment (1
GR), 6 GR, 17 Sri Lanka Artillery (17 SLA), and 1 Mach Infantry
operating under 53 Division yesterday engaged terrorist positions on the
A-35 road , West of Vellamullivaikkal . Intercepted LTTE radio
transmissions confirmed 19 LTTE cadres were killed and 24 others injured
during these confrontations.
Meanwhile, 58 Division troops battling the terrorist
on the coast yesterday collected 32 bodies of LTTE cadres. The soldiers
also found a large stock of weapons including 183 T-56 rifles, one 12.7
mm machine gun with five barrels, two paddle guns, three MPMGs, one
naval machine gun, one Radar, six suicide boats, 127 mortar bombs
(60mm), eight RPG launchers, 18 disposable RPGs, two Thermo-baric
weapons, six FNC weapons, one M-16 rifle, three Light Machine guns, and
a large amount of small arms ammo.
Kariyalamullivaikkal Tsunami village
Troops of 58 Division scored another significant
victory in their battle against terrorism yesterday when they liberated
the Kariyalamulla Tsunami relief village. The village is the only place
where permanently built houses can be found between Velayamadam and
Vellamullivaikkal areas. Over 4000 inhabitants of the village sought
refuge with the soldiers. The unharmed buildings in the area gave lie to
the repeated claims by the Western media and other pro LTTE propaganda
elements that Sri Lanka Army has been indiscriminately shelling the
civilian areas.
The rescue mission is being continued.
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