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Army Commander Lt. General Lional Balagalle yesterday described the newly gained control of the north line joining Kilaly, Eluthumadduval and Nagarkovil in Jaffna peninsula as the gift to the nation from the Security Forces on the eve of the year 2001. The regained areas of around 50 square kilometres have given extensive protection to the Jaffna city and the civilian population as capturing of the Thanankilappu and Ariyalai areas connecting to the Jaffna lagoon prevents links between the Tigers in Pooneryn and the Jaffna peninsula. He explained that the capture of Thanankilappu and Ariyalai has minimised the LTTE threat in the Jaffna Peninsula specially to the City of Jaffna. Security Forces completed successful operations, capturing the strategically important Navatkuli bridge on the A9 highway connecting Jaffna and Chavakachcheri and Ariyalai and Thanankilappu in two stages of the Kinihira VIII offensive. Troops took control of the Kandy - Jaffna A9 highway from Jaffna to Eluthumadduval via Chavakachcheri, approximately 32 kilometres. Troops are now clearing and repairing this stretch to enable the civilian population in Thennamarachchi and Walikamam areas of the peninsula to reach Jaffna and Chavakachcheri easily. The terrorists have destroyed three culverts on the Chavakachcheri Thanankilappu road in their desperate withdrawal, Military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said. Troops of Kinihira VIII operation detected three LTTE bases abandoned by the fleeing terrorists and two mortar positions including pieces of 120 mm mortars destroyed either by air or Artillery bombardment. Troops have also detected an underground ammunition dump in Ariyalai South and recovered two hundred and six 81 mm mortar bombs. With the completion of the Kinihira VIII operation the Security Forces are now dominating the entire Jaffna peninsula except Elephant Pass which fell to the LTTE last April and some pockets in South of Pallai. Troops in the Jaffna peninsula launched Kinihira Operation I on September 9 capturing the Chavakachcheri town following the successful completion of Rivikirana operations strengthening the protection of the Jaffna city by capturing Sarasalai. With the support of armour and air cover, troops extended the Security Forces controlled areas in Madhuvil North, Sarasalai, Madhuvil South, Nunnavil East and Kaithadi in the proximity of Chavakachcheri by recapturing a total of 56 square kilometres in the seven stages of Kinihira operations. The terrorists had withdrawn against army resistance as the Security Forces had advanced to capture those areas. The Tigers had fled towards Pooneryn on the other side of the Jaffna lagoon in complete disarray. Military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said that the army has now regained about 50 square kilometres of Tiger-held territory. The security forces had launched the operation in the early hours of Saturday against the LTTE taking them by surprise. The operation code named 'Kinihira- 8' with a target to capture Navatkuli bridge, were supported by armour, artillery and helicopter gunships. "They may have declared the so called cease-fire just to mislead the forces and to halt further offensives against them, since they seem to be having a torrid time. But by past experience, we know fully well that they don't stick to their words when it comes to a cease-fire" a senior military officer said referring to LTTE's own cease-fire.
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