Forces in full control of  Badulla -Chenkaladi Road

Major boost for humanitarian work
[Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 5.35 GMT] 

In a major success both in military and humanitarian terms the Sri Lanka Army has now gained full control  of the A-5 Badulla - Maha Oya - Chenkaladi road severely restricting the movements of the LTTE in the East, liberating large populations there and making it easier to bring humanitarian relief and resettle civilians large areas of the East.

Security Forces estimate that the success in control of the A-5 road achieved on April 11,confines the LTTE to around 150 sq. km. in the Thoppigala jungles, where around 300 LTTE cadres are believed to be trapped.

The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS)  quoted the Military Spokesman Brig.Prasad Samarasinghe saying:    "We gained control of the A-5 road after 14 years. Clearing south of A-5 is a very significant military
and humanitarian victory as we have now driven the LTTE out of the East and brought all civilians in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa districts (except for Thoppigala) under the security forces, denying the LTTE any control over them".

" The humanitarian operation launched by the security forces on 24th February 2007 to liberate  Batticaloa south, west and south of Thoppigala general area has cleared 700 square kilometers so far.

"With today's victory troops have liberated civilian settlements like Koduamadu, Thamparavelu, Pankudvelu, Illupauadichanai  and Karadiyanaru
south of the A-5 road in the Batticaloa district enabling civil administration to be established," he further added.

Driving the LTTE further North West of the A-5 has eliminated the LTTE threat on military detachments in the Batticaloa and Ampara area, defence analysts said.

Since action to clear these areas of the LTTE began on February 24th 2007, 09 soldiers and 184 LTTE cadres have been been killed in the operations,  according to Field Commanders quoted by the MCNS.

The launch of humanitarian operations by the Security Forces following the closure of the Mavil Aru anicut last July has achieved great success with consecutive victories for the security forces at Mavil Aru, Sampur, Verugal,  Kadiraveli, Palchenai, Vakarai, Panichankerni,
Kaddamurivuakulam, Kirimichchikulam, and south of the A-5 Maha Oya - Chenkaladdy road.

The operations launched since July last year has resulted in clearing areas from Yan Oya, north of Nilawela in Trincomalee up to Velaveli in Batticaloa. The distance of the stretch of A-5 road captured today could be equal to the road distance from Colombo to Kalutara or Avissawella.

 

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Last Updated Date: April 12, 2007 - 5.35 GMT