Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka announcing this victory in a special telecast message, last evening said: “The Tiger stronghold of Mullaitivu fell under Security Forces control after 13 years with the 59 Division troops under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta entering this strategic stronghold last afternoon”.

Mullaitivu was among the most strategically important townships such as Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Pooneryn and Elephant Pass, the LTTE had controlled during the two and half decades long conflict. Control over Kilinochchi, Elephant Pass and Mullaitivu gave the LTTE an image internationally as having a “de facto” state in the North of Sri Lanka.

It was also a key Sea Tiger base of the LTTE from which it launched many Sea Tiger Suicide missions at sea on the Sri Lankan Navy, and carried out extensive smuggling and gun-running activities.

The LTTE has lost all these strongholds within the past two months beginning with the fall of Pooneryn on November 15, 2008.
The Army last controlled a camp located in Mullaitivu in 1996,which was overrun by the LTTE on July 18, 1996, and went down in the history of “Eelam Wars” of Sri Lanka as one of the major debacles losing a large haul of weapons including long range artillery and mortars and more than 1,000 soldiers.

The Security Forces commenced military operations to liberate the Vanni in February 2007. The operation with the objective of liberating Mullaitivu from the grip of LTTE terrorists was launched from Weli Oya in January 2008 by the 59th Division under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta.

The successful capture of Mullaitivu followed the military’s progress in capturing the LTTE’s surrounding strongholds in the Mullaitivu jungles such as Nithyakaikulam Thanimurkku Kulam LTTE’s 14 Base complex, Nayaru, Kumulamunai, Alampil and Mulliyavali areas.

The 59 Division made a major breakthrough in their battle to capture Mullaitivu on Friday, with the capture of the earth bund located four km south of Mullaitivu centre by Friday morning.
“The LTTE strongly held this defence line in the North of Alampil even after 59 Division troops captured Mulliyavali and Thanniattu towns located on the Mullaitivu- Oddusudan A-35 road”, military officials added.

SLAF fighter jets and MI 24 helicopter gunships gave strong support for the ground troops to capture this earth bund to open the gateway of Mullaitivu.

The 7 Gemunu Watch under the command of Lt. Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa, 15 Sri Lanka Light Infantry battalion and 14 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment troops under 593 Brigade commanded by Colonel Jayantha Gunaratne entered the Mullaitivu Tiger stronghold by 1 p.m. yesterday after entering through the Tiger defences captured by Friday.

“The troops were engaged in search and clearing operations and consolidating their positions after entering Mullaitivu by yesterday afternoon”, military sources said.

“The troops attached to the 59 Division advanced more than four km into the centre of Mullaitivu town by yesterday afternoon after the capture of the Tiger defence line North of Alampil.

With the fall of the Tiger defence line in the South of Mullaitvu the LTTE had fled the Mullaitivu town fearing that supply routes to Mullaitivu would be cut off from the northern direction too”, military sources added.

With the capture of Mullaitivu which was known as one of the strongest Sea Tiger bases, the LTTE has now been confined to 280 square km of territory in the Puthukuduiruppu and Visuamadu general areas which are also now under immense pressure of the Security Forces.

The LTTE is also on threatened with losing Puthukuduiruppu junction and the road stretch of the A-35 between Visuamadu general area and Puthukuduiruppu as troops attached to Task Force II, Task Force III and Task Force IV were poised to capture the road, confining the Tiger cadres to North of the Puthukuduiruppu and Vishuamadu areas with six offensive Divisions surrounding this territory from the West, South and East as of last evening, Defence sources added.