Sri Lanka on Saturday (Jan 2) marked the first anniversary of the capture of the "strategic" town of Kilinochchi, LTTE's administrative headquarters, which later paved the way for military victory over the LTTE.

The fall of Kilinochchi last year set the tone for the annihilation of the Tiger rebels and its defeat following the killing of its supreme Velupillai Prabhakaran in May, 2009.

The retake of Kilinochchi was an important step in the humanitarian operation that was launched from Mavil Aru in the Eastern Province.

The closure of the sluice-gates of Mavil Aru by the LTTE on July 26, 2006 was a crucial turning point in the battle between the security forces and the LTTE. The area having a waterway provided supplies to families in the Eastern Province.

When the government's appeal to restore the water supply failed to evoke any reaction, the security forces launched the military operations against the LTTE with an air attack in August, 2006. The army eventually took control of the sluice gates of the reservoir in Mavil Aru, the strategic area to commence the battle against LTTE.

Kilinochchi is now being rebuilt under the 180 day programme of Uthuru Wasanthaya. Civil administration has been set up and the District Secretariat was recently reopened. Resettlement in Kilinochchi is being successfully carried out while infrastructure is being restored.