Sri Lanka news columns

Security Forces’ campaign well within time frame; UN urges LTTE to let civilians leave for cleared areas: Troops in the liberated Mallavi town As monsoon rains loom around and troops march towards the heart of Kilinochchi braving the massive Earth bund created by the LTTE to defend their last stretch of territory, fierce battles erupted in the outskirts of the Kilinochchi in Akkarayankulam and Nachchikuda on Monday and Tuesday inflicting damage to both Security Forces and the LTTE on equal terms. It was not an unexpected or unusual situation for the Security Forces as they came all the way from the Vavuniya and Mannar districts to heart of the Tiger territory in the Kilinochchi district expecting a fierce battle there. They were not expecting a cakewalk to their heartland. A number of soldiers went missing after the battle that erupted in the south of Nachchikuda and Akkarayankulam that went on for mo...

Ranil WIJAYAPALA COLOMBO: Troops attached to Task Force II yesterday captured the strategic Palamoddai town six kilometres northwest of the Omanthai entry exit point in Vavuniya. Meanwhile, Troops attached to 59 Division operating in the Mullaitivu front for the first time reached the beach side of Nayaru South capturing Uluththuveli, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News. "With the capture of the Palamoddai town troops are further closing in towards the A-9 road neutralising the Tiger positions north of Omanthai," Brigadier Nanayakkara said. Ten Tiger cadres were killed when troops confronted with the LTTE in Palamoddai on Wednesday. One soldier also sacrificed his life. Meanwhile the troops attached to 59 Division operating in the Weli Oya front reached South of Nayaru lagoon hitting the beachfront in Nayaru South for the first time. "With the capture of this territory the beach flank in the N...

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops are now moving towards the LTTE’s High Security Zone (HSZ). Progress is slow because the path ahead is lined with mines and booby traps. Troops have to traverse through jungle and open area as well through some villages too. A reliable source reported that, the LTTE had ordered the villagers to vacate their houses and confine themselves to LTTE controlled areas and used older civilians as human shields. The LTTE has positioned snipers to attack troops, according to a battlefront officer who said that this LTTE strategy is well known to the SLA....