Sri Lanka news columns

By Ranga Jayasuriya The fourth Eelam war has entered a decisive stage with troops moving as close as four kilometres of Kilinochchi city limits, the administrative headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Last week, Army Commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka went on record, claiming at a book launch by journalist Tissa Ravindra Perera, that troops would fire the first salvos at guerillas defending the town next week. Some military units are in the vicinity of the southern perimeters of Kilinochchi and troops are in sight of city buildings there. Past battles On Friday, troops of the 57 Division captured Kokavil, south of Kilinochchi for the first time since 1990. On June 11, 1990, the Kokavil military camp - which housed 69 men commanded by young Lt. Saliya Upul Aladeniya - came under LTTE attack. The fall of Kokavil in 1990 was a fiasco in a long list of past military blunders. But, it also highlighted the valour of troops who fought to the las...

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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...