4073 LTTE cadres killed in ongoing battles: Lankan Army

by Sanjay Jha | January 6, 2009 at 03:55 am

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Longstanding fight between Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan Army seems to be coming to an end. The bitter civil war has gripped the tiny island country for 25 years.

The deadly battle is waged for identity politics by rebel the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam comprising of Hindus for an Independent homeland for 3 million Tamils.

Sri Lankan troops are in full control of this air strip from where Tamil Tigers launched many a surprise air raids deep into government controlled areas including the capital Colombo, but there is yet no inkling of the fate of air force of the LTTE.

Sri Lankan Army liberated the sensitive Iranamadu, known for LTTE airstrips, recently, which is located a few kilometers away from its de-facto capital Kilinochchi. But apparently the Tigers had moved their Czech made fighters.

And the government forces are also within striking distance of two more Air Tiger air strips located just outside the LTTE's last bastion of Mullaittivu and hope to obliterate the Tiger's fledgling Air arm.

A select team of media persons were taken around the run down Iranamadu town, where grenade shells and some material left by the retreating LTTE fighters were found.

"As per our estimates as many as 4073 LTTE fighters have been killed in the past 14 months, while the LTTE intercepts admit they have lost 3,447 cadres with injuries to another 2197 of their fighters", Major Gen NAJC Dias, the General Officer Commanding of the 57 division told reporters.

LTTE created a sensation when it sent its aircraft in May last year to bomb Colombo and the planes took off from the Iranamadu air strip. One was reportedly shot down by the Sri Lankan security forces.