Sri Lanka Air Force

Welioya North Confrontations Inflict Heavy Losses to Enemy

WELIOYA: AT LEAST sixteen Tiger terrorists were feared killed and another nineteen more sustained injuries during clashes for supremacy in ANDANKULAM, north of KOKKUTHUDUVAI on Sunday (31).

Two soldiers fighting against terrorists in those areas paid with death following the enemy fire. Similarly, confrontations and explosions of LTTE explosive devices in those areas injured five soldiers during the day.

LTTE’s Mallavi Nerve Center Nearly Cleared & Captured

MULLAITTIVU: REACHING one more decisive phase of the ongoing humanitarian battle, meant to salvage people from the grips of LTTE terrorism, valiant soldiers of the 7 Sinha Regiment in 57 Division under the able command of Major General JAGATH DIAS, General Officer Commanding, 57 Division, brought more than three-fourth of the LTTE’s nerve center, MALLAVI, about 3.5 km to the east of TUNUKKAI under their control Monday (01) evening, Army Headquarters officially announced.

Ending days of speculation, domination of the well-known MALLAVI town, said to be the native place of PRABHAKARAN’s wife, MADIVADINI, marked one more decisive and impressive phase of the “war for peace” in WANNI which has about 1 km long main street with boutiques and shops on both sides of the town center. A few more adjoining vulnerable areas are yet to be cleared, the Army said.

Troops following their entry into the center of the town as dusk fell where Tigers had their “Eelam” flag before their capture, raised the National Flag to the thundering applause of the brave soldiers, belonging to 7 Sinha Regiment, 3 Gajaba Regiment and 9 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment who fearlessly took part in the offensive under 573 Brigade.

Astonishingly, Tiger terrorists had built a bunker line with filled sandbags along the main corridor of the well-equipped MALLAVI Base Hospital complex, of which more than three spacious rooms had been used by Tiger terrorists as their administrative centers. The hospital walls were found plastered with portraits of megalomaniac, PRABHAKARAN and late THAMIL CHELVAM. The hospital complex with more than thirteen big buildings, including marble-tiled wards was largely sans hospital beds, since most of them have been taken away by Tigers for metal work or production of explosives before troops rolled in.

MALLAVI town center, which has functioned as a big commercial hub on the MULLAITTIVU district border, has remained a fully-fledged township with two Rural Banks, Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Ceramic Factory, large Bakery with three huge ovens, Water and Electricity Board buildings, Sub Post Office and more than forty big business centers. A Tiger administrative office plus its ‘Eelam’ monument was also found in the centre of the MALLAVI town.

Interconnecting MALLAVI-NACHCHIKUDA road, MALLAVI-MANKULAM road, to the west of A-9 Highway and a few more link roads run across this central town which was also was a venue for NORWAY-brokered peace talk coordination work for LTTE organization before and after the now defunct Ceasefire Agreement was signed a few years ago.

Hundreds of troops after dominating the heart of MALLAVI town are still busy hunting for remaining Tigers and capturing adjoining boundary areas as this report was filed before security for the entire MALLAVI region is ensured, enabling the troops to carry on with subsequent search and clear operations and de-mining work.

Minors Came for Buying Wrist Watches Transferred to Lady Ridgeway Hospital

COLOMBO: TWO BROTHERS of the same family, KASUN LAKSIRI (10) and W. ABAYARATHNE (12), of No. 42/2, PUBUDU Mawatha, MATTEGODA, injured in Saturday’s (30) time bomb explosion in Fort were to proceed home in GAMPOLA after they arrived in COLOMBO during school vacation. Both in the company of their married sister were about to buy wrist-watches on the pavement when the blast occurred. Police do not rule out LTTE involvement, although investigations are still in progress.

After initial tests and treatment at Colombo National Hospital immediately after the explosion, both teenagers were sent to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for children in COLOMBO late Sunday (31).

Forty six others including them, their sister and other civilians suffered injuries in the blast and were rushed to the COLOMBO National Hospital for treatment. injured in the same incident.

Explosion of a minor explosive device by the side of the OLCOTT Mawatha, COLOMBO, occurred Saturday (30) noon around 12.15 causing minor injuries to over thirty civilians. (See Situation Report Titled “Explosion at Pettah Inflicts Injuries to Civilians” on 30th October 2008)

MI-24 & Kfirs Strafe Nachchikuda Tiger Positions

KILINOCHCHI: A STRING OF AERIAL ATTACKS on Tiger defences in the north and east of NACHCHIKUDA this afternoon (01), intending to support advancing ground troops, did a lot of damage to Tiger terrorists, now trying hard to defend their forward lines.

Around 1.45 p.m. fighter jets of Sri Lanka Air Force bombed LTTE defence line, north of NACHCHIKUDA on Monday (01).

After a couple of minutes, around 2.00 p.m., Air Force MI-24 fighter helicopters engaged LTTE’s MADAM area defence line, about 3 km east of NACHCHIKUDA.

Pilots maintain the aerial raids were precise and achieved desired results.

Vannarikkulam Clashes Hit Seven Terrorists

KILINOCHCHI: FIERCE GUN BATTLES ensued in the general area of VANNARIKKULAM Sunday (31) between 7.00 a.m.-8.00 p.m. killed at least seven terrorists and injured nine more during Sunday (31).

Two LTTE positions were the targets of 57 Division soldiers who stormed the strongholds and destroyed them.

Three valiant soldiers laid their lives during the encounter and sixteen more soldiers were injured in those close quarter battles in the above clashes.

One more soldier, caught up in the explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine in the VANNARIKKULAM sustained injuries during the day’s operations.

Eighteen Terrorists Lose Lives in Palamoddai North Clash

VAVUNIYA: EXCHANGE OF HEAVY VOLUME of gunfire took place between the troops and the terrorists for another day in the deeper north of PALAMODDAI when the terrorists were trying hard to block the onward march of the troops in the 62 Division on Sunday (31).

Terrorists lost as many as eighteen terrorists during those clashes that broke out in NAVATKULAM and north of PALAMODDAI. Troops found five dead LTTE men and three T-56 weapons and one communication set after they conducted a search following capture of a bunker complex in the area. Reports also said at least twenty-one more terrorists received injuries in the clashes.

One valiant soldier paid the supreme sacrifice during those confrontations.

Terrorists on FDL Felled

JAFFNA: TROOPS MOVING ahead of the KILALY Forward Defence Line (FDL) in JAFFNA confronted a group of Tiger terrorists Sunday (31) around 11.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. while the terrorists were secretly walking.

One terrorist fell dead due to the fire launched by the troops and seven more terrorists sustained severe injuries.

One soldier also suffered injuries in the LTTE mortar fire. He was evacuated to hospital for treatment.

......