ID :
28511
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 09:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/28511
The shortlink copeid
War with L.T.T.E. nearly over, says Sri Lankan Army chief
T V Sriram
Colombo, Nov 4 (PTI) Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka has claimed that decades-old war against L.T.T.E. in the restive north is nearly completed and about 12,000 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed during the past-two-and-half years.
"Over 80 percent of the war against the L.T.T.E. has
been completed after regaining 80 percent of the areas under
them and killing over 12,000 of their cadres," Lt. Gen.
Fonseka said.
Lt. Gen. Fonseka's remarks came Monday as the troops
reached about seven kilometres south of Kilali lagoon which
separates the Jaffna peninsula from the mainland.
"At the inception of the war they did not have a
12,000 strength but we are confident that 12,000 of their
cadres were killed during the past-two-and half years as they
recruited a large number of cadres to the outfit to strengthen
their depleting ranks," Fonseka said after participating in a
ceremony at the Buddhist city of Anuradhapura, about 212 kms
north of Colombo.
"We are sure that we will be able to see an end to
this war soon though we cannot give deadlines to reach this
task," he was quoted as saying by the state run 'Daily News'.
He also said that he is confident that he can complete
the task of defeating the L.T.T.E. during his tenure.
"With these gains, we will soon be able to open a land
route to Jaffna," he said.
The Tiger bodies captured by the troops within the
past few weeks very clearly indicate that they are deploying
their police, political cadres and intelligence cadres to
confront the advancing troops, Fonseka said.
He said though Kilinochchi was the main focus of the
ground troops, they have marched more than 10 Km north of
Kilinochchi from the Western front of Kilinochchi.
"With the newly formed Task Force III starting its
operations from Monday in the North of Mankulam, troops are
poised to march from the West to the East in four fronts to
capture Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu," Fonseka said.
He said though the areas from Omanthai to Mankulam has
not been taken under troops control, these areas are very much
under the control of troops as Special Forces and Commando
troops are controlling these areas.
"The areas in south of Mankulam to Northern Eastern
Weli Oya is under troops control as only a handful of Tiger
cadres are operating in this area," he said.
"We have destroyed all their (L.T.T.E.s) strongholds
there and according to our reports only five Tiger cadres are
operating in the Omanthai entry exit point," he said. PTI TVS
Colombo, Nov 4 (PTI) Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka has claimed that decades-old war against L.T.T.E. in the restive north is nearly completed and about 12,000 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed during the past-two-and-half years.
"Over 80 percent of the war against the L.T.T.E. has
been completed after regaining 80 percent of the areas under
them and killing over 12,000 of their cadres," Lt. Gen.
Fonseka said.
Lt. Gen. Fonseka's remarks came Monday as the troops
reached about seven kilometres south of Kilali lagoon which
separates the Jaffna peninsula from the mainland.
"At the inception of the war they did not have a
12,000 strength but we are confident that 12,000 of their
cadres were killed during the past-two-and half years as they
recruited a large number of cadres to the outfit to strengthen
their depleting ranks," Fonseka said after participating in a
ceremony at the Buddhist city of Anuradhapura, about 212 kms
north of Colombo.
"We are sure that we will be able to see an end to
this war soon though we cannot give deadlines to reach this
task," he was quoted as saying by the state run 'Daily News'.
He also said that he is confident that he can complete
the task of defeating the L.T.T.E. during his tenure.
"With these gains, we will soon be able to open a land
route to Jaffna," he said.
The Tiger bodies captured by the troops within the
past few weeks very clearly indicate that they are deploying
their police, political cadres and intelligence cadres to
confront the advancing troops, Fonseka said.
He said though Kilinochchi was the main focus of the
ground troops, they have marched more than 10 Km north of
Kilinochchi from the Western front of Kilinochchi.
"With the newly formed Task Force III starting its
operations from Monday in the North of Mankulam, troops are
poised to march from the West to the East in four fronts to
capture Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu," Fonseka said.
He said though the areas from Omanthai to Mankulam has
not been taken under troops control, these areas are very much
under the control of troops as Special Forces and Commando
troops are controlling these areas.
"The areas in south of Mankulam to Northern Eastern
Weli Oya is under troops control as only a handful of Tiger
cadres are operating in this area," he said.
"We have destroyed all their (L.T.T.E.s) strongholds
there and according to our reports only five Tiger cadres are
operating in the Omanthai entry exit point," he said. PTI TVS
