The Sri Lankan government says it has captured a key town in the north of the island from the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Vidattaltivu, the rebels’ main sea base on the north-west coast, is 12 miles (20kms) from Mannar.
This is the first time since the Indian peace keeping forces left Sri Lanka in 1990 that troops have taken over the town, the defence ministry said.
The rebels are fighting for a separate state for the island’s ethnic Tamil minority for the quarter of a century.
Defence officials say the loss of Vidattaltivu would be “a fatal blow” to the Tigers as the coastal town is an important base used by the Sea Tigers – the navy wing of the rebels.
There has been no comment from the rebels about the fighting.
There has been intense fighting between the rebels and the army in the north over the last few weeks.
Both sides in the war claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other in recent weeks.
It is impossible to verify either account because the government bars journalists from the frontline areas.
The government says the Tigers are on the verge of being defeated and senior military officials say only 4,000-5,000 Tiger fighters remain.
They have vowed to destroy the rebel group by the end of the year.
(BBC)
Sri Lanka captures rebel naval base
The Sri Lankan government says it has captured a key naval base used by the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north.
A statement released by the Defence Ministry says government troops overran the rebel-held town of Vidattaltivu in the north this morning.
The coastal town is the location of an important base used by the Sea Tiger naval force.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be immediately reached for comment.
Fighting in the 25-year civil war has escalated in recent months as the government vowed to destroy the rebel group by the end of the year.
Sri Lankan troops capture rebel base in north
The Sri Lankan government troops captured a main base cum logistic hub of Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Mannar district Wednesday morning, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense.
The troops liberated the strategically important Vidattaltivu town, which is the main Sea-Tiger base cum the logistic hub of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north western coast, the statement said.
“This is the first time after the departure of Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1990 that (the) troops have dominated the area,” it added.
The statement also said that the lost of Vidattaltivu would cast a fatal blow on the LTTE as it has lost the most important Sea-Tiger base in the present context.
“The terrorists have no other option than to shift their Sea-Tiger assets to a makeshift camp further northwards with the lost of its well-established sea borne operation base,” the statement quoted defense analysts as saying.
Having taking control of the whole Eastern Province from the LTTE in July 2007, the troops are currently battling the LTTE in the north with the aim of totally crushing the organization.
The LTTE has been fighting against the government since the mid-1980s aimed at establishing an independent homeland for the country’s minority Tamils, which claimed more than 70,000 people’s lives.
(Xinhua)
Sri Lankan troops capture strategic Sea Tiger base
Sri Lankan troops have captured fresh territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as well as a strategically important Sea Tiger base in the northwestern Mannar district, the defence ministry announced Wednesday. The army had reached Vidataltivu, 20 km north of Mannar, the northwestern coast of the island nation, a defence ministry statement said.
“Vidataltivu is the biggest township… and used by the terrorists as their main Sea Tiger base and the logistic hub in the west,” the ministry said, describing it as a “fatal blow” to the LTTE.
“This is the first time after the departure of Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1987 that troops have dominated the area,” the statement added.
In a separate report, the ministry claimed late Tuesday that at least 30 LTTE guerrillas had been killed around the Vidataltivu area.
There was no immediate reaction from the rebels
Viduthalaithiv falls to the army
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ‘s 58 division has been able to take control of the Viduthalaithiv town as of today (16th). LTTE maintained a major sea tiger base in the area which plays a vital role in providing supplies to the organization. In addition to its role as a logistics base, Viduthalaithiv has been the launching pad for several sea tiger raids on naval outposts recently.
According to military intelligence, the LTTE have moved some of their hardware and personnel further northwards, deep into LTTE held territory. The base has been under siege for days, both by regular infantry units of the 58 division as well as by squads of commandos.
Viduthalaithiv, located 20km north of Mannar, has been under LTTE control for nearly 19 years.
Fall of Sea Tiger base imminent
Fierce fighting continued yesterday south and east of Vidathalthivu as the 58 Division troops and Commando troops surrounded the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast, in North Mannar as the LTTE cadres struggled to defend this tactically important Sea Tiger Base which they controlled for the last two decades.
The troops continued the military thrust on the Sea Tiger base surrounding it from the south and west directions and cutting off all supply routes leading to Vidathalthivu, ground sources told the Daily News last night.
“The LTTE had vacated some locations in Vidathalthivu by last evening as they felt the area was being surrounded by the troops,” Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka told the Daily News.
The Army Commander was confident that the entire Sea Tiger base would fall to the troops by Wednesday afternoon.
The troops attached to 58 Division engaged in a major thrust on the Vidathalthivu Sea Tiger base from the south while Commando troops supported by infantry troops attached to the 582 Brigade advanced into the area from the Eastern direction.
Ground sources also said that many Tiger cadres started fleeing further north of Vidathalthivu after loading their belongings into trucks as troops advanced into the territory.
Ground sources also confirmed that heavy damage has been caused to the LTTE as the fleeing Tiger cadres were targeted by long range artillery guns of the Security Forces.
Troops have also been able to capture a section of A-32 road during these confrontations further advancing from 12th Mile post.
The troops attached to the 58 division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva continued the military thrust on the Vidathalthivu Sea Tiger base after completely capturing the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ area.
(Daily News)
At least 30 terrorists killed: Fighting erupts at Vedithalthivu
At least 30 terrorists were reported killed Tuesday (July 15) evening, at the embattled western coastal LTTE foothold in Vedithalthivu, Mannar as elite Commando troops called in indirect artillery and multi-barrel rocket (MBRL) fire after detecting a large LTTE land movement towards Illuppaikkadavai, military said.
According to Wanni security reports, heavy damages were caused to the fleeing terrorists approximately numbering 60. The terrorist were fleeing following heavy beating from the southern battle flanks yesterday afternoon. Troops have captured a 2.5km stretch of the LTTE FDL during the onslaught, security sources said.
Also, the 58 division troops led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva continued offensive advances into LTTE defences and is said positioned within striking distance of the LTTE western coastal bastion at Vedithalthivu.
Troops have also been able to capture a section of A-32 road during these confrontations further advancing from 12th milepost, security sources further added.
Sri Lankan forces capture strategically important Vidattaltivu town casting a fatal blow to LTTE Sea Tigers
July 16, Colombo: Sri Lankan troops operating under Army’s 58 Division and Commando Brigade have liberated the strategically important Vidattaltivu town this morning, Defence Ministry confirmed.
According to defence sources, Vidattaltivu located 20 km North of Mannar, is the biggest town situated on the North – Western coast of the island. It is one of the main Sea-Tiger base and the logistic hub of the LTTE in the West.
This is the first time after the departure of Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1990 that troops have dominated the area.
(Colombo Page)
Troops capture coastal town in north-western Sri Lanka
Government troops captured a strategically important coastal town Wednesday in north-western Sri Lanka, the Defence Ministry said as the military aims to take back Tamil rebel-held areas in the north by the end of the year.
Vidattaltivu town – used by the separatist rebels as a sea base for their naval units, better known as the Sea Tigers as well as a logistical hub to smuggle contraband – is located 320 kilometres north of Colombo.
For the past 10 months, government troops in Sinhalese-majority Sri Lanka have been fighting in the coastal district of Mannar, which includes Vidattaltivu, and have been able to push back the rebels belonging to the Tamil minority group.
Security forces have claimed that rebels are now confined to two main districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the north although fighting is being reported immediately outside the two districts.
Government troops relaunched military operations against the Tamil rebels in mid-2006, and since then, more than 9,000 rebels and 1,700 soldiers have been killed, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said.
Troops a year ago recaptured rebel-held areas in eastern Sri Lanka, but the stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been in the north.
(Monsters and Critics)
Sri Lankan Troops Fight to Capture Rebel Naval Base in North
Sri Lankan troops breached the defenses of the main rebel naval base in the country’s north and have killed at least 30 Tamil Tiger fighters in the battle, the military said.
Soldiers penetrated the base in Vidattaltivu, a stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the northwestern Mannar region, and aim to “capture the whole town” by the end of the day, Ministry of Defense spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said by telephone from the capital, Colombo.
At least 30 LTTE members were killed in the town yesterday by artillery and rocket fire, the ministry said on its Web site. The LTTE’s military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan didn’t answer telephone calls made to the rebels’ headquarters in Kilinochchi seeking comment.
The military is staging almost daily attack on the rebels in the north and in June said it cut a main supply route for the LTTE when soldiers captured Mannar’s rice-producing area. The Tamil Tigers lost the eastern region to the army a year ago in their worst defeat in their 25-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland. The conflict has left more than 70,000 people dead.
Vidattaltivu is the main base for the Sea Tigers, the LTTE’s naval unit, according to the defense ministry.
The LTTE is designated a terrorist group by India, the U.S. and European Union. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said this week his government is ready to hold talks with the LTTE if the rebels disarm.
(Bloomberg)
Sri Lanka military captures key northern town-govt
Sri Lankan troops have captured a strategically important coastal town from the Tamil Tigers, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, as government forces continue their push against the rebels’ northern stronghold.
The ministry described the capture of the northwestern town of Vidattaltivu, which it said was the main base of the Tigers’ sea wing and their logistics hub for the west, as a “fatal blow” for the rebels.
Fighting in the 25-year civil war is now concentrated in the north after the Sri Lankan army, which has vowed to finish off the Tigers this year, drove the rebels out of their eastern enclave in 2007.
“Gallant soldiers of Army 58 Division and Commando Brigade have liberated the strategically important Vidattaltivu town this morning,” the defence ministry said in its website http://www.defence.lk.
It said it was the first time Sri Lankan troops had held the town since the departure of an Indian peacekeeping force in 1990.
The Tigers, fighting for an independent state in north and east Sri Lanka for ethnic Tamils, a minority in the predominantly Sinhalese country, were not immediately available for comment.
Analysts say the military has the upper hand in the latest phase of the long-running war given superior air power, strength of numbers and swathes of terrain captured in the island’s east, though they still see no clear winner on the horizon.
An estimated 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.
The Tigers regularly retaliate with suicide attacks increasingly targeting civilians and roadside bombs, experts and the military say, deterring some tourists and worrying investors in the $27 billion economy.
(Reuters)
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