A veiled threat regarding the imminent capture of Pooneryn could not have escaped many who read the speech given by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka to the officers and troops at the Regimental Headquarters of Gajaba Regiment to commemorate the Silver Jubilee . This morning after many fierce confrontations, 58 Division Troops led by Brigadier Shavindra Silva re - captured Pooneryn after nearly two decades from the LTTE terrorists .
The loss of Ponneryn to LTTE is a turning point in the operations conducted so far to eliminate terrorism as not only have they lost their last bastion on the western coast to the Security forces but they are also now faced with severe manpower resources to make a another move . Pooneryn , along with its satellite coastal points of Vallaipadu and Devil's Point was the last LTTE stronghold for smuggling weapons, ammunition, explosives and military hardware from the Tamil Nadu coast to the western coast. Under LTTE control, it had for nearly two decades been running sore an irritant to the Security Forces pegging down resources in manpower and material and its loss signals the end of LTTE domination of the Jaffna peninsula and the Jaffna lagoon .
Strategically, Pooneryn was critically important for the terrorists as it was from here that they directed their long range 130mm artillery hanging like the sword of Damocles threatening the Military base including the Pallali airfield . Reports indicate that the LTTE had removed these heavy guns to Paranthan area where they cannot be effectively used to target Pallali. The capture of Pooneryn also makes the A 32 road opening a reality giving the security forces another vital and easier access to provide logistics support for Troops in the peninsula. It also can be used as the gateway to make available food and essential items to the people of Jaffna which was until now restricted to the sea ruote prone and opne to Sea Tiger attacks. The opening of the A 32 , will not only provide an easier route to lift food and essentaioal items but would facilitate the movement of Troops avoding an uncessary and loger voyage by sea from Trincomalle or Colombo.
The thrust to capture Pooneryn was three pronged- the other two being from Killinochichi and Mullaitivu. The LTTE with heavy casualtie4s in the past few months have been at a loss to reieforce their strength on these fornts
The loss of Ponneryn to LTTE is a turning point in the operations conducted so far to eliminate terrorism as not only have they lost their last bastion on the western coast to the Security forces but they are also now faced with severe manpower resources to make a another move . Pooneryn , along with its satellite coastal points of Vallaipadu and Devil's Point was the last LTTE stronghold for smuggling weapons, ammunition, explosives and military hardware from the Tamil Nadu coast to the western coast. Under LTTE control, it had for nearly two decades been running sore an irritant to the Security Forces pegging down resources in manpower and material and its loss signals the end of LTTE domination of the Jaffna peninsula and the Jaffna lagoon .
Strategically, Pooneryn was critically important for the terrorists as it was from here that they directed their long range 130mm artillery hanging like the sword of Damocles threatening the Military base including the Pallali airfield . Reports indicate that the LTTE had removed these heavy guns to Paranthan area where they cannot be effectively used to target Pallali. The capture of Pooneryn also makes the A 32 road opening a reality giving the security forces another vital and easier access to provide logistics support for Troops in the peninsula. It also can be used as the gateway to make available food and essential items to the people of Jaffna which was until now restricted to the sea ruote prone and opne to Sea Tiger attacks. The opening of the A 32 , will not only provide an easier route to lift food and essentaioal items but would facilitate the movement of Troops avoding an uncessary and loger voyage by sea from Trincomalle or Colombo.
The thrust to capture Pooneryn was three pronged- the other two being from Killinochichi and Mullaitivu. The LTTE with heavy casualtie4s in the past few months have been at a loss to reieforce their strength on these fornts
