Mullaittivu liberated; LTTE main garrison captured
Sri Lanka Army announced that troops of 59 Division, lead by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta, entered into the LTTE's main garrison town Mullaittivu, have gained total control over the Mullaittivu Township after completing the mop up operations conducted in the area by this evening, 25 January.
Recapturing the Mullaittivu town which had been dominated by the LTTE terrorists for last 13 years marks the significant milestone of war against terrorism launched to free the entire country from LTTE.
On July 18, 1996 the LTTE terrorists launched an attack on Sri Lanka Army base at Mullaittivu town on the north eastern coast and captured it as troops tactically withdrawn from the town. Since then LTTE terrorists established its main military and administrative bases there.
According to the battlefield sources, troops of 593 Brigade lead by Colonel Jayantha Gunarathne have made a surprise attack across the Nanthikandal lagoon and entered the Mullaittivu town area this morning. Infantrymen of 7 Gemunu Watch (7 GW) lead by Lieutenant Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa have been in first to enter the town amid heavy terror resistance, the sources said. The Mullaittivu town is situated in a narrow stretch of a land between Nanthikandal lagoon and the Indian Ocean.
Announcing the victory, Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka requested the people to celebrate the victory with dignity by hoisting the national flag.
