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Troops on verge of capturing sluice

by Harischandra Gunaratna The Isdland

Troops had captured the West bank of the Mavil Aru yesterday and were only 100 metres from the sluice gates, at the time this edition went to press.

Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the International Community and Norwegian Development Minister Eric Solheim had urged the LTTE to open the waterway and negotiate a settlement with the government.

Troops were constantly communicating with the Kallar camp and the operation to have the sluice gates opened was continuing, Military spokesman Upali Rajapakse said.

He added that they could not say when water could be provided water to the people.

There was a lull in fighting during the last two days, as the movement of troops had been slow due to the area has being heavily mined.

He said the LTTE was sending reinforcements from their bases as a number of their cadres were killed in battle.

"Our objective is to clear the area of all the LTTE camps before we reach our target. But what happens is, when we clear one area and move to the other, they re-establish their former camp Major Rajapakse explained.

The Government has been providing drinking water and dry rations to the peasants in the area, sources said, adding that some of residents have started moving out from the area in order to escape being injured or killed by artillery fire.

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