LTTE terrorists driven off from North of Trincomalee

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

SL security forces consolidating their defences in the Eastern Province neutralized three LTTE strong holds in the Kumburupiddiya area , 15 miles North East of Trincomalee yesterday (Friday the 23rd of February).

The three terror camps located in the Kumburupiddiya jungle were used by the terrorist as transit camps when crossing between Wanni and the East. The terrorists accommodated in these camps have been engaged in firing mortars, setting up claymores and laying anti personnel mines targeting the villages and the security forces' camps in the area.

Thus, the presence of these terror camps has seriously jeopardized the security of the nearby villages like Gomarankadawala, Padaviya, Pulmudai, Kadawana and also the safety of the commuters using the Trincomalee- Thiriyaya and Trincomalee-Anuradhapura main roads.

The Trincomalee harbour too had a potential threat form these camps.

SL Army infantry supported by the Artillery regiment marched into the jungle since Thursday the 22nd of February and captured the three camps by Friday (23rd) evening. According to the available information the troops have so far found two T-56 machine guns, one shot gun, one riffle, two RPG launchers, accessories of mortar launchers, and 13 odd military maps. In addition to the military gear, a generator and a large number of electric equipment are also among the items being found. According to military sources search and clearing operations are still underway.

Having liberated the areas in South of Trincomalee, i.e. Sampur, Vakarai and Mavil Aru areas, the troops launched a clearing operation towards North along the enemy withdrawal routes. Large stocks of arms and ammunitions hidden by the LTTE terrorists on their run have been uncovered by the troops during this operation. The ground troops of both Army and Navy are presently deployed in the operation while the Air Force assists in air reconnaissance and neutralization of enemy pockets.

On Thursday the 22nd of February the combined SL Army and Naval troops found another stock of weapons, military gear and vehicles abandoned by the LTTE terrorists in the Kadawana area in Trincomalee. The items included four claymore mines, ten Anti- personnel mines , fifty detonators, accessories of 81 mm mortars , accessories of a 12.7 mm machine guns , two barrels of a Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) , two motor cycles, a tractor and two water plastic shells (500 ltrs each).

Eearlier, issuing a statement to mark the fifth anniversary of the Ceasefire agreement the LTTE said it would resume their war for a separate state.

Meanwhile, the Norway managed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission moved out of their office in Vavuniya citing security reasons, mainly due to continuous LTTE intimidations. Vavuniya is the gateway to the troubled Northern Province where the LTTE has launched a heavy recruitment drive to beef up their troops. On Thursday they announced that that they would resume the war for a separate state.

Since many of their Eastern strongholds have fallen defence analysts assume the LTTE would escalate violence in the Northern front from their strongholds in Kilinochchi and Mullattivu.