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Coastal stretches being cleared: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Air Force on Saturday claimed it continued providing air support to infantry and armoured battalions with assaults on “identified LTTE strong-points and reinforcement gatherings” in the battle-scarred north.

A Defence Ministry statement said the LTTE was forced to flee as the military surge continued to liberate the strategically-important 90-km coastal stretch. Advances along three fronts towards Pooneryn, Kilinochchi and Mullathivu areas along Wanni’s western, central and eastern battlefronts have gained momentum and the LTTE has suffered heavy casualties, it added.

Task Force-1 soldiers have “liberated vast tracts” along the western coast and are now positioned within striking distance to Pooneryn, Sempankundu and Nallur fortifications, it said. Meanwhile, 57th Division troops, now operating north of the recently-liberated Akkarayankulam, have advanced towards Kilinochchi, thwarting LTTE counter-attacks.

An Air Force spokesperson said the LTTE reinforcement gathering on Palaitivu islet, located in the troubled waters off Pooneryn, had been bombed.

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