(2nd Update)
MULLAITTIVU: DURING extended search operations conducted in the thin area west of PUTUMATTALAN troops recovered three more LTTE dead bodies, twelve T-56 weapons and one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Friday (10) afternoon. Troops recovered seven LTTE dead bodies and some other LTTE items from the same area the previous day (9) after the area was brought under the Army control.
MULLAITTIVU: TROOPS on search and clear operations conducted after confrontations occurred in the outer perimeter of the “Safe Zone” recovered nine more bodies of LTTE terrorists, twenty-two T-56 weapons, one Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) launcher, twenty-five thousand rounds of 5.56 ammunition, one pistol with three magazines and three I-com sets on Friday (10).
MULLAITTIVU: IN ADDITION to three-hundred and one (301) civilians who reached PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU on Friday (10), three- hundred and five (305) more civilians reached the same area the same day evening. With that the total number of civilians reached Army controlled areas increased to sixty-seven thousand and ten (67,010).
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MULLAITTIVU: A THREE-month pregnant woman escaping the LTTE grip in the “No Fire zone” along with several more fellow escapees was shot and critically injured by LTTE terrorists around 7.00 a.m. on Saturday(11), forcing fellow civilians to bring the injured pregnant woman to the cleared areas to be handed over to the Army troops in PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU. The pregnant woman who has received injuries to her shoulders and chest area was profusely bleeding at the time she ended up in PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU with the help of her fellow travelers.
HIS EXCELLENCY the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the first lady Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa accompanied by Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri-Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and Mrs. Anoma Fonseka, President Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) met a cross-section of the soldiers receiving treatment at the Military Hospital, Army Headquarters to extend their new year greetings Sunday (12) Morning. The delegates after visiting every ward in the hospital spoke to them and inquired in to their health condition and exchanged a few thoughts before they gave away gifts to each and every inmate.
AS THE nation celebrates the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, His Excellency the President is deeply conscious of the need to give the civilian population entrapped as hostages by the ruthless actions of the LTTE, the opportunity to celebrate these festivities in a suitable atmosphere and to have uninhibited freedom of movement from the No Fire Zone to the cleared areas. With this objective in view, His Excellency has directed the Armed Forces of the State to restrict their operations during the New Year to those of a defensive nature.
MULLAITTIVU: ONE more earth bund built by LTTE terrorist in the north of NANTHI KADAL lagoon was captured by troops Sunday (12) morning. Advance of the troops was resisted by LTTE when the troops reached the thin area in the north of NANTHI KADAL lagoon where LTTE had built a 1 km long earth bund. However, troops captured the earth bund defeating LTTE resistance. Later, troops recovered eighteen T-56 weapons, one mortar, one I-com set and one TATA single cab from the area.
BUTTALA: FIVE villagers in MAHAGODAYAYA, BUTTALA have been hacked to death by suspected Tiger terrorists Sunday (12) evening while they were returning from their paddy-fields. Initial reports said a group of isolated Tiger terrorists in the jungle have carried out the massacre. Police investigations are on.
WHEN we started our trip from Colombo on Friday, I had some idea of what to expect. It was not going to be easy. After witnessing TV images of the mass human exodus described as the biggest hostage rescue mission in the world and following it closely since Monday, I knew the picture would be rough. Around 7.30 in the morning we took off from the Ratmalana Airbase in a light aircraft used to transport goods and soldiers to North and landed in Anuradhapura one hour later. From there we boarded a MI 17 helicopter.
